Vehicle lighting

Abstract

The present invention provides a vehicle lighting fixture that allows the lamp unit to be tiltably supported relative to the lamp housing, and further reduces the component cost of the lamp unit. [Solution] A vehicle light fixture 1 comprising a light-transmitting cover 10, a lamp housing 20 that together with the light-transmitting cover 10 to form a light chamber, a lamp unit 300 disposed inside the light chamber and distributing light to the outside of the light chamber, and a bracket 40 that tiltably supports the lamp unit 300 with respect to the lamp housing 20, wherein the lamp unit 300 comprises a light source, a lens that deflects the light of the light source, a resin lens holder that supports the lens, and a support substrate having a mounting surface that supports the light source and the lens holder, and the lens holder has a first fixing part fixed to the support substrate and a second fixing part fixed to the bracket.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a light source unit that serves as a light source of a vehicle lamp, comprising a light-emitting element, a conductive layer constituting a lighting circuit for the light-emitting element, and a heat sink that supports the light-emitting element and the conductive layer. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2018-190633 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] The vehicle headlamp described in Prior Art Document 1 includes a headlamp unit, an aiming screw, and a hitch ball in a lamp chamber formed by a lamp body and a front cover; a support member of the headlamp unit has a screw fixing portion and a ball receiving portion, and the support member is fixed to the lamp body via the aiming screw and the hitch ball. As a result, the headlamp unit can be tiltably supported relative to the lamp body, and the optical axis of the headlamp unit can be adjusted.

[0005] Since the support member also has the function of dissipating heat from the main light source, when the ball receiving portion of the support member has a complicated structure having a recess capable of accommodating the hitch ball, the support member may be formed by casting which provides high design freedom. This leads to an increase in processing cost of the support member.

[0006] Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle lamp that can tiltably support a lamp unit relative to a lamp housing, and further suppresses the component cost of the lamp unit. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0007] The vehicle lighting device disclosed herein comprises a light-transmitting cover, a lamp housing that together with the light-transmitting cover forms a lamp chamber, a lamp unit disposed inside the lamp chamber and distributing light to the outside of the lamp chamber, and a bracket that tiltably supports the lamp unit with respect to the lamp housing. The lamp unit comprises a light source, a lens that deflects the light from the light source, a resin lens holder that supports the lens, and a support substrate having a mounting surface that supports the light source and the lens holder. The lens holder comprises a first fixing part fixed to the support substrate and a second fixing part fixed to the bracket.

[0008] According to this disclosure, by providing a structure for fixing the lamp unit to the bracket in the lens holder, it is not necessary to provide a complex fixing shape on the support substrate, and an inexpensive flat substrate can be used, thereby providing an inexpensive vehicle lighting fixture.

[0009] In this embodiment, the first fixing portion further includes a first boss protruding to the rear of the lamp unit, and the second fixing portion includes a second boss protruding to the rear of the lamp unit, the second boss may extend further rearward than the first boss. This allows the lens holder to be fixed to the bracket at the rear of the lamp unit on the support substrate.

[0010] In this embodiment, the support substrate may further have an opening or notch, and the second boss may be fixed to the bracket through the opening or notch. This allows the lamp unit to be fixed to the bracket through the support substrate even when the positions of the first and second bosses overlap with the support substrate when viewed from above.

[0011] This embodiment further includes a fin portion on the side opposite to the mounting portion, and the bracket may have a fin opening through which the fin portion is inserted. This allows the fin to extend to the rear of the lamp unit without interfering with the bracket, thereby improving the heat dissipation performance of the fin. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to this disclosure, a lamp unit can be tiltably supported with respect to the lamp body, and a vehicle lighting fixture can be provided that further reduces the cost of the lamp unit. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] A longitudinal cross-section of the vehicle lighting fixture in the embodiment is shown. [Figure 2] This shows a forward oblique view of the lamp unit of the vehicle lighting fixture in the embodiment. [Figure 3] This shows a plan view of the lamp unit with the lens and lens holder removed. [Figure 4] This shows a side view of the lamp unit. [Figure 5] This shows a rearward oblique view of the lamp unit and bracket. [Figure 6] This shows a side view of the lamp unit fixed to the bracket. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0015] <Configuration of the Example> Figure 1 shows a vehicle headlight 1, which is an example of a vehicle lighting device 1 of the embodiment. The vehicle headlight 1 comprises an outer lens 10 which is a light-transmitting cover, a lamp housing 20, a lamp unit 300, a bracket 40, optical axis adjustment screws 52, 54, a marker light 60, and a decorative member 70.

[0016] <Outer Lens> The outer lens 10 is a curved, plate-shaped member formed from a light-transmitting material. The light-transmitting material may be a known material such as polycarbonate or acrylic.

