Vehicle lighting fixtures

Abstract

To provide a vehicular lighting fixture including a projection lens that can secure sufficient lightness of a light distribution pattern after realizing a lighting fixture design in which the projection lens is seen to be a narrow width shape in a front view of the lighting fixture.SOLUTION: A vehicular lighting fixture is configured to emit projection light from a light source unit 20 toward the front of the lighting fixture through a projection lens 30. The projection lens 30 comprises a projection surface 30a which is in a longitudinally long outward shape in a front view of the lighting fixture. The light source unit 20 is configured to reflect the projection light from a light emitting element 22 by a reflector 24 and then make it incident on the projection lens 30 as light converging in a lighting fixture right-left direction. Then the projection lens 30 comprises an incidence surface 30b formed to a larger width than the projection surface 30a and a pair of right and left rising wall surfaces 30c formed spreading toward the rear of the lighting fixture from both end edges of the projection surface 30a to both right and left sides, and the projection light from the light source unit 20 is made incident efficiently from the incidence surface 30b to be guided to the projection surface 30a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp equipped with a projection lens. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a vehicle lamp configured to form a required light distribution pattern by irradiating light emitted from a light source unit forward through a projection lens.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a configuration of a projection lens in such a vehicle lamp, in which the emission surface has a vertically long outer shape when the lamp is viewed from the front.

[0004] The projection lens of the vehicle lamp described in "Patent Document 1" is configured to have a pair of left and right upright wall surfaces extending rearward from both side edges of the emission surface. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-15215 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] By adopting the configuration described in the above-mentioned "Patent Document 1," it is possible to realize a lamp design in which the projection lens appears narrow when viewed from the front of the lamp.

[0007] However, the projection lens described in the above-mentioned "Patent Document 1" has a narrow width both on the left and right sides of its exit surface and its entrance surface, so it is not easy to fully capture the light emitted from the light source unit into the projection lens, and as a result, it is not easy to ensure sufficient brightness of the light distribution pattern formed by the light emitted from the vehicle lamp.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a vehicle lamp equipped with a projection lens, which realizes a lamp design in which the projection lens appears narrow when viewed from the front of the lamp, while ensuring sufficient brightness of the light distribution pattern. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention is intended to achieve the above object by improving the configuration of the projection lens.

[0010] That is, the vehicle lamp according to the present invention is A vehicle lamp configured to form a desired light distribution pattern by irradiating light emitted from a light source unit toward a front of the lamp through a projection lens, the light source unit includes a light source and an optical member configured to cause light emitted from the light source to be incident on the projection lens as light converging in a left-right direction of the lamp, The projection lens is characterized by having an exit surface having a vertically elongated outer shape when viewed from the front of the lamp, an entrance surface formed with a width wider than the exit surface, and a pair of left and right upright wall surfaces formed so as to extend to the left and right from both side edges of the exit surface toward the rear of the lamp.

[0011] The above-mentioned "optical member" is configured to cause the light emitted from the light source to enter the projection lens as light that converges in the left-right direction of the lamp, but as long as the light emitted from the light source is configured to cause the light that converges as a whole in the left-right direction of the lamp to enter the projection lens, it is not necessary for a portion of the light emitted from the light source to be light that proceeds in the converging direction.

[0012] The type of the "light source" is not particularly limited, and for example, a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode or a laser diode, or a light source bulb, etc. can be used.

[0013] The "emission surface" is not particularly limited in terms of its specific surface shape and outer shape, so long as it has a vertically elongated outer shape when viewed from the front of the lamp.

[0014] The "incident surface" is not particularly limited in terms of its specific surface shape and outer shape, so long as it is formed to be wider than the exit surface.

[0015] The "standing wall surface" is not particularly limited in terms of its specific surface shape and outer shape, so long as it is formed so as to extend to both left and right sides from both side edges of the emission surface towards the rear of the lamp. Effect of the Invention

[0016] The vehicle lamp of the present invention is configured to irradiate light emitted from a light source unit toward the front of the lamp through a projection lens, and the light source unit is configured to cause the light emitted from the light source to be incident on the projection lens as light that converges in the left-right direction of the lamp by an optical member.The projection lens has an exit surface having a vertically elongated outer shape when viewed from the front of the lamp, an entrance surface that is wider than the exit surface, and a pair of left and right upright wall surfaces that are formed so as to extend to the left and right from both side edges of the exit surface toward the rear of the lamp, thereby obtaining the following effects.

