Light source module for vehicle lighting fixtures

Abstract

This technology helps reduce the cost of integrated light source modules. [Solution] The light source module 22 of the vehicle lighting fixture comprises a heat sink 28 and a wiring board 30 attached to the heat sink 28. The wiring board 30 comprises a first light-emitting element 24a that acts as a light source for the first lamp 20a of the vehicle lighting fixture, a second light-emitting element 24b that can emit light in a different color from the first light-emitting element 24a and acts as a light source for the second lamp 20b of the vehicle lighting fixture, and a light-shielding wall 32 disposed between the first light-emitting element 24a and the second light-emitting element 24b.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a light source module for a vehicle lamp. [Background Art]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a vehicle lamp including an LED unit that dissipates heat by a so-called external heat dissipation method (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This LED unit includes a printed circuit board on which an LED chip is mounted, and a heat dissipation portion thermally coupled to the printed circuit board. The LED unit is mounted on a body of the vehicle lamp such that the LED chip is arranged inside a lamp chamber of the vehicle lamp, while the heat dissipation portion is arranged outside the lamp chamber. In this vehicle lamp, the LED unit is provided as a dedicated light source for a clearance lamp incorporated in a headlamp. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2020-47478 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] When a plurality of lamps are provided in a vehicle lamp, as a typical example, a configuration in which light source modules respectively corresponding to the plurality of lamps are provided one by one is conceivable. Since a plurality of light source modules are provided corresponding to the plurality of lamps, this can lead to an increase in the total number of components and a resulting increase in manufacturing cost. Therefore, instead of such a configuration, the present inventor has proposed mounting an integrated light source module for a plurality of lamps in a vehicle lamp.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and one exemplary object of an aspect of the present invention is to provide a technique that helps reduce the cost of an integrated light source module. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention relates to a light source module for a vehicle lamp. The vehicle lamp comprises a first lamp and a second lamp. The light source module comprises a heat sink and a wiring board attached to the heat sink. The wiring board comprises a first light-emitting element that acts as a light source for the first lamp, a second light-emitting element that is capable of emitting light in a different color from the first light-emitting element and acts as a light source for the second lamp, and a light-shielding wall disposed between the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technology that helps reduce the cost of integrated light source modules. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic front view of a vehicle lighting device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing the vertical cross-section of the vehicle lighting fixture along line AA. [Figure 3] This is a schematic top view showing an example of a light source module applicable to vehicle lighting fixtures, relating to an embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a schematic top view showing an example of a wiring board applicable to a light source module according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a schematic top view showing an example of a wiring board applicable to a light source module according to an embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, based on preferred embodiments. The embodiments are illustrative and not limiting, and not all features or combinations thereof described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention. The same or equivalent components, members, and processes shown in each drawing are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, the scale and shape of each part shown in each drawing are set for convenience to facilitate explanation and are not to be interpreted restrictively unless otherwise specified. In addition, terms such as "first," "second," etc., used in this specification or claims do not indicate any order or importance, but are used to distinguish one configuration from another. Furthermore, some components that are not important for explaining the embodiments are omitted in each drawing.

[0010] First, an overview of the embodiment will be described. A vehicle lighting fixture may be provided with multiple lamps with different functions. For example, a vehicle headlight may incorporate multiple marker lights. Examples of incorporated marker lights include clearance lamps, daytime running lamps, and turn signal lamps. The lamp may comprise a light source module having an LED or other light-emitting element, and a light guide that receives light from the light-emitting element and emits light. In a typical configuration, multiple light source modules may be provided in the vehicle lighting fixture to correspond to multiple lamps; that is, each lamp may be provided with its own individual light source module.

[0011] Alternatively, instead of providing a separate light source module for each lamp, the vehicle lighting fixture may have an integrated light source module for multiple lamps. The integrated light source module may have multiple light-emitting elements corresponding to multiple lamps. That is, the integrated light source module may have at least one light-emitting element for each of the multiple lamps to operate that lamp. The light-emitting elements may emit light in different colors for each lamp. In other words, if different lamps emit light in different colors, at least one light-emitting element corresponding to one lamp and at least one other light-emitting element corresponding to another lamp may emit light in different colors from each other according to the color of each lamp.

