Vehicle lighting fixtures
A vehicle lamp with a divided projection lens and separate light source modules ensures seamless overlap of low and high beam distributions, eliminating dark areas and enhancing visibility.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2021108538
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2021-06-30
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-24
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-06-30
AI Technical Summary
Conventional vehicle lamps with shared projection lenses for low and high beam light sources can form high beam light distributions that do not overlap the cutoff line of the low beam light distribution, leading to dark areas between the two patterns, which hinders improved illumination.
The vehicle lamp employs a projection lens divided into multiple lens areas with different focal points, where the low beam light source module reflects light through a reflector into a specific lens area, and the high beam light source module directs light directly into these areas, ensuring the high beam light distribution overlaps and connects seamlessly with the low beam cutoff line.
This configuration suppresses dark areas between low and high beam distributions, enhances the connection between cutoff lines, and prevents light cone expansion near the projection lens, improving visibility and recognition of distant signs.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle lamp. [Background technology]
[0002] Conventionally, a vehicle lamp that obtains a good light distribution pattern is known that includes a first reflecting portion and a second reflecting portion. The first reflecting portion includes a first step surface that forms a cutoff line, a second step surface, and an inclined surface, and has a step portion in which the front end of the second step surface protrudes forward beyond the front end of the first step surface. The second reflecting portion has a continuous surface that does not include the step portion below the step portion at the upper end where the second step surface protrudes forward beyond the first step surface (for example, see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-96484 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] A conventional vehicle lamp includes a low beam light source, a high beam light source, and a projection lens. Focusing on a reflecting member that reflects a portion of the light from the low beam light source to create a cutoff line, a high beam light distribution pattern that partially overlaps with the cutoff line of the low beam light distribution pattern is formed. However, if there is an assembly error or the like in the two light sources (low beam light source, high beam light source) or the shade, a high beam light distribution pattern that does not overlap with the cutoff line of the low beam light distribution pattern may be formed. If the cutoff line and the high beam light distribution pattern do not overlap, a dark area (an area with lower illuminance than the surroundings) occurs between the cutoff line at the upper end of the low beam light distribution pattern and the lower end of the high beam light distribution pattern, leaving room for improvement.
[0005] The present disclosure has been made with attention to the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a vehicle lamp that has a projection lens shared by two light sources, and that forms a driving light distribution pattern in which the occurrence of dark areas between the low beam distribution and the high beam distribution is suppressed. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the vehicle lamp of the present disclosure includes a projection lens, a low beam light source module, and a high beam light source module. The projection lens is divided into a plurality of lens areas each having a different focal position, and one of the plurality of lens areas is a low lens area having a low focal point. The low beam light source module has a low beam light source and a reflector, and is configured so that reflected light from the reflector that reflects light emitted from the low beam light source is incident on the back surface of the low lens area and a low beam light distribution is emitted from the surface of the area. The high beam light source module has a high beam light source, and is configured so that light emitted from the high beam light source is directly incident on the lens back surface of the projection lens, and a high beam light distribution for each area is emitted from the surfaces of the plurality of areas. The projection lens is divided at least from the top into a first lens area, a second lens area, and a third lens area as multiple high lens areas into which light emitted from a high beam light source is directly incident. The second lens area of the projection lens is a low lens area into which reflected light from a reflector is incident. The area further below the third lens area, or the area below the third lens area when it is divided into two, top and bottom, is a fourth lens area that forms the upward light distribution of the high beam light distribution pattern. Effect of the Invention
[0007] Therefore, in a lamp having a projection lens shared by two light sources, it is possible to provide a vehicular lamp that forms a driving light distribution pattern in which the occurrence of dark areas between the low beam distribution and the high beam distribution is suppressed. In addition, it is possible to easily ensure a good connection between the cutoff lines of the high-beam light distribution pattern and the low-beam light distribution pattern, and to suppress light dispersion near the cutoff line. Furthermore, compared to when a high-beam light distribution pattern including an upward light distribution is formed by the entire lens, it is possible to prevent the light cone from expanding near the projection lens. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a headlamp unit according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the configurations of a projection lens, a low beam light source module, and a high beam light source module of the headlamp unit of the first embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 3]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating light distribution action, showing the light paths from a low beam light source that forms a low beam light distribution pattern and the light paths from a high beam light source that forms a high beam light distribution pattern in the headlamp unit of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a light distribution explanatory diagram showing an example of light distribution for each area by light emitted from the lens surfaces of a first lens area, a second lens area, a third lens area, and a fourth lens area in the headlamp unit of Example 1. FIG. [Diagram 5] 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the configurations of a projection lens, a low beam light source module, and a high beam light source module of a headlamp unit according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a light distribution explanatory diagram showing the light paths from a low beam light source that forms a low beam light distribution pattern and the light paths from a high beam light source that forms a high beam light distribution pattern in a headlamp unit of Example 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to a first embodiment and a second embodiment shown in the drawings. EXAMPLES
[0010] In the first embodiment, the present invention will be described based on an example in which the present invention is applied to a headlamp unit (one example of a vehicle lamp) that is disposed on both the left and right sides of the front of a vehicle and includes one projection lens, a low beam light source module, and a high beam light source module. In the following description, in the headlamp unit, the direction in which light is projected, which is the traveling direction when the vehicle travels straight ahead, is defined as the optical axis direction (Z in the drawings), the direction representing the up and down when mounted on the vehicle is defined as the up and down direction (Y in the drawings), and the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction and the up and down direction is defined as the width direction (X in the drawings).