[0017] That is, since the exit surface of the projection lens has a vertically long outer shape when the lamp is viewed from the front, it is possible to realize a lamp design in which the projection lens appears narrow when the lamp is viewed from the front.

[0018] In addition, the projection lens has an entrance surface wider than the exit surface, and a pair of left and right upright walls are formed to extend from both ends of the exit surface toward the rear of the lamp, so that the exit light from the light source unit that reaches the projection lens as light converging in the left-right direction of the lamp can be efficiently taken in from the entrance surface and guided to the exit surface. Therefore, the brightness of the light distribution pattern formed by the light emitted from the vehicle lamp can be sufficiently ensured.

[0019] Thus, according to the present invention, as a vehicle lamp equipped with a projection lens, it is possible to realize a lamp design in which the projection lens appears narrow when viewed from the front of the lamp, while ensuring sufficient brightness of the light distribution pattern.

[0020] In the above configuration, if the pair of left and right vertical wall surfaces are configured so that the maximum distance between the rear ends is set to a value 1.5 times or more the maximum distance between the front ends, it becomes easy to sufficiently capture the light emitted from the light source unit into the projection lens.

[0021] In the above configuration, if the configuration of each of the pair of left and right vertical wall surfaces is such that the inclination angle with respect to the vertical plane extending in the front-to-rear direction of the lamp is set to a value within the range of 15 to 40°, a sufficient amount of light emitted from the light source unit and incident on the projection lens can be ensured, and the light incident from the entrance surface can be efficiently guided to the exit surface.

[0022] In the above configuration, if the configuration of the exit surface is further configured so that its maximum vertical width is set to a value that is more than twice the maximum horizontal width, it becomes easily possible to realize a lighting design in which the projection lens appears narrow when viewed from the front of the lighting fixture.

[0023] In the above configuration, if a cover member is further arranged on the front side of the projection lens of the lamp to make at least a portion of the pair of left and right upright wall surfaces invisible when viewed from the front of the lamp, the lamp design can be emphasized by making the projection lens appear narrow when viewed from the front of the lamp. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] Cross-sectional view of line II-II in Figure 1 [Diagram 3] View in the direction of arrow III in Figure 1 [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a low beam light distribution pattern formed by light emitted from the vehicle lamp; [Diagram 5] 1A is a planar cross-sectional view showing a projection lens of a vehicle lamp according to a first modified example of the embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a planar cross-sectional view showing a projection lens of a vehicle lamp according to a second modified example of the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing a third modification of the embodiment; [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing a fourth modified example of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0026] Fig. 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a vehicle lamp 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Fig. 1. FIG.

[0027] In these figures, the direction indicated by X is the "front of the lamp," the direction indicated by Y is the "left direction" perpendicular to the "front of the lamp" (the "right direction" when viewed from the front of the lamp), and the direction indicated by Z is the "upward direction." This is the same in other figures.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a vehicle lamp 10 according to this embodiment is a low beam lamp unit used in a state where it is incorporated as part of a headlamp, and is configured as a projector-type lamp unit.

[0029] That is, the vehicle lamp 10 comprises a light source unit 20, a projection lens 30, and a base member 40 that supports these, and is configured to form a low beam light distribution pattern (which will be described later) by irradiating light emitted from the light source unit 20 toward the front of the lamp via the projection lens 30.

[0030] The projection lens 30 is a plano-convex aspheric lens having an optical axis Ax extending in the front-rear direction of the lamp, with its exit surface (i.e., the front surface) 30a formed as a convex curved surface and its entrance surface (i.e., the rear surface) 30b formed as a flat surface. The projection lens 30 projects a light source image formed on a rear focal plane, which is a focal plane including the rear focal point F, as an inverted image onto a virtual vertical screen in front of the lamp. The specific configuration of the projection lens 30 will be described later.