[0017] <Lamp housing> The lamp housing 20 is a bay-shaped component with an opening, formed from a colored resin material such as black. A peripheral edge of the lamp housing 20 is joined to a peripheral edge of the outer lens 10 to form a lamp chamber 2. The lamp chamber 2 houses a lamp unit 300, a marker lamp 60, and a decorative member 70.

[0018] The lamp unit 300 is integrally fixed to the bracket 40.

[0019] The bracket 40 is supported on the lamp housing 20 by a total of three optical axis adjusting screws, including optical axis adjusting screws 52, 54 and one optical axis adjusting screw (not shown) arranged in the depth direction of the drawing. The space between the bracket 40 and the optical axis adjusting screws may be fixed via a known ball joint. The optical axis adjusting screws are screwed onto the ball joint.

[0020] The optical axis adjusting screws 52, 54, and the unillustrated optical axis adjusting screw are fixed to the lamp housing 20 such that their threaded ends are positioned in the lamp chamber 2. The optical axis adjusting screws 52, 54, and the unillustrated optical axis adjusting screw are fixed to the lamp housing 20 so as to be rotatable about their respective screw axes.

[0021] By appropriately rotating the optical axis adjusting screws 52, 54, and the unillustrated optical axis adjusting screw, the bracket 40 can be tilted relative to the lamp housing 20 via the ball joint. As a result, the light emission direction of the lamp unit can be adjusted.

[0022] Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the lamp unit 300 of the vehicle headlamp 1 according to the embodiment. Figure 3 is a plan view showing the lamp unit 300 with the lens 320 and the lens holder 340 removed. Figure 4 is a side view of the lamp unit 300. Figure 5 is a rear perspective view showing the lamp unit 300 separated from the bracket 40. Figure 6 is a side view showing the lamp unit 300 fixed to the bracket 40.

[0023] <Lamp unit> Figures 2 and 3 will be explained below. The lamp unit 300 includes a lens 320, a lens holder 340, a support substrate 360, The system comprises a lens holder 340, a light source 380, and a control circuit 390. The light source 380 and the control circuit 390 are supported by a support substrate 360. The control circuit 390 supplies power to the light source 380 and controls the on / off state of the light source 380. The lens 320 deflects the light emitted from the light source 380 and forms a light distribution pattern in a predetermined direction.

[0024] <Lens> The lens 320 is a circular plate-shaped component in plan view and is made of a translucent resin such as acrylic or polycarbonate. The lens 320 has an optical control surface in the center in plan view and a fixing portion at the periphery in plan view.

[0025] An optical control surface has a step (not shown) that deflects the light from the light source 380 in a predetermined direction. The lens holder 340 supports the lens 320 so that the light source 380 is in a predetermined position relative to the step. The fixing portion is formed on the periphery of the lens 320 and is fixed to the cylindrical part of the lens holder 340 by welding or the like, as described later.

[0026] <Lens holder> The lens holder 340 is made of a known colored resin, such as acrylic or polycarbonate. The lens holder 340 consists of a cylindrical portion that supports the lens 320 and a base portion that has a plane facing the support substrate 360. The end face of the cylindrical portion supports the fixed portion of the lens 320. The base portion is fixed to the support substrate 360 ​​and the bracket 40, as will be explained in Figure 4 below. In this embodiment, an optical system is employed in which the light from the light source 380 is directly incident on the lens 320. However, the light from the light source 380 may be deflected first by optical components such as a reflector or primary lens, and then the deflected light may be deflected by the lens 320.

[0027] The lens holder 340 includes a first boss 342 that forms a first fixing portion protruding from the base toward the rear of the lamp unit (to the right of the page) and a second boss 346 that forms a second fixing portion. As shown in Figures 2 and 5, the first bosses 342 are formed in a total of three locations: two (342A, 342B) near the center of the upper part of the base, and one (342C) below the base. The three first bosses 342A to 342C are fastened with screws while in contact with the metal plate 360, which is the support base, as will be described later. As shown in Figures 2 and 5, second bosses 346A to 346D are formed at four locations on the base. As will be described later, the second bosses 346A to 346D are screw-fastened to the bracket 40 while in contact with it.