[0011] First, the configuration of a headlamp unit 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the headlamp unit 1 includes a projection lens 2, a substrate 3, a first holder 4, a second holder 5, a heat sink member 6, and a fan .
[0013] The projection lens 2 is attached to a substrate 3 or a heat sink member 6 via a first holder 4 and a second holder 5. The first holder 4 positions and holds the outer periphery of the projection lens 2, and is fixed to the second holder 5 in a lens holding state. The second holder 5 is fixed to the substrate 3 or the heat sink member 6.
[0014] The substrate 3 is disposed behind the projection lens 2, and a low beam light source 80 and a high beam light source 90, which will be described later, are provided on a surface portion facing the projection lens 2. A heat sink member 6 is fixed to a rear surface portion of the substrate 3. The heat sink member 6 has heat dissipation fins 6a.
[0015] The fan 7 is disposed at the rear position of the heat sink member 6, and promotes heat dissipation by the heat sink member 6. A power connector (not shown) is connected to the front side of the headlamp unit 1, enabling electrical connection between an on-board power source and the low beam light source 80 and the high beam light source 90. For example, while driving in which a driving light distribution pattern (= high beam light distribution pattern + low beam light distribution pattern) is selected manually or automatically, a lighting current is supplied to simultaneously light up the low beam light source 80 and the high beam light source 90. Also, when a passing light distribution pattern (= low beam light distribution pattern) is selected manually or automatically while driving in the driving light distribution pattern, the lighting current to the high beam light source 90 is cut off (turned off), and lighting current is supplied only to the low beam light source 80.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the headlamp unit 1 includes a projection lens 2, a low beam light source module 8, and a high beam light source module 9.
[0017] The projection lens 2 is an optical lens shared by two light sources, a low beam light source 80 and a high beam light source 90. The projection lens 2 is divided into a plurality of lens areas 21, 22, 23, and 24, each of which has a different focal position where the parallel light incident from the lens surface 2a is condensed. The projection lens 2 is formed from a transparent acrylic resin or the like. Each of the lens areas 21, 22, 23, and 24 of the projection lens 2 has a curved shape that is smoothly connected to the lens surface 2a and the lens back surface 2b without any step by continuously changing the curvature of the front and back surfaces.
[0018] The projection lens 2 is divided into four areas, from top to bottom, a first lens area 21, a second lens area 22, a third lens area 23, and a fourth lens area 24, as multiple high lens areas into which the light emitted from the high beam light source 90 is directly incident. The position that separates the first lens area 21 and the second lens area 22 is defined as a first area boundary 20a. The position that separates the second lens area 22 and the third lens area 23 is defined as a second area boundary 20b. The position that separates the third lens area 23 and the fourth lens area 24 is defined as a third area boundary 20c.
[0019] Here, in the first embodiment, the projection lens 2 is an example of an integrated lens in which a single optical lens is divided into four lens areas. However, the projection lens may be a combination lens in which a plurality of lens components corresponding to the lens areas are joined together to form the projection lens. In addition, in the case of an integrated lens, the lens surface may be a smooth surface, and the lens back surface may have a stepped surface for each lens area. Furthermore, a vertically striped prism that diffuses light from the low beam light source and the high beam light source to the left and right may be formed on the lens surface of the projection lens.
[0020] The first lens area 21 receives light emitted from the high beam light source 90 directly from the rear surface of the area. Then, a central light distribution HP1 of the high beam distribution pattern HP is formed by light rays emitted to the outside from the front surface of the first lens area 21 (see the first light distribution in FIG. 4). Here, the focal position of the first lens area 21 is designed so that the central light distribution HP1 overlaps with the cutoff line CL at the upper end of the low beam distribution pattern LP.