[0031] The light source unit 20 includes a light-emitting element 22 as a light source, and a reflector 24 as an optical member that causes the light emitted from the light-emitting element 22 to enter a projection lens 30 as light that converges in the left-right direction of the lamp.

[0032] The light emitting element 22 is configured as a white light emitting diode having a horizontally elongated rectangular light emitting surface 22a. The light emitting element 22 is disposed rearward of the rear focal point F of the projection lens 30, and is mounted on the upper surface of the base member 40 with the light emitting surface 22a facing upward on the optical axis Ax.

[0033] The reflector 24 is disposed so as to cover the light emitting element 22 from above, and is supported at its lower edge by the upper surface of the base member 40 .

[0034] The reflecting surface 24a of the reflector 24 is configured as a curved surface having a substantially ellipsoidal shape with the light emitting center of the light emitting element 22 as the first focus, and its eccentricity is set to gradually increase from the vertical cross section to the horizontal cross section. As a result, the reflector 24 converges the light from the light emitting element 22 to a point located slightly forward of the rear focal point F in the vertical cross section, and moves the convergence position considerably forward in the horizontal cross section.

[0035] When the vehicle lamp 10 is incorporated into a headlamp, the optical axis Ax of the projection lens 30 is arranged to extend downward at an angle of about 0.5 to 0.6° with respect to the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0036] The base member 40 is a metal member provided with a plurality of heat dissipation fins 40b, and functions as a heat sink that efficiently dissipates heat generated by the light emitting elements 24.

[0037] An upward reflecting surface 40a is formed on the upper surface of the base member 40 to reflect a part of the reflected light from the reflector 24 upward toward the projection lens 30 in order to form a cutoff line of the low beam light distribution pattern. The left side area of ​​this upward reflecting surface 40a, located to the left of the optical axis Ax (the right side when the lamp is viewed from the front), is composed of a horizontal plane including the optical axis Ax, and the right side area, located to the right of the optical axis Ax, is composed of a horizontal plane one step lower than the left side area via a short inclined surface. The front end edge 40a1 of this upward reflecting surface 40a extends from the rear focal point F in a curved manner toward the front side on both the left and right sides.

[0038] The exit surface 30a of the projection lens 30 has a vertically long outer shape when viewed from the front of the lamp. Specifically, both upper and lower end edges of the exit surface 30a are formed to extend along an arc centered on the optical axis Ax when viewed from the front of the lamp, and both side end edges are formed to extend parallel to a vertical plane including the optical axis Ax (i.e., a vertical plane extending in the front-rear direction of the lamp). At this time, the maximum vertical width H of the exit surface 30a is set to a value of at least twice (for example, about three times) its maximum left-right width W (however, in this embodiment, a constant width).

[0039] The entrance surface 30b of the projection lens 30 is formed to be wider than the exit surface 30a. The projection lens 30 is configured to include a pair of left and right standing wall surfaces 30c formed in a planar shape so as to expand to the left and right from both side edges of the exit surface 30a toward the rear of the lamp.

[0040] The projection lens 30 is configured to include an outer peripheral flange portion 30d formed to surround both upper and lower end edges of the emission surface 30a and the rear end edges of the pair of left and right vertical wall surfaces 30c when viewed from the front of the lamp. The outer peripheral flange portion 30d is formed with a constant width and a constant thickness, and its rear surface is formed flush with the incidence surface 30b.

[0041] In each of the pair of left and right standing wall surfaces 30c, the front end edge 30c1, which is the intersection line with the emission surface 30a, is formed to extend parallel to a vertical plane including the optical axis Ax, while the rear end edge 30c2, which is the intersection line with the outer circumferential flange portion 30d, is formed to bulge in an arc shape toward both the left and right sides. In this case, the pair of left and right standing wall surfaces 30c has a maximum distance D2 between the rear end edges 30c2 set to a value 1.5 times or more (for example, a value about twice) the maximum distance D1 (however, in this embodiment, a constant distance) between the front end edges 30c1.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 2, each of the pair of left and right standing wall surfaces 30c has an inclination angle θ with respect to a vertical plane including the optical axis Ax set to a value within a range of 15 to 40° (more preferably 20 to 30°) (for example, a value of about 25°).