[0012] To implement multiple lamps, multiple light guides may be provided in the vehicle lighting fixture, and each light guide may be combined with a corresponding light-emitting element of an integrated light source module. In this case, the integrated light source module may include light-shielding walls positioned between the multiple light-emitting elements. Such light-shielding walls are useful for optically separating the multiple lamps when the multiple lamps emit light of different colors.

[0013] Alternatively, a single light guide may be provided, and multiple lamps may be realized by switching the illumination of multiple light-emitting elements of an integrated light source module. In this case, since light from multiple light-emitting elements is directed onto the same single light guide, the integrated light source module does not require a light-shielding wall.

[0014] An integrated light source module may comprise a wiring board on which multiple light-emitting elements are mounted, and a heatsink to which the wiring board is attached. One option is to provide a light-shielding wall on the heatsink. However, in that case, a heatsink with a light-shielding wall is difficult to use in light source module designs without one. Therefore, to accommodate both light source module designs with and without light-shielding walls, manufacturers of automotive lighting fixtures will need to provide both heatsinks with and without light-shielding walls. Furthermore, various heatsinks with light-shielding walls may be required to accommodate different arrangements of multiple light-emitting elements on the wiring board. Such a diversification of heatsinks can lead to increased costs in the design and manufacture of light source modules.

[0015] Therefore, in this embodiment, the light-shielding wall may be provided on the wiring board. The wiring board may include a first light-emitting element that acts as a light source for a first lamp incorporated into a vehicle lighting device, a second light-emitting element that is capable of emitting light in a different color from the first light-emitting element and acts as a light source for a second lamp incorporated into a vehicle lighting device, and a light-shielding wall disposed between the first and second light-emitting elements.

[0016] By providing a light-shielding wall on the wiring board, the heat sink design can be standardized for both light source modules with and without light-shielding walls. In other words, because the light-shielding wall is provided on the wiring board, a heat sink without a light-shielding wall can accommodate both light source module designs with and without light-shielding walls. Standardizing the heat sink can lead to cost reductions in the design and manufacturing of light source modules. Therefore, according to this embodiment, a technology can be provided that helps reduce the cost of integrated light source modules.

[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a vehicle lighting device 10 according to an embodiment. Figure 2 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing the vertical cross-section of the vehicle lighting device 10 shown in Figure 1 along line AA.

[0018] The vehicular lamp 10 is a vehicular headlamp device having a pair of headlamp units arranged on the left and right in front of a vehicle. The pair of headlamp units have a generally bilaterally symmetric structure and substantially the same configuration, so FIG. 1 shows a vehicular lamp located on the left side when viewed from the front of the vehicle body. Accordingly, in FIG. 1, the left side corresponds to the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and the right side corresponds to the inner side in the vehicle width direction.

[0019] In this specification, for convenience of explanation, terms such as up-down direction, front-rear direction, and left-right direction may be used to facilitate understanding of the positional relationship of the components of the vehicular lamp 10 and the operations of these components. The up-down direction represents the vertical direction (that is, the direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane). The front-rear direction and the left-right direction respectively represent the front-rear direction and the left-right direction of a vehicle on which the vehicular lamp 10 is mounted. Typically, the front-rear direction and the left-right direction are perpendicular to the up-down direction (parallel to the horizontal plane) and orthogonal to each other.

[0020] With respect to the illustrated example, the front-rear direction of the vehicular lamp 10 corresponds to the left-right direction in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the left portion corresponds to the front portion of the vehicular lamp 10, and the right portion corresponds to the rear portion of the vehicular lamp 10.

[0021] The vehicular lamp 10 includes a lamp body 12 having a front opening 13, and a front cover 14 attached to the lamp body 12 so as to cover the front opening 13. The lamp body 12 is configured to be attachable to a vehicle body, and the front cover 14 is attached to the vehicle body via the lamp body 12. The lamp body 12 and the front cover 14 constitute a housing 16 of the vehicular lamp 10, and the inner space of the housing 16 is formed as a lamp chamber 15. The lamp body 12 is formed of an appropriate synthetic resin material such as a general-purpose resin material, for example. The front opening 13 opens toward the front side of the vehicle. The front cover 14 is formed of an appropriate light-transmitting material such as a light-transmitting synthetic resin material or glass. The front cover 14 is also called an outer lens.