[0021] The second lens area 22 is sandwiched between the first lens area 21 and the third lens area 23, and is a low lens area having a low focal point F2 where the parallel light incident from the lens surface 2a is condensed. Here, the position of the low focal point F2 of the second lens area 22 is designed so that a low beam light distribution pattern LP having a cutoff line CL is formed at an appropriate position where it partially overlaps with the high beam light distribution pattern HP. The second lens area 22 is disposed at a position where the lens optical axis center line CA of the projection lens 2 passes through.
[0022] The second lens area 22 reflects the light emitted from the low beam light source 80 by the first reflector 81 and the second reflector 82, and the reflected light from the second reflector 82 is incident on the rear surface of the area. At this time, the reflected light from the first reflector 81 forms a cutoff line CL due to the shape setting of the reflecting surface 82a of the second reflector 82. Then, a low beam light distribution pattern LP having the cutoff line CL is formed by the light beam emitted to the outside from the surface of the area of the second lens area 22 (see the second light distribution in FIG. 4).
[0023] The second lens area 22 receives light emitted from the high beam light source 90 directly from the rear surface of the area. Then, an upper light distribution HP2 tangent to the horizontal line H of the high beam distribution pattern HP is formed by light rays emitted to the outside from the front surface of the second lens area 22 (see the second light distribution in FIG. 4).
[0024] When a part of the light from the high beam light source 90 is reflected by the reflecting surface 91a of the reflecting member 91, the reflected light enters the second lens area 22 from the rear surface of the area. Then, the light ray exiting from the front surface of the second lens area 22 to the outside forms an additional light distribution HP2' of the high beam light distribution pattern HP that is in contact with the cutoff line CL of the low beam light distribution pattern LP (see the second' light distribution in FIG. 4).
[0025] The third lens area 23 receives light emitted from the high beam light source 90 directly from the rear surface of the area. Then, a central light distribution HP3 of the high beam distribution pattern HP is formed by light rays emitted to the outside from the front surface of the third lens area 23 (see the third light distribution in FIG. 4). Here, the focal position of the third lens area 23 is designed so that the central light distribution HP3 overlaps with the cutoff line CL at the upper end of the low beam distribution pattern LP.
[0026] The fourth lens area 24 receives light emitted from the high beam light source 90 directly from the rear surface of the area. Then, the light emitted from the front surface of the fourth lens area 24 to the outside forms an upward light distribution HP4 of the high beam distribution pattern HP (see the fourth light distribution in FIG. 4). Here, the fourth lens area 24 does not have a specific focal point, and the shape of the upward light distribution HP4 is designed to expand the shape of the high beam distribution pattern HP formed by the combination of the other lens areas 21, 22, and 23 upward.
[0027] The low beam light source module 8 is a light source side module that forms a low beam light distribution pattern LP having a cutoff line CL using the second lens area 22 of the projection lens 2. The low beam light source module 8 has a low beam light source 80, a first reflector 81 (reflector), and a second reflector 82 (reflector).
[0028] The low beam light source 80 is disposed opposite the projection lens 2 and is provided on a substrate 3 having a lens facing surface 3a. Here, "facing arrangement" refers to an arrangement in which a surface perpendicular to the lens optical axis of the projection lens 2 and facing the lens back surface 2b is the light emitting surface 80a of the low beam light source 80. In other words, the low beam light source 80 is disposed below the high beam light source 90 and on the same plane as the lens facing surface 3a on which the high beam light source 90 is provided. As the low beam light source 80, for example, a self-luminous semiconductor type light source such as an LED or an EL (organic EL), that is, a semiconductor type light source (LED in the embodiment) is used. The low beam light source 80 is configured to have one or more light emitting chips provided on the lens facing surface 3a of the substrate 3 and a sealing resin member that seals the light emitting chips. The light emitting surface 80a of the low beam light source 80 is set as a surface in the optical axis direction Z toward the projection lens 2. Note that "LED" is an abbreviation for "Light Emitting Diode" and "EL" is an abbreviation for "Electro Luminescence".
[0029] The first reflector 81 and the second reflector 82 are light-impermeable reflector members, and are formed of, for example, a resin member having reflective surfaces 81a, 82a that are aluminum-deposited or silver-painted, etc. The shape of the reflective surfaces 81a, 82a is a curved shape designed based on the target optical path of the reflected light relative to the incident light, and is, for example, an ellipsoid of revolution, or a free-form surface (NURBS surface) based on an ellipse.