[0043] The projection lens 30 is supported at its outer circumferential flange portion 30d by a lens holder 32, and the lens holder 32 is supported by a base member .

[0044] The lens holder 32 is configured such that an annular protrusion 32a is formed on the front surface thereof which surrounds the outer peripheral flange portion 30d of the projection lens 30, thereby supporting the projection lens 30 in a positioned state.

[0045] A cover member 34 is disposed on the front side of the projection lens 30 so as to make substantially the entire area of ​​the pair of left and right standing wall surfaces 30c invisible when the lamp is viewed from the front.

[0046] The cover member 34 is an opaque resin member and includes a pair of left and right side wall portions 34A formed to extend along the pair of left and right vertical wall surfaces 30c, and a base end portion 34B formed at the rear end positions of the pair of left and right side wall portions 34A to surround the pair of left and right vertical wall surfaces 30c and the outer circumferential flange portion 30d.

[0047] The pair of left and right side wall portions 34A are formed in a flat plate shape, and the inner surfaces 34A1 of their front ends are formed to extend along a vertical plane parallel to the optical axis Ax near both the left and right sides of the front end edges 30c1 of the pair of left and right vertical wall surfaces 30c.

[0048] The base end 34B is formed to extend in a flat plate shape along a vertical plane perpendicular to the optical axis Ax, and an annular flange portion 34B1 is formed on its outer circumferential edge portion, extending toward the rear of the lamp. The annular flange portion 34B1 has its inner circumferential surface engaged with the outer circumferential surface of the annular protrusion portion 32a of the lens holder 32, and its rear end surface abuts against the front surface of the lens holder 32. This allows the cover member 34 to be positioned relative to the lens holder 32.

[0049] As described above, the projection lens 30 has an entrance surface 30b formed to be wider than the exit surface 30a, so that the reflected light from the reflector 24 is taken in over a wide range by the projection lens 30. At that time, the pair of left and right standing wall surfaces 30c are formed so as to spread out to both left and right sides from both side edges of the exit surface 30a toward the rear of the lamp, but the reflected light from the reflector 24 reaches the entrance surface 30b of the projection lens 30 as light converging in the left-right direction of the lamp, so that the light that enters the projection lens 30 from this entrance surface 30b reaches the exit surface 30a without reaching the pair of left and right standing wall surfaces 30c.

[0050] On the other hand, if the projection lens 30 is configured so that the left-right width of the entrance surface 30b is narrow as well as the exit surface 30a (i.e., if the pair of left and right vertical wall surfaces 30c' are formed so as to expand slightly to the left and right from both side edges of the exit surface 30a toward the rear of the lamp as shown by the two-dotted line in Figure 2), the reflected light from the left and right end regions of the reflecting surface 24a of the reflector 24 is not taken into the projection lens 30 as incident light from the entrance surface 30b, but enters the projection lens 30 from the pair of left and right vertical wall surfaces 30c', as shown by the optical path by the two-dotted line in Figure 2, and is then irradiated from the exit surface 30a toward the front of the lamp as stray light (i.e., light that does not contribute to the formation of a low beam light distribution pattern).

[0051] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a low beam light distribution pattern PL formed by light emitted from a vehicle lamp 10 on a virtual vertical screen located at a position 25 m in front of the lamp.

[0052] The low beam light distribution pattern PL is a low beam light distribution pattern with left light distribution, and has cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 at the upper edge that are staggered on the left and right. These cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 extend horizontally with left and right steps, with the VV line passing vertically through HV, which is the vanishing point in front of the lamp, as a boundary, and the oncoming lane side portion to the right of the VV line is formed as a lower cutoff line CL1, and the own lane side portion to the left of the VV line is formed as an upper cutoff line CL2 that is stepped up from the lower cutoff line CL1 via an inclined portion.

[0053] The low beam light distribution pattern PL is formed by projecting a light source image of the light emitting element 22 formed on the rear focal plane of the projection lens 30 by light from the light emitting element 22 reflected by the reflector 24 as an inverted projection image onto the above-mentioned virtual vertical screen by the projection lens 30, and the cut-off lines CL1, CL2 are formed as inverted projection images of the front edge 40a1 of the upward reflecting surface 40a of the base member 40.