[0022] The housing 16 has a light-emitting element receiving port 17 that leads to the outside of the lamp chamber 15. The light-emitting element receiving port 17 is formed in the lamp body 12 as a separate opening from the front opening 13. In this example, the light-emitting element receiving port 17 is, for example, a circular opening formed on the rear of the lamp body 12 at the inner and upper end in the vehicle width direction.

[0023] The vehicle lighting fixture 10 includes a main lamp unit 18 that functions as a headlight. In addition to the main lamp unit 18, the vehicle lighting fixture 10 also includes a first lamp 20a and a second lamp 20b. The first lamp 20a functions as a front light signal lamp, and the second lamp 20b functions as a clearance lamp and / or daytime running lamp. The main lamp unit 18, the first lamp 20a, and the second lamp 20b are supported by a housing 16 and are located within a lamp chamber 15. In an exemplary arrangement, the first lamp 20a and the second lamp 20b are located above the main lamp unit 18.

[0024] The vehicle lighting fixture 10 includes an integrated light source module 22 for a first lamp 20a and a second lamp 20b. The light source module 22 is mounted on the lamp body 12 so as to block the light-emitting element inlet 17. The light source module 22 may be detachably mounted on the lamp body 12.

[0025] The light source module 22 includes at least one first light-emitting element 24a that acts as a light source for the first lamp 20a, and at least one second light-emitting element 24b that acts as a light source for the second lamp 20b. The first light-emitting element 24a and the second light-emitting element 24b emit light in different colors from each other. In this example, the first light-emitting element 24a emits amber light as a light source for the first lamp 20a, and the second light-emitting element 24b emits white light as a light source for the second lamp 20b. The first light-emitting element 24a and the second light-emitting element 24b are each semiconductor light-emitting elements, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

[0026] The vehicle lamp 10 is provided with a first light guide 26a and a second light guide 26b. The first light guide 26a is combined with a first light-emitting element 24a to form a first lamp 20a, and the second light guide 26b is combined with a second light-emitting element 24b to form a second lamp 20b. The first light guide 26a and the second light guide 26b may each have, for example, a rod shape. The first light guide 26a and the second light guide 26b may extend in a straight line parallel to each other, as illustrated in Figure 1. Alternatively, the first light guide 26a and the second light guide 26b may have a curved shape. Furthermore, the first light guide 26a and the second light guide 26b are formed from a suitable translucent material such as a translucent synthetic resin or glass.

[0027] As shown in Figure 2, the first light guide 26a has a first incident surface 26a1, which is one of its end faces. The first light-emitting element 24a faces the first incident surface 26a1. When the first light-emitting element 24a is lit, the light emitted from the first light-emitting element 24a enters the first light guide 26a from the first incident surface 26a1, thereby causing the first light guide 26a to emit light. In this way, the first lamp 20a is lit.

[0028] Similarly, the second light guide 26b has a second incident surface 26b1, which is one of its end faces. The second light-emitting element 24b faces the second incident surface 26b1. When the second light-emitting element 24b is lit, the light emitted from the second light-emitting element 24b enters the second light guide 26b from the second incident surface 26b1, thereby causing the second light guide 26b to emit light. In this way, the second lamp 20b is lit.

[0029] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, the light source module 22 includes a heat sink 28 and a wiring board 30, such as a printed circuit board, which is attached to the heat sink 28 and on which the first light-emitting element 24a and the second light-emitting element 24b are mounted.

[0030] The heat sink 28 has a substrate support portion 28a that supports the wiring board 30. The substrate support portion 28a contacts the back surface of the wiring board 30 (the surface opposite to the front surface of the wiring board 30 on which the first light-emitting element 24a and the second light-emitting element 24b are mounted), and is thereby thermally coupled to the heat sink 28. The substrate support portion 28a also has a shape that allows it to be attached to the light-emitting element receiving port 17. The substrate support portion 28a and the wiring board 30 may have a circular shape, similar to the light-emitting element receiving port 17. The substrate support portion 28a is detachably attached to the lamp body 12 at the light-emitting element receiving port 17. As a result, the light source module 22 is detachably mounted to the lamp body 12.