[0030] The first reflector 81 is disposed immediately before the low beam light source 80 in the optical axis direction Z and at a position not blocking the light emitted from the high beam light source 90 directly toward the lens rear surface 2b of the projection lens 2. The first reflector 81 reflects light from the low beam light source 80 and directs the reflected light toward the reflecting surface 82a of the second reflector 82.
[0031] The second reflector 82 is disposed diagonally above the high beam light source 90 in the optical axis direction Z and at a position not blocking the light emitted from the high beam light source 90 directly toward the lens rear surface 2b of the projection lens 2. The second reflector 82 further reflects the reflected light from the first reflector 81 and makes it enter the second lens area 22 of the projection lens 2.
[0032] A cutoff line reflecting shape portion 84 that forms a cutoff line CL of the low beam distribution pattern LP is provided on the reflecting surface 82a of the second reflector 82 near the low focal point F2 at the lower end of the reflecting surface. As shown in FIG. 4, the cutoff line CL has a lower horizontal cutoff line CL1, an oblique cutoff line CL2, and an upper horizontal cutoff line CL3.
[0033] The high beam light source module 9 is a light source side module that forms a high beam light distribution pattern HP by combining the light distributions for each area in the projection lens 2. The high beam light source module 9 has a high beam light source 90 and a reflecting member 91.
[0034] The high beam light source 90 is disposed opposite the projection lens 2 and is provided on a substrate 3 having a lens facing surface 3a. Here, "facing arrangement" refers to an arrangement in which the surface perpendicular to the lens optical axis of the projection lens 2 and facing the lens back surface 2b is the light emitting surface 90a of the high beam light source 90. In other words, the high beam light source 90 is disposed above the low beam light source 80 and on the same plane as the lens facing surface 3a on which the low beam light source 80 is provided. As the high beam light source 90, a semiconductor type light source (in this embodiment, an LED) is used, as with the low beam light source 80. The high beam light source 90 is configured to include a plurality of light emitting chips arranged in the vehicle width direction on the lens facing surface 3a of the substrate 3, and a sealing resin member that seals the light emitting chips. Here, the light emitting chips arranged in the vehicle width direction of the high beam light source 90 may be individually controlled to be turned on and off.
[0035] The light emitting surface 90a of the high beam light source 90 is set as a surface in the optical axis direction Z toward the projection lens 2. The light emitting surface 90a is located behind and below the low focal point F2 and on the lens optical axis center line CA of the projection lens 2.
[0036] The reflecting member 91 is disposed at a portion connecting the position of the low focal point F2 and the upper portion of the high beam light source 90 on the lens side.
[0037] The reflecting surface 91a of the reflecting member 91 is disposed in a front upper position of the high beam light source 90, near the low focal point F2. The reflecting surface 91a reflects a portion of the light emitted from the high beam light source 90 toward the second lens area 22, which is the low lens area of the projection lens 2. The reflecting member 91 is made of a resin member having the reflecting surface 91a that is, for example, aluminum vapor deposition or silver coating.
[0038] Next, the light distribution pattern forming action of the headlamp unit 1 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. In the light distribution diagram for each area in Fig. 4, V indicates a vertical line in the up-down direction passing through the center point O, and H indicates a horizontal line in the vehicle width direction passing through the center point O.
[0039] When the low beam light source 80 is turned on, the light emitted from the low beam light source 80 traces optical paths OP21, OP22, and OP23 shown by the dashed lines in Fig. 3. That is, the light emitted from the low beam light source 80 is reflected by the first reflector 81, and the reflected light is reflected by the second reflector 82. Then, the reflected light from the second reflector 82 follows the optical paths OP21, OP22, and OP23 and enters from the rear surface of the second lens area 22. At this time, the reflected light from the second reflector 82 has a reflected light shape corresponding to the shape of the reflecting surface 82a of the second reflector 82 having the cutoff line reflecting shape portion 84.
[0040] Therefore, when the low beam light source 80 is turned on, as shown in the second light distribution in FIG. 4, a low beam light distribution pattern LP having a cutoff line CL is formed by light rays emitted to the outside from the area surface of the second lens area 22.
[0041] When the high beam light source 90 is turned on, the light emitted from the high beam light source 90 follows optical paths OP1, OP2, OP3, and OP4 shown by solid lines in Fig. 3 and an optical path OP2' shown by a dashed dotted line in Fig. 3. That is, the light emitted from the high beam light source 90 is directly incident on the rear surfaces of the lens areas 21, 22, 23, and 24 of the projection lens 2 via optical paths OP1, OP2, OP3, and OP4, respectively.