[0054] In the low beam light distribution pattern PL, the elbow point E, which is the intersection point between the lower cutoff line CL1 and the VV line, is located about 0.5 to 0.6° below HV. This is because the optical axis Ax extends in a downward direction by about 0.5 to 0.6° with respect to the vehicle front-rear direction.

[0055] Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0056] The vehicle lamp 10 of this embodiment is configured to irradiate light emitted from the light source unit 20 toward the front of the lamp via the projection lens 30. The light source unit 20 is configured so that light emitted from a light-emitting element 22 (light source) is reflected by a reflector 24 (optical component) and made to enter the projection lens 30 as light that converges in the left-right direction of the lamp. The projection lens 30 has an exit surface 30a having a vertically elongated outer shape when viewed from the front of the lamp, an entrance surface 30b which is formed to be wider than the exit surface 30a, and a pair of left and right upright wall surfaces 30c which are formed so as to extend to the left and right from both side edges of the exit surface 30a toward the rear of the lamp, thereby obtaining the following effects.

[0057] That is, since the projection lens 30 has an exit surface 30a that has a vertically long outer shape when the lamp is viewed from the front, it is possible to realize a lamp design in which the projection lens 30 appears narrow when the lamp is viewed from the front.

[0058] In addition, the projection lens 30 has an entrance surface 30b formed to be wider than the exit surface 30a, and a pair of left and right standing wall surfaces 30c formed to spread out to the left and right from both side edges of the exit surface 30a toward the rear of the lamp, so that the exit light from the light source unit 20 that reaches the projection lens 30 as light converging in the left-right direction of the lamp can be efficiently taken in from the entrance surface 30b and guided to the exit surface 30a. Therefore, the brightness of the low beam light distribution pattern PL formed by the light emitted from the vehicle lamp 10 can be sufficiently ensured.

[0059] Thus, according to this embodiment, a vehicle lamp 10 equipped with a projection lens 30 can achieve a lamp design in which the projection lens 30 appears narrow when viewed from the front of the lamp, while still ensuring sufficient brightness of the low beam light distribution pattern PL.

[0060] In this embodiment, the maximum distance D2 between the rear edges 30c2 of the pair of left and right vertical wall surfaces 30c is set to a value 1.5 times or more the maximum distance D1 between the front edges 30c1 thereof, so that it is easily possible to sufficiently capture the light emitted from the light source unit 20 into the projection lens 30.

[0061] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the inclination angle θ of each of the pair of left and right vertical wall surfaces 30c with respect to the vertical plane extending in the front-to-rear direction of the lamp is set to a value within a range of 15 to 40°, so that a sufficient amount of light emitted from the light source unit 20 entering the projection lens 30 can be ensured, and the light incident from the entrance surface 30b can be efficiently guided to the exit surface 30a.

[0062] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the maximum vertical width H of the exit surface 30a is set to a value that is more than twice the maximum horizontal width W, making it easy to realize a lighting design in which the projection lens 30 appears narrow when viewed from the front of the lighting fixture.

[0063] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a cover member 34 is arranged on the front side of the projection lens 30 to make substantially the entire area of ​​the pair of left and right upright wall surfaces 30c invisible when viewed from the front of the lamp, thereby emphasizing the lamp design in which the projection lens 30 appears narrow when viewed from the front of the lamp.

[0064] In the above embodiment, the cover member 34 is described as being configured to make substantially the entire area of ​​the pair of left and right upright wall surfaces 30c invisible when viewed from the front of the lamp, but the range in which the pair of left and right upright wall surfaces 30c are invisible can be set arbitrarily in the lamp configuration.

[0065] In the above embodiment, the vehicle lamp 10 has been described as being configured to form a low beam light distribution pattern PL by the light it emits, but it is also possible for the vehicle lamp 10 to be configured to form other light distribution patterns (for example, a high beam light distribution pattern, a fog lamp light distribution pattern, or a light distribution pattern that is formed in addition to a low beam light distribution pattern when forming a high beam light distribution pattern).