[0031] Furthermore, the heat sink 28 has a heat dissipation section 28b. The heat dissipation section 28b is formed as a plurality of heat dissipation fins erected on the substrate support section 28a on the side opposite to the wiring board 30 relative to the substrate support section 28a. The heat dissipation section 28b may be formed integrally with the substrate support section 28a. The heat sink 28 is made of a metal material with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and may be manufactured, for example, by die casting.

[0032] When the substrate support portion 28a is attached to the lamp body 12, the wiring board 30 is positioned inside the lamp chamber 15, while the heat dissipation portion 28b is positioned outside the lamp chamber 15. When the first light-emitting element 24a and the second light-emitting element 24b emit light, the heat emitted from them is transferred to the heat sink 28 through the wiring board 30 and dissipated to the outside of the lamp chamber 15 from the heat dissipation portion 28b. In this way, the light source module 22 provides external heat dissipation to the vehicle lamp 10.

[0033] In this embodiment, the wiring board 30 includes a light-shielding wall 32 positioned between the first light-emitting element 24a and the second light-emitting element 24b. The light-shielding wall 32, like the first light-emitting element 24a and the second light-emitting element 24b, is provided on the front surface of the wiring board 30. The light-shielding wall 32 protrudes from the front surface of the wiring board 30 toward the space 34 between the first light guide 26a and the second light guide 26b.

[0034] Therefore, the light-shielding wall 32 can block light from the first light-emitting element 24a so as to prevent or reduce its incidence onto the second incident surface 26b1 of the second light guide 26b. Furthermore, the light-shielding wall 32 can block light from the second light-emitting element 24b so as to prevent or reduce its incidence onto the first incident surface 26a1 of the first light guide 26a. In this way, the light-shielding wall 32 can optically separate the first lamp 20a and the second lamp 20b.

[0035] For effective light shielding, the height of the light-shielding wall 32 from the front of the wiring board 30 may be greater than the distance from the front of the wiring board 30 to the first incident surface 26a1 (or second incident surface 26b1), as shown in Figure 2.

[0036] The shape of the light-shielding wall 32 in a top view of the wiring board 30 is arbitrary. For example, the light-shielding wall 32 may extend linearly between the first light-emitting element 24a and the second light-emitting element 24b. The light-shielding wall 32 may be positioned midway between the first light-emitting element 24a and the second light-emitting element 24b, and be equidistant from both the first and second light-emitting elements 24a and the second light-emitting element 24b. Alternatively, the light-shielding wall 32 may be positioned close to either the first or second light-emitting element 24a or the second light-emitting element 24b. Furthermore, as shown in the example described later with reference to Figure 3, the light-shielding wall 32 may be positioned to surround either the first or second light-emitting element 24a or the second light-emitting element 24b.

[0037] The light-shielding wall 32 can also function as a heat-dissipating fin erected on the wiring board 30. When the first light-emitting element 24a and the second light-emitting element 24b emit light, the heat they emit is transferred to the light-shielding wall 32 through the wiring board 30 and can be dissipated from the light-shielding wall 32 into the lamp chamber 15.

[0038] The light-shielding wall 32 may be made of a metal material. Generally, metal materials can have higher thermal conductivity than other materials that can form the light-shielding wall 32, such as synthetic resin materials. For example, the light-shielding wall 32 may be made of a metal material with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy, similar to the heat sink 28. By making the light-shielding wall 32 out of a metal material, the heat dissipation performance from the light-shielding wall 32 can be improved.

[0039] If the light-shielding wall 32 is made of a metal material, the wiring board 30 may include a metal region 36 for attaching the light-shielding wall 32 to the wiring board 30. The metal region 36 has a shape that at least partially coincides with the bottom surface of the light-shielding wall 32. The bottom surface of the light-shielding wall 32 is joined to the metal region 36 by an appropriate joining technique, such as soldering.

[0040] The metal region 36 may be a metal layer formed on the front surface of the wiring board 30, made of a metallic material such as copper, similar to the circuit pattern 38 on the front surface of the wiring board 30, which is electrically connected to the first light-emitting element 24a (or the second light-emitting element 24b). However, the metal region 36 is positioned away from the circuit pattern 38 on the front surface of the wiring board 30 so as to be electrically insulated from the circuit pattern 38.

[0041] Alternatively, the metal region 36 may penetrate the wiring board 30 from the front to the back. In this case, the metal region 36 may contact the heat sink 28 on the back surface of the wiring board 30 and be thermally coupled to the heat sink 28. This can facilitate heat transfer from the light shielding wall 32 to the heat sink 28, which can help dissipate heat from the light source module 22.