[0042] When light emitted from the high beam light source 90 is directly incident on the rear surface of the first lens area 21 via the optical path OP1, a central light distribution HP1 is formed by the first lens area 21 by light rays exiting to the outside from the front surface of the first lens area 21. The shape of the central light distribution HP1 is a light distribution whose center position approximately coincides with the center point O, as shown in the first light distribution in FIG.
[0043] When light emitted from the high beam light source 90 is directly incident on the rear surface of the second lens area 22 via the optical path OP2, an upper light distribution HP2 is formed by the second lens area 22 by light rays emitted to the outside from the front surface of the second lens area 22. The shape of the upper light distribution HP2 is a light distribution whose center position is above the center point O and whose lower side is in contact with the horizontal line H, as shown in the second light distribution in FIG.
[0044] When the light emitted from the high beam light source 90 is directly incident on the rear surface of the third lens area 23 via the optical path OP3, a central light distribution HP3 is formed by the third lens area 23 by the light rays emitted from the surface of the third lens area 23 to the outside. The shape of the central light distribution HP3 is a light distribution whose center position almost coincides with the center point O, as shown in the third light distribution in FIG. 4. In the first light distribution and the third light distribution in FIG. 4, the central light distribution HP1 and the central light distribution HP3 are made to have the same shape at almost the same position. However, the central light distributions HP1 and HP3 may be slightly shifted in one position or both positions in the direction of the vertical line V in the up-down direction, or one or both shapes may be slightly changed to appropriately adjust the illuminance distribution of the high beam light distribution pattern HP. In addition, the amount of slight shift or slight shape change of the central light distributions HP1 and HP3 is an amount or shape change determined based on appropriately adjusting the illuminance distribution of the high beam light distribution pattern HP.
[0045] When light emitted from the high beam light source 90 is directly incident on the rear surface of the fourth lens area 24 via the optical path OP4, an upward light distribution HP4 is formed by the fourth lens area 24 by light rays emitted to the outside from the surface of the fourth lens area 24. As shown in the fourth light distribution in Fig. 4, the shape of the upward light distribution HP4 is an area light distribution having a flattened elliptical shape whose center position is above the center point O and whose lower side is away from the horizontal line H. Here, the upward light distribution HP4 may be an area light distribution whose lower side is in contact with the upper light distribution HP2. Also, the upward light distribution HP4 may be an area light distribution whose lower side slightly overlaps with the upper light distribution HP2.
[0046] When a portion of the light emitted from the high beam light source 90 is incident on the reflecting surface 91a of the reflecting member 91 and reflected, the reflected light from the vicinity of the low focal point F2 is incident on the rear surface of the second lens area 22 via the optical path OP2'. At this time, an additional light distribution HP2' by the second lens area 22 is formed by the light rays emitted to the outside from the surface of the second lens area 22. The shape of the additional light distribution HP2' is a light distribution that is tangent to the cutoff line CL of the low beam light distribution pattern LP, as shown in the second' light distribution in FIG.
[0047] For this reason, the high beam distribution pattern HP produced by turning on the high beam light source 90 is a light distribution pattern that is a combination of the central light distribution HP1, the upper light distribution HP2, the central light distribution HP3, the upper light distribution HP4, and the additional light distribution HP2', which are light distributions for each area.
[0048] Next, the functions and effects of the characteristic configuration of the headlamp unit 1 in the first embodiment will be described.
[0049] The headlamp unit 1 of the first embodiment includes a projection lens 2, a low beam light source module 8, and a high beam light source module 9. The projection lens 2 is divided into a plurality of lens areas 21, 22, 23, and 24, each of which has a different focal position where the parallel light incident from the lens surface 2a is condensed. One of the plurality of lens areas 21, 22, 23, and 24, the second lens area 22, is a low lens area having a low focal point F2. The low beam light source module 8 includes a low beam light source 80, a first reflector 81, and a second reflector 82. The low beam light source module 8 is set so that the reflected light from the first reflector 81 and the second reflector 82, which reflect the light emitted from the low beam light source 80, enters the back surface of the second lens area 22 and emits a low beam light distribution from the surface of the area. The high beam light source module 9 includes a high beam light source 90. The high beam light source module 9 is set so that light emitted from the high beam light source 90 is directly incident on the lens rear surface 2b of the projection lens 2, and high beam light distributions are emitted from the surface of a plurality of areas for each area.