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

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

[0068] FIG. 5(a) is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing a projection lens 130 of a vehicle lamp according to this modified example.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 5(a), the projection lens 130 of this modified example has an exit surface 130a and an entrance surface 130b similar to those of the projection lens 30 of the above embodiment, but differs from the above embodiment in that a pair of left and right standing wall surfaces 130c are formed to extend to the entrance surface 130b while maintaining the same shape as the pair of left and right standing wall surfaces 130c in the projection lens 30 of the above embodiment.

[0070] That is, in this modification, front edges 130c1 of the pair of left and right standing wall surfaces 130c are located on the line of intersection with the emission surface 130a, while rear edges 130c2 are located on the line of intersection with the incidence surface 130b.

[0071] For this reason, the projection lens 130 of this modified example does not have any portions (portions shown by dotted lines in Figure 5(a)) that protrude to the left and right sides of the pair of left and right vertical wall surfaces 130c in the outer peripheral flange portion 30d, as in the projection lens 30 of the above embodiment.

[0072] The projection lens 130 of this modification also has an entrance surface 130b formed to be wider than the exit surface 130a, and a pair of left and right standing wall surfaces 130c are formed to spread out to the left and right from both side edges of the exit surface 130a toward the rear of the lamp, so that, like the projection lens 30 of the above embodiment, the exit light from the light source unit (not shown) that reaches the projection lens 130 as light converging in the left-right direction of the lamp can be efficiently taken in from the entrance surface 130b and guided to the exit surface 130a. Therefore, the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0073] Next, a second modification of the above embodiment will be described.

[0074] FIG. 5(b) is a diagram similar to FIG. 2, showing a projection lens 230 according to this modified example.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 5(b), the projection lens 230 of this modified example is configured with an exit surface 230a, an entrance surface 230b, a pair of left and right vertical wall surfaces 230c, and an outer peripheral flange portion 230d, similar to the projection lens 30 of the above embodiment, but is configured as a biconvex aspherical lens rather than a plano-convex aspherical lens like the projection lens 30 of the above embodiment.

[0076] Specifically, the projection lens 230 of this modified example has an exit surface 230a and an entrance surface 230b both formed in a convex curved shape, but the refractive power is set to the same value as the projection lens 30 of the above embodiment. That is, the light that reaches the projection lens 230 as light converging in the left-right direction of the lamp from the light source unit (not shown) travels from the entrance surface 230b in a direction closer to the optical axis Ax than in the above embodiment, but the direction when it exits from the exit surface 230a is the same as in the above embodiment.

[0077] In FIG. 5(b), the exit surface 30a and the entrance surface 30b of the projection lens 30 of the above embodiment, and the optical path of the light that reaches the projection lens 30 from the light source unit are indicated by two-dot chain lines.

[0078] In the projection lens 230 of this modification, the entrance surface 230b is formed wider than the exit surface 230a, and the pair of left and right standing wall surfaces 230c are formed to expand to both left and right sides from both side edges of the exit surface 230a toward the rear of the lamp, so that, similarly to the projection lens 30 of the above embodiment, the exit light from the light source unit that reaches the projection lens 230 as light converging in the left-right direction of the lamp can be efficiently taken in from the entrance surface 230b and guided to the exit surface 230a. Therefore, the same effects as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0079] In particular, in this modified example, the emitted light from the light source unit that reaches the projection lens 230 travels in a direction closer to the optical axis Ax within the projection lens 230 than in the above embodiment, so that it is possible to increase the inclination angle of the pair of left and right vertical wall surfaces 230c accordingly.

[0080] Next, a third modification of the above embodiment will be described.

[0081] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing a vehicle lamp 310 according to this modified example.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 6, the basic configuration of this modified example is similar to that of the above embodiment, but the configurations of a projection lens 330 and a cover member 334 are different from those of the above embodiment.

[0083] That is, the projection lens 330 of this modification is a plano-convex aspheric lens similar to the projection lens 30 of the above embodiment, and its emission surface 330a has a vertically long outer shape when viewed from the front of the lamp, but both side edges are formed to bulge in an arc shape toward both the left and right. Accordingly, not only the rear edge 330c2 but also the front edge 330c1 of the pair of left and right standing wall surfaces 330c are formed in an arc shape, and thus the surface shape is configured to be approximately conical.