[0042] The light-shielding wall 32 may include a first reflective surface 40a that reflects light from the first light-emitting element 24a to an optical element that is a component of the first lamp 20a. The first reflective surface 40a may be the surface of the metal material forming the light-shielding wall 32. The first reflective surface 40a may be the surface of the light-shielding wall 32 that is close to the first light-emitting element 24a, and can reflect light from the first light-emitting element 24a toward the first incident surface 26a1 of the first light guide 26a. This increases the amount of light incident from the first light-emitting element 24a to the first light guide 26a through the first incident surface 26a1.

[0043] Similarly, the light-shielding wall 32 may include a second reflective surface 40b that reflects light from the second light-emitting element 24b to an optical element that is a component of the second lamp 20b. The second reflective surface 40b may be the surface of the metal material forming the light-shielding wall 32. The second reflective surface 40b may be the surface of the light-shielding wall 32 that is close to the second light-emitting element 24b, and can reflect light from the second light-emitting element 24b toward the second incident surface 26b1 of the second light guide 26b. This increases the amount of light incident from the second light-emitting element 24b to the second light guide 26b through the second incident surface 26b1.

[0044] Figure 3 is a schematic top view showing an example of a light source module 22 applicable to a vehicle lighting device 10 according to an embodiment. Similar to the embodiment described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the light source module 22 comprises a heat sink 28 and a wiring board 30 attached to the heat sink 28, on which a first light-emitting element 24a and a second light-emitting element 24b are mounted. The wiring board 30 also includes a light-shielding wall 32 positioned between the first light-emitting element 24a and the second light-emitting element 24b.

[0045] In the example shown in Figure 3, the array 42 of the first light-emitting elements 24a is arranged in one place on the wiring board 30. The array 42 of the first light-emitting elements 24a includes at least one first light-emitting element 24a, and in this example, nine first light-emitting elements 24a are arranged adjacent to each other in a 3x3 arrangement on the wiring board 30. The array 42 of the first light-emitting elements 24a is positioned opposite the first incident surface 26a1 (see Figure 2) of the first light guide 26a, thereby forming the first lamp 20a (see Figures 1 and 2).

[0046] Furthermore, the first array 44a of the second light-emitting elements 24b and the second array 44b of the second light-emitting elements 24b are arranged separately on the wiring board 30. The first array 44a of the second light-emitting elements 24b includes at least one second light-emitting element 24b, and in this example, six second light-emitting elements 24b are arranged adjacent to each other in a 2x3 arrangement on the wiring board 30. The second array 44b of the second light-emitting elements 24b includes at least one second light-emitting element 24b, and in this example, three second light-emitting elements 24b are arranged adjacent to each other on the wiring board 30. The distance between the first array 44a of the second light-emitting elements 24b and the second array 44b of the second light-emitting elements 24b is at least greater than the distance between the second light-emitting elements 24b (or first light-emitting elements 24a) that make up the array. The first array 44a and the second array 44b of the second light-emitting element 24b are arranged opposite the second incident surface 26b1 (see Figure 2) of the second light guide 26b, thereby forming the second lamp 20b (see Figures 1 and 2).

[0047] Note that a circuit pattern for electrical connection to the first light-emitting element 24a (or the second light-emitting element 24b) (for example, the circuit pattern 38 shown in Figure 2) may be provided on the wiring board 30, but for convenience, it is omitted from the illustration in Figure 3.

[0048] The light-shielding wall 32 is positioned to surround the array 42 of the first light-emitting elements 24a. In the example shown in Figure 3, the light-shielding wall 32 has an arc-shaped curve centered on the array 42 of the first light-emitting elements 24a when viewed from above on the wiring board 30. Furthermore, the light-shielding wall 32 is positioned closer to the array 42 of the first light-emitting elements 24a than to the first array 44a and second array 44b of the second light-emitting elements 24b, which are arranged separately. By surrounding the light-shielding elements, which are arranged more densely in this manner, it is thought that light can be efficiently shielded with a smaller light-shielding wall 32.