[0050] That is, the low beam light distribution pattern LP is formed by the low beam light distribution emitted from the area surface of the second lens area 22 toward the outside. On the other hand, the high beam light distribution pattern HP is formed by combining and overlapping the high beam light distribution for each area emitted from the area surface of each of the lens areas 21, 22, 23, and 24 of the projection lens 2. In this way, the low beam light distribution from the second lens area 22 of the projection lens 2 is incorporated in the high beam light distribution for each area from the lens areas 21, 22, 23, and 24 of the projection lens 2 by overlapping them. Therefore, the connection between the high beam light distribution and the low beam light distribution is improved, and the occurrence of a dark area between the high beam light distribution pattern HP and the low beam light distribution pattern LP is suppressed. Therefore, in a lamp having a projection lens 2 shared by two light sources, it is possible to provide a headlamp unit 1 that forms a driving light distribution pattern in which the occurrence of a dark area between the low beam light distribution and the high beam light distribution is suppressed.
[0051] In the first embodiment, the projection lens 2 is divided at least from the top into a first lens area 21, a second lens area 22, and a third lens area 23 as a plurality of high lens areas into which light emitted from the high beam light source 90 is directly incident. The second lens area 22 of the projection lens 2 is a low lens area into which reflected light from the first reflector 81 and the second reflector 82 is incident.
[0052] That is, the high beam light distribution pattern HP is formed by combining the central light distribution HP1 by the first lens area 21, the upper light distribution HP2 by the second lens area 22, and the central light distribution HP3 by the third lens area 23. On the other hand, the low beam light distribution pattern LP having the cutoff line CL is formed by the second lens area 22 sandwiched between the first lens area 21 and the third lens area 23. Therefore, the central light distribution HP1 by the first lens area 21 and the central light distribution HP3 by the third lens area 23 are formed by a positional relationship that sandwiches the low beam light distribution pattern LP from above and below. Therefore, the illuminance of the area near the cutoff line CL of the low beam light distribution pattern LP can be increased by the central light distribution HP1 by the first lens area 21 and the central light distribution HP3 by the third lens area 23. Therefore, it is possible to easily ensure a good connection between the high beam light distribution pattern HP and the cutoff line CL of the low beam light distribution pattern LP, and to suppress the light dispersion near the cutoff line CL.
[0053] In the first embodiment, the projection lens 2 is further divided into a fourth lens area 24 below the third lens area 23, which forms an upper light distribution HP4 of the high beam light distribution pattern HP.
[0054] That is, a fourth lens area 24 that forms an upward light distribution HP4 of the high beam light distribution pattern HP is disposed below the projection lens 2. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the light cone from expanding in the vicinity of the projection lens 2, compared to when a high beam light distribution pattern including an upward light distribution is formed by the entire lens.
[0055] In the first embodiment, the high beam light source 90 has a light emitting surface 90a facing the lens back surface 2b of the projection lens 2, which is located below and rearward of the low focal point F2 and on the lens optical axis center line CA of the projection lens 2.
[0056] That is, the light emitted from the high beam light source 90 is directly incident on the lens back surface 2b of the projection lens 2. Therefore, when the light from the high beam light source 90 is incident on each of the multiple lens areas 21, 22, 23, and 24 of the projection lens 2, the angle of incidence with respect to the lens surface can be within an angle range of about a right angle. Therefore, a stable high beam light distribution pattern HP can be formed by combining the high beam light distributions for each area emitted from the multiple area surfaces of the projection lens 2. In particular, when the light from the high beam light source 90 is directly incident on and passes through the first lens area 21 and the second lens area 22 of the projection lens 2, the luminous intensity near both lens areas 21 and 22 increases, and the visibility of distant signs, pedestrians, etc. can be improved.
[0057] In the first embodiment, the high beam light source module 9 is disposed at a front upper position of the high beam light source 90 and includes a reflecting member 91 having a reflecting surface 91a that reflects the light emitted from the high beam light source 90 toward the second lens area 22.
[0058] That is, a portion of the light emitted from the high beam light source 90 that is removed from the light incident on the lens rear surface 2b of the projection lens 2 is received by the reflecting surface 91a of the reflecting member 91. Then, the additional light distribution HP2' of the high beam light distribution pattern HP is formed by the light reflected from the reflecting surface 91a. Therefore, the additional light distribution HP2' becomes a light distribution that is in contact with the cutoff line CL of the low beam light distribution pattern LP. Therefore, by effectively utilizing the light emitted from the high beam light source 90 to form the additional light distribution HP2' of the high beam light distribution pattern HP, it is possible to increase the illuminance of the dark portion of the driving light distribution pattern.
[0059] In the first embodiment, the low beam light source module 8 includes a first reflector 81 and a second reflector 82 as reflectors. The high beam light source 90 is disposed opposite the projection lens 2 and is provided on a substrate 3 having a lens facing surface 3a. The low beam light source 80 is disposed below the high beam light source 90 and on the same plane as the lens facing surface 3a. The first reflector 81 and the second reflector 82 are disposed at positions that do not block the light emitted from the high beam light source 90 directly toward the lens rear surface 2b of the projection lens 2.