[0028] Let's explain Figure 3. <Support substrate> The metal plate 360 ​​is a plate-shaped member formed from a known metal material such as aluminum or iron. One surface of the metal plate 360 ​​has a mounting surface 362 on which the light source LED 380 and the control circuit 390 are mounted, contact portions 364A to 364C that abut against the first bosses 342A to 342C, and openings 366A, 366B and notches 367A, 367B through which the second bosses 346A to 346D are inserted. The diameter of the openings 366A and 366B is larger than the outer diameter of the second bosses 346B and 346C, and the diameter of the approximately circular arc of the notches 367A and 367B is larger than the outer diameter of the second bosses 346A and 346D. In this embodiment, the metal plate 360 ​​is an aluminum plate with a thickness of 1 mm and an anodized surface, but the material and thickness are not limited thereto. As will be described later in Figure 4, the fin portion 368 is supported on the opposite surface 363 of the mounting surface 362. However, the fin portion 368 is not an essential component of the support substrate 360.

[0029] <Light source and control circuit> Let's return to the explanation of Figure 3. <Light source> Three known LEDs emitting white light and a control circuit 390 are arranged on the mounting surface 362. In this embodiment, three LEDs emitting white light are used as the light source 380 (LEDs 380A to 380C), but the type and number of LEDs can be appropriately selected according to the desired light intensity. <Control circuit> The control circuit 390 is formed by a metal conductor (not shown) that controls the on / off switching of LEDs 380A to 380C. The control circuit includes control elements 392 such as resistors and ICs, and a power supply connector 396. The control circuit has power supply lands 394A to 394C formed on it, and is configured to supply power to LEDs 380A to 380C by known means such as wire bonding.

[0030] When power is supplied to the LEDs 380A-380C and the control circuit 390, heat is generated. The metal plate 360 ​​recovers the heat generated from the LEDs 380A-380C and the control circuit 390, and dissipates the heat from the LEDs 380A-380C and the control circuit 390. As will be explained later in Figure 5, in this embodiment, a fin portion 368 is also arranged on the opposite side 363, so the recovered heat is conducted to the fin portion 368, improving the heat dissipation performance of the metal plate 360. However, if the heat dissipation performance of the metal plate 360 ​​alone is sufficient, it does not need to be included.

[0031] A side view of the lamp unit 300 shown in Figure 4 will be described. First bosses 342B and 342C are formed to protrude from the base of the lens holder 340 toward the rear of the lamp unit on the right side of the paper, and the tips of the first bosses 342B and 342C are in contact with the contact portions 364B and C of the metal plate 360, and are fastened together from the opposite side 363 of the support substrate by fastening screws 372. Second bosses 346C and 346D are formed to protrude from the base of the lens holder 340 toward the rear of the lamp unit, extending further toward the rear of the lamp unit than the opposite surface 363 through the notch 367 and the opening 366. As will be described later with respect to Figure 6, the tips of the second bosses 346C and 346D are in contact with the bracket 40 and are fixed by fastening screws 374C and 374D.

[0032] Although not shown in Figure 4, the first boss 342A is fastened from the opposite side 363 of the support base plate by fastening screws 372 while in contact with the contact portion 364A of the metal plate 360.

[0033] Although not shown in Figure 4, the second bosses 346A and 346B extend behind the opposite surface 363 of the lamp unit through the notch 367A and the opening 366A.

[0034] Let's explain Figure 5. Second bosses 346A to 346D are formed from the base of the lens holder 340. The second bosses 346A to 346D have holes for screw fastening toward the bracket 40.

[0035] <Fin section> The fin portion 368 is a rectangular plate-shaped member with its left and right ends bent toward the bracket. Three through holes (not shown) are formed in the fin portion 368 at corresponding positions to the three contact portions 364A to 364C of the metal plate 360. The fin portion 368, the contact portions 364A to 364C, and the second boss portions 342A to 342C are fastened together using fastening screws 372A to 372C through these through holes (not shown). In this embodiment, the fin portion is made of a 1 mm thick aluminum plate with an anodized surface, but the material and thickness are not limited thereto.

[0036] <bracket> In this embodiment, the bracket 40 is a rectangular component with three through holes 42A to 42C on its periphery, a fin opening 44 in the center, and four screw holes 46A to D. Through holes 42A to 42C are designed to accommodate known ball bearings (not shown). Three optical axis adjustment screws engage with the three ball bearings, thereby supporting the lamp unit 300 and bracket 40 to the lamp housing 20 via the optical axis adjustment screws. The fin opening 44 is designed to be large enough to allow the bent portions at the left and right ends of the fin section 368 to pass through. Four fastening screws 374A to 374D fasten the racket 40 to the second boss 346A to 346D via four screw holes 46A to 46D.

[0037] While there are no restrictions on the material of the bracket 40, in this embodiment, a resin-molded part is used.

[0038] Figure 6 shows a side view of the lamp unit 300 fixed to the bracket 40. Second bosses 346C and 346D are formed to protrude from the base of the lens holder 340 toward the rear of the lamp unit on the right side of the paper, and are fastened to the bracket 40 by fastening screws 374C and 374D with the tips of the second bosses 346C and 346D in contact with the bracket 40 through the notch 367 and the opening 366.