[0049] In this example, the light-shielding wall 32 is provided only on a portion of the periphery of the array 42 of the first light-emitting elements 24a on the side of the second light-emitting elements 24b. Alternatively, the light-shielding wall 32 may surround the entire periphery of the array 42 of the first light-emitting elements 24a.

[0050] Furthermore, a connector 46 may be provided on the wiring board 30 for electrical connection to the first light-emitting element 24a and the second light-emitting element 24b. The connector 46 is connected to the first light-emitting element 24a and the second light-emitting element 24b via a circuit pattern on the wiring board 30 (for example, the circuit pattern 38 shown in Figure 2). For connection to a power source for the vehicle lighting fixture 10, a wire harness (not shown) extending from a component located within the lamp chamber 15 of the vehicle lighting fixture 10, such as the main lamp unit 18 (see Figure 1), is connected to the connector 46.

[0051] Because the light source module 22 is designed to be compact, the footprint of the connector 46 on the wiring board 30 is relatively large. In the example in Figure 3, the connector 46 is located in one half of the wiring board 30 (the lower half in Figure 3), while the array 42 of the first light-emitting element 24a, the first array 44a and the second array 44b of the second light-emitting element 24b, and the light-shielding wall 32 are located in the other half of the wiring board 30 (the upper half in Figure 3). In this example, the first light-emitting element 24a, the second light-emitting element 24b, and the light-shielding wall 32 are located on the same side of the wiring board 30 relative to the connector 46.

[0052] Alternatively, the connector 46 may be positioned between the first light-emitting element 24a and the second light-emitting element 24b. That is, the first light-emitting element 24a may be positioned on the wiring board 30 on one side relative to the connector 46, and the second light-emitting element 24b may be positioned on the wiring board 30 on the other side relative to the connector 46. In this case, the connector 46 may function as a light-shielding wall 32. Alternatively, other components of the wiring board 30 positioned between the first light-emitting element 24a and the second light-emitting element 24b may also serve as a light-shielding wall 32.

[0053] Figure 4 is a schematic top view showing an example of a wiring board 30 applicable to a light source module 22 according to an embodiment. A first light-emitting element 24a and a second light-emitting element 24b are mounted on the wiring board 30. In addition, a third light-emitting element 24c may be mounted on the wiring board 30. The third light-emitting element 24c may be the same light-emitting element as the first light-emitting element 24a (or the second light-emitting element 24b), as in the embodiment described above, and may constitute a first lamp 20a (or the second lamp 20b). Alternatively, the third light-emitting element 24c may constitute a third lamp incorporated into a vehicle lighting device 10.

[0054] Multiple metal regions 36 may be provided on the wiring board 30. In the example shown in Figure 4, three metal regions 36 are arranged on the wiring board 30 corresponding to the first light-emitting element 24a, the second light-emitting element 24b, and the third light-emitting element 24c. Each metal region 36 is arranged, for example, in an arc shape centered on the corresponding light-emitting element, so as to surround the corresponding light-emitting element.

[0055] In this example, the light-shielding wall 32 is attached only to the metal region 36 surrounding the first light-emitting element 24a out of the three metal regions 36. The remaining two metal regions 36 do not have light-shielding walls 32. In this way, by providing multiple metal regions 36 on the wiring board 30, it is possible to select the location where the light-shielding wall 32 should be installed from among the multiple metal regions 36.

[0056] Figure 5 is a schematic top view showing an example of a wiring board 30 applicable to a light source module 22 according to an embodiment. A first light-emitting element 24a and a second light-emitting element 24b are mounted on the wiring board 30. In addition, a third light-emitting element 24c may be mounted on the wiring board 30.

[0057] The wiring board 30 may have at least one heat dissipation land 48. In the example of Figure 5, three heat dissipation lands 48 are arranged on the wiring board 30 corresponding to the first light-emitting element 24a, the second light-emitting element 24b, and the third light-emitting element 24c. These heat dissipation lands 48 may be connected to one another. The heat dissipation lands 48 are thermally coupled to the light-emitting elements (e.g., in contact with the light-emitting elements) to promote heat dissipation. The heat dissipation lands 48 may be a metal layer formed on the front surface of the wiring board 30, similar to circuit patterns on the wiring board 30 that are electrically connected to the light-emitting elements, for example, made of a metallic material such as copper. However, the heat dissipation lands 48 are not electrically connected to the light-emitting elements.