[0060] That is, when the low beam light source 80, the first reflector 81, and the second reflector 82 in the low beam light source module 8 are arranged, the low beam light source 80 is arranged in the same plane position as the high beam light source 90. The first reflector 81 and the second reflector 82 are arranged at a position closer to the projection lens 2 side than the high beam light source 90 without blocking the light emitted from the high beam light source 90. Therefore, the low beam light source module 8 having the low beam light source 80, the first reflector 81, and the second reflector 82 can be arranged between the lens back surface 2b of the projection lens 2 and the lens facing surface 3a of the substrate 3. Therefore, the dimension of the headlamp unit 1 in the optical axis direction Z is kept short, and the headlamp unit 1 can be made compact. EXAMPLES
[0061] The second embodiment is an example of a headlamp unit 10 in which a low beam light source module 8' is disposed at a position different from that of the low beam light source module 8 of the first embodiment.
[0062] First, the configuration of a headlamp unit 10 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0063] As shown in FIG. 5, the headlamp unit 10 includes a projection lens 2, a low beam light source module 8', and a high beam light source module 9.
[0064] The low beam light source module 8 ′ includes a low beam light source 80 and a third reflector 83 .
[0065] The low beam light source 80 is located behind the high beam light source 90, and is provided on the lens optical axis surface 3b of a substrate 3' having a lens facing surface 3a and a lens optical axis surface 3b. The third reflector 83 has a similar configuration to the second reflector 82 of the first embodiment, and has a reflecting surface 83a. The third reflector 83 is located opposite the light emitting surface 80a of the low beam light source 80, and is located at a position not to block the emitted light that goes directly from the high beam light source 90 to the lens rear surface 2b of the projection lens 2.
[0066] The high beam light source module 9 includes a high beam light source 90 and a reflecting member 91 .
[0067] The high beam light source 90 is provided on the lens facing surface 3a of the substrate 3' having the lens facing surface 3a and the lens optical axis surface 3b. The reflecting member 91 has a reflecting surface 91a as in the first embodiment. Note that the projection lens 2 has the same configuration as in the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. Also, among the configurations of the low beam light source module 8' and the high beam light source module 9, the configurations other than those described above are the same as in the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.
[0068] Next, the operation of forming the low beam light distribution pattern LP by the headlamp unit 10 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0069] When the low beam light source 80 is turned on, the light emitted from the low beam light source 80 traces optical paths OP24, OP25, and OP26 shown by the dashed lines in Fig. 6. That is, the light emitted from the low beam light source 80 is reflected by the reflecting surface 83a of the third reflector 83. Then, the reflected light from the third reflector 83 follows the optical paths OP24, OP25, and OP26 and enters the rear surface of the second lens area 22. At this time, a cutoff line is formed by the shape setting of the reflecting surface 83a of the third reflector 83, etc.
[0070] Therefore, when the low beam light source 80 is turned on, a low beam light distribution pattern LP having a cutoff line CL is formed by light rays emitted to the outside from the area surface of the second lens area 22, as shown in the second light distribution in Fig. 4. Note that the explanation of the formation action of the high beam light distribution pattern HP is omitted because it shows the same action as in the first embodiment.
[0071] Next, the operation and effect of the characteristic configuration of the headlamp unit 10 in the second embodiment will be described.
[0072] In the second embodiment, the low beam light source module 8' includes a third reflector 83 as a reflector. The high beam light source 90 is provided on the lens facing surface 3a of a substrate 3' having a lens facing surface 3a and a lens optical axis surface 3b. The low beam light source 80 is provided on the lens optical axis surface 3b of the substrate 3' at a position behind the high beam light source 90. The third reflector 83 is disposed at a position facing the light emitting surface 80a of the low beam light source 80 and at a position not blocking the emitted light that goes directly from the high beam light source 90 to the lens rear surface 2b of the projection lens 2.
[0073] That is, when the low beam light source 80 and the third reflector 83 in the low beam light source module 8' are arranged, the low beam light source 80 is arranged behind the high beam light source 90 with the light emitting surface 80a facing upward. Then, the third reflector 83 is arranged at an upper position of the low beam light source 80 where the light emitted from the high beam light source 90 is not blocked. Therefore, the low beam light source module 8' and the high beam light source module 9 can be arranged in a narrow spatial area in the vertical direction behind the projection lens 2. Therefore, the dimension of the headlamp unit 1 in the vertical direction Y is kept short, and the headlamp unit 1 can be made compact.