[0039] <Effect of the Example> The vehicle headlight 1 of the embodiment comprises an outer lens 10, a lamp housing 20 that together with the outer lens 10 forms a lamp chamber, a lamp unit 300 disposed inside the lamp chamber and distributing light to the outside of the lamp chamber, and a bracket 40 that tiltably supports the lamp unit 300 with respect to the lamp housing 20, wherein the lamp unit 300 comprises a lens 320 that deflects the light of a light source 380, a resin lens holder 340 that supports the lens 320, and a light source 380 and lens holder The lens holder 340 comprises a metal plate 360 ​​having a mounting surface for supporting the 340, and the lens holder 340 is configured to have a first fixing part 342 that abuts against and fixes the metal plate 360, and a second fixing part 346 that abuts against and fixes the bracket 40. As a result, the structure for fixing the lamp unit 300 to the bracket 40 is provided in the lens holder 340, so there is no need to provide a complex fixing shape on the metal plate 360, and a vehicle headlight 1 can be provided using an inexpensive metal plate 360 ​​obtained by sheet metal processing.

[0040] In this embodiment, the first fixing portion 342 is a first boss 342 that protrudes to the rear of the lamp unit, and the second fixing portion 346 is a second boss 346 that protrudes to the rear of the lamp unit, and the second boss 346 extends further to a position behind the lamp unit than the first boss 342. With the first boss 342 in contact with the metal substrate 360, the second boss 346 can be positioned behind the metal substrate 360 ​​of the lamp unit, thereby enabling the bracket 40 and lens holder 340, which are positioned behind the metal plate 360 ​​of the lamp unit, to be fixed in place.

[0041] In this embodiment, the metal plate 360 ​​has an opening 366 or a notch 367 at its periphery, and the second boss 346 abuts against and is fixed to the bracket 40 through the opening 366 or the notch 367. As a result, the tip of the second boss 346 can abut against and be fixed to the bracket 40 without interfering with the metal plate 360. Therefore, when the lamp unit 300 is viewed from the front, the outer shape of the metal plate 360 ​​can be set to be outside the position of the second boss 346, thereby improving the heat dissipation performance of the metal plate 360.

[0042] In this embodiment, the metal plate 360 ​​has a fin portion 368 on the back surface 363, which is the surface opposite to the mounting surface 362, and the bracket 40 has a fin opening 44 through which the fin portion 368 is inserted. As a result, the fin portion 368 can extend to the rear of the lamp unit without interfering with the bracket 40, thereby increasing the surface area of ​​the fin portion 368 and improving the heat dissipation performance of the fin portion 368.

[0043] Furthermore, this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be freely modified and improved as appropriate. Furthermore, the material, shape, dimensions, numerical values, form, number, and placement location of each component in the embodiments described above are not particularly limited as long as they can achieve the present disclosure. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0044] 1. Vehicle lighting equipment (vehicle headlights) 10. Translucent cover (outer lens) 20 Lamp Housing 300 Lamp Units 320 lens 340 Lens Holder 342 First Fixed Section (First Boss) 346 Second Fixed Section (Second Boss) 360 Support board (metal plate) 380 Light source (LED) 40 brackets 52, 54 Optical axis adjustment screws 60 beacon light 70 Decorative components

Claims

1. A light-transmitting cover, A lamp housing that forms a lamp chamber together with the aforementioned light-transmitting cover, A lamp unit is placed inside the aforementioned lamp chamber and distributes light to the outside of the aforementioned lamp chamber, A vehicle lighting fixture comprising a bracket that tiltably supports the lamp unit with respect to the lamp housing, The lamp unit is Light source and A lens that deflects the light from the aforementioned light source, A resin lens holder that supports the aforementioned lens, The system comprises a support substrate having a mounting surface for supporting the light source and the lens holder, The lens holder comprises a first fixing portion fixed to the support substrate and a second fixing portion fixed to the bracket, and is a vehicle lighting device.

2. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the first fixing portion comprises a first boss protruding to the rear of the lamp unit, and the second fixing portion comprises a second boss protruding to the rear of the lamp unit, the second boss extending further to the rear of the lamp unit than the first boss.

3. The vehicle light fixture according to claim 2, wherein the support substrate has an opening or a notch, and the second boss is fixed to the bracket through the opening or the notch.

4. The support substrate has a fin portion on the side opposite to the mounting surface described above. The vehicle light fixture according to claim 1, wherein the bracket has a fin opening through which the fin portion is inserted.

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