[0058] Furthermore, the wiring board 30 may include at least one metal region 36. The metal region 36 is used to attach the light-shielding wall 32 to the wiring board 30, as in the embodiments described above. In the example of Figure 5, the metal region 36 is connected to the heat dissipation land 48. This thermally couples the metal region 36 with at least one of the first light-emitting element 24a and the second light-emitting element 24b. The metal region 36 may also be thermally coupled with the third light-emitting element 24c. In this way, the light-emitting elements can be thermally coupled to the light-shielding wall 32 via the heat dissipation land 48 and the metal region 36, thereby promoting heat dissipation from the light-emitting elements.

[0059] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments and modifications described above, and it is also possible to combine embodiments and modifications and / or make further modifications such as various design changes based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and such combined or further modified embodiments and modifications are also included in the scope of the present invention. The embodiments and modifications described above, and new embodiments resulting from combinations of the embodiments and modifications described above with the following modifications, combine the effects of the combined embodiments, modifications and further modifications.

[0060] In the above-described embodiment, the case in which the light-shielding wall 32 is formed of a metal material is explained as an example, but the light-shielding wall 32 may be formed of other materials. For example, the light-shielding wall 32 may be formed of a synthetic resin material. The light-shielding wall 32 can be manufactured at a relatively low cost, which can contribute to reducing the cost of the light source module 22.

[0061] In this case as well, the light-shielding wall 32 may have a reflective surface, similar to the first reflective surface 40a (or second reflective surface 40b) described above. The reflective surface may be the surface of the synthetic resin material forming the light-shielding wall 32. To increase reflectivity, the light-shielding wall 32 may be formed of a white synthetic resin material, and the reflective surface may be a white surface. Alternatively, the light-shielding wall 32 may have a metal layer on its surface as a reflective surface.

[0062] In the above-described embodiment, an external heat dissipation type light source module 22 in which the heat dissipation section 28b is located outside the lamp chamber 15 is described as an example. However, the light source module 22 may also be an internal heat dissipation type. That is, the entire light source module 22, including the heat dissipation section 28b, may be located inside the lamp chamber 15.

[0063] In the above-described embodiment, the case in which the light source module 22 is applied to a vehicle headlight is explained as an example, but the light source module 22 may also be applied to other vehicle lighting fixtures that incorporate multiple lamps, such as a rear combination lamp.

[0064] Although the present invention has been described using specific terms based on the embodiments, the embodiments only illustrate one aspect of the principle and application of the present invention, and many modifications and changes in arrangement are permitted in the embodiments, as long as they do not depart from the spirit of the present invention as defined in the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0065] 10 Vehicle lighting fixture, 20a First lamp, 20b Second lamp, 22 Light source module, 24a First light-emitting element, 24b Second light-emitting element, 28 Heat sink, 30 Wiring board, 32 Shading wall, 36 Metal area.

Claims

1. A light source module for vehicle lighting fixtures, The aforementioned vehicle lighting fixture comprises a first lamp and a second lamp, The aforementioned light source module is heatsink and A light source module characterized by comprising a wiring board attached to the heat sink, the wiring board having a first light-emitting element that acts as a light source for the first lamp, a second light-emitting element that is capable of emitting light in a different color from the first light-emitting element and acts as a light source for the second lamp, and a light-shielding wall disposed between the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element.

2. The light source module according to claim 1, characterized in that the light-shielding wall is made of a metal material.

3. The light source module according to claim 2, characterized in that the wiring board includes a metal region to which the light-shielding wall is joined.

4. The light source module according to claim 3, characterized in that the metal region is thermally coupled to at least one of the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element.

5. The light source module according to claim 1, characterized in that the light-shielding wall is formed of a synthetic resin material.

6. The light-shielding wall is characterized by having a reflective surface that reflects light from the first light-emitting element toward an optical element which is a component of the first lamp, as described in any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. An array of first light-emitting elements, including at least one of the first light-emitting elements, is arranged in one place on the wiring board. A first array of second light-emitting elements, including at least one of the second light-emitting elements, and a second array of second light-emitting elements, including at least one other of the second light-emitting elements, are arranged separately on the wiring board. The light-shielding wall is arranged to surround the array of the first light-emitting elements, as described in any one of claims 1 to 5.

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