[0074] The vehicle lamp of the present disclosure has been described above based on Example 1 and Example 2, however, the specific configuration is not limited to these Examples, and design changes and additions are permitted as long as they do not deviate from the gist of the invention according to each claim in the scope of the claims.
[0075] In the first and second embodiments, the projection lens 2 is divided into four areas, namely, the first lens area 21, the second lens area 22, the third lens area 23, and the fourth lens area 24. However, the projection lens is not limited to being divided into four areas as long as it is divided into two or more lens areas. It is preferable to divide the projection lens into three or more lens areas, in which the low lens area can be sandwiched between high lens areas above and below.
[0076] In the first and second embodiments, the light emitting surface 90a of the high beam light source 90 is disposed at a position on the lens optical axis center line CA of the projection lens 2. However, the light emitting surface of the high beam light source may be disposed at a position shifted in the vertical direction from the lens optical axis center line of the projection lens.
[0077] In the first and second embodiments, an example was shown in which the region further below the third lens area 23 was divided into the fourth lens area 24 that forms the upward light distribution HP4 of the high beam distribution pattern HP as the projection lens 2. However, the projection lens may be such that the lower region when the third lens area is divided into two, upper and lower, is the fourth lens area that forms the upward light distribution of the high beam distribution pattern. [Explanation of symbols]
[0078] 1 Headlamp unit (vehicle lighting fixture) 2 Projection Lens 2a Lens surface 2b Lens back 21 First lens area 22 Second lens area (low lens area) 23 Third lens area 24 4th lens area 3,3' Board 3a Lens facing surface 3b Lens optical axis surface 8 Low beam light source module 80 Low beam light source 80a Light emitting surface 81 First Reflector (Reflector) 82 Second reflector (reflector) 83 Third Reflector (Reflector) 84 Cut-off line reflective shape part 9 High beam light source module 90 High beam light source 90a Light emitting surface 91 Reflective material 91a Reflective surface F2 Low focus LP low beam light distribution pattern CL Cutoff Line HP High Beam Pattern HP1 central light distribution HP2 Top light distribution HP3 central light distribution HP4 Upward light distribution HP2' additional light distribution CA Lens optical axis center line
Claims
1. A vehicle lamp including a projection lens, a low beam light source module, and a high beam light source module, the projection lens is divided into a plurality of lens areas each having a different focal position, and one of the plurality of lens areas is a low lens area having a low focal position; The low beam light source module has a low beam light source and a reflector, and the reflected light from the reflector that reflects the light emitted from the low beam light source is incident on the back surface of the low lens area, and a low beam light distribution is emitted from the surface of the area; The high beam light source module has a high beam light source, and light emitted from the high beam light source is directly incident on a rear surface of the projection lens, and high beam light distributions for each area are emitted from a surface of a plurality of areas; the projection lens is divided into a first lens area, a second lens area, and a third lens area from at least an upper side as a plurality of high lens areas into which the light emitted from the high beam light source is directly incident, the second lens area of the projection lens is a low lens area to which reflected light from the reflector is incident, The area further below the third lens area, or the area below the third lens area when the third lens area is divided into two areas, upper and lower, is a fourth lens area that forms the upper light distribution of the high beam light distribution pattern. A vehicle lamp characterized by the above.
2. In the vehicle lamp described in claim 1, The high beam light source is disposed such that a light emitting surface facing the rear surface of the projection lens is located rearward and below the low focal point and on the center line of the lens optical axis of the projection lens. A vehicle lamp characterized by the above.
3. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1 or 2, The high beam light source module is disposed at a front upper position of the high beam light source and includes a reflecting member having a reflecting surface that reflects the light emitted from the high beam light source toward the low lens area. A vehicle lamp characterized by the above.
4. The vehicular lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The low beam light source module includes a first reflector and a second reflector as reflectors, the high beam light source is disposed opposite the projection lens and is provided on a substrate having a lens-opposing surface; The low beam light source is provided below the high beam light source and on the same plane as the lens facing surface, The first reflector and the second reflector are disposed at positions not blocking the light emitted from the high beam light source directly toward the rear surface of the projection lens. A vehicle lamp characterized by the above.
5. The vehicular lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The low beam light source module includes a third reflector as a reflector, the high beam light source is provided on a lens facing surface of a substrate having a lens facing surface and a lens optical axis surface, The low beam light source is disposed rearward of the high beam light source and on the lens optical axis surface of the substrate, The third reflector is disposed at a position facing a light emitting surface of the low beam light source and at a position not blocking the light emitted from the high beam light source directly toward the rear surface of the projection lens. A vehicle lamp characterized by the above.
Citation Information
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