[0084] In this modified example, the maximum distance D2 between the rear edges 330c2 of the pair of left and right upright wall surfaces 330c is set to a value that is 1.5 or more times the maximum distance D1 between the front edges 330c1, and the maximum vertical width H of the exit surface 330a is set to a value that is two or more times the maximum horizontal width W.

[0085] The projection lens 330 of this modified example has an incident surface 330b and an outer circumferential flange portion 330d similar in configuration to the projection lens 30 of the above embodiment.

[0086] Similar to the cover member 34 of the above embodiment, the cover member 334 of this modified example has a pair of left and right side wall portions 334A and a base end portion 334B, but the shape of the pair of left and right side wall portions 334A is different from that of the above embodiment.

[0087] That is, in the cover member 334 of this modified example, the pair of left and right side wall surfaces 334A are also formed to extend along the pair of left and right standing wall surfaces 330c of the projection lens 330, but extend in a plate-like shape along an approximately conical surface corresponding to the pair of left and right standing wall surfaces 330c which are formed in an approximately conical surface shape.

[0088] In the cover member 334 of this modified example, the pair of left and right side wall surfaces 334A have inner surfaces 334A1 at their front ends located near both the left and right sides of the front end edges 330c1 of the pair of left and right vertical wall surfaces 330c, but are formed so as to extend in a direction expanding toward the front of the lamp with respect to a vertical plane parallel to the optical axis Ax.

[0089] The cover member 334 of this modification also has a base end portion 334B having the same configuration as in the above embodiment, and is positioned relative to the lens holder 32 at its annular flange portion 334B1.

[0090] Even when the configuration of this modified example is adopted, the projection lens 330 has an exit surface 330a that has a vertically elongated outer shape when viewed from the front of the lamp, so that a lamp design can be realized in which the projection lens 330 appears narrow when viewed from the front of the lamp.

[0091] In this case, the projection lens 330 of this modified example is formed so that both side edges of its emission surface 330a bulge in an arc shape toward both the left and right, thereby creating a lighting design that gives a different impression than that of the above embodiment.

[0092] Furthermore, the cover member 334 of this modified example is formed so that the inner surfaces 334A1 of the front ends of the pair of left and right side wall portions 334A extend in a direction expanding toward the front of the lamp with respect to a vertical plane including the optical axis Ax. In this respect too, it is possible to create a lamp design that gives a different impression from that of the above embodiment, and also to improve formability when manufacturing the cover member 334.

[0093] Next, a fourth modification of the above embodiment will be described.

[0094] FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing a vehicle lamp 410 according to this modified example.

[0095] As shown in FIG. 7, the basic configuration of this modified example is the same as that of the above embodiment, but the configuration of the light source unit 420 is different from that of the above embodiment, and therefore the configuration of the base member 440 is also partially different from that of the above embodiment.

[0096] That is, the light source unit 420 of this modified example has a light-emitting element 422 as a light source and a condensing lens 426 as an optical element, and is configured so that the light emitted from the light-emitting element 422 is incident on the projection lens 30 as light that converges in the left-right direction of the lamp by the condensing lens 426.

[0097] The condenser lens 426 is supported at its outer periphery by a base member 440 in a state in which it is disposed on the optical axis Ax on the rear side of the rear focal point F of the projection lens 30 to the rear of the lamp.

[0098] The light emitting element 422 is configured as a white light emitting diode having a horizontally elongated rectangular light emitting surface 422a, similar to the light emitting element 22 of the above embodiment. The light emitting element 422 is disposed on the rear side of the lamp relative to the condenser lens 426, with the light emitting surface 422a facing toward the front of the lamp on the optical axis Ax. The light emitting element 422 is supported by the base member 440 in a state where it is mounted on a substrate 428.

[0099] The condenser lens 426 is configured to make the light emitted from the light emitting element 422 enter the projection lens 30 as light that converges in the left-right direction of the lamp to the same extent as the light reflected from the reflector 24 in the above embodiment.

[0100] In this modification, the light emitted from the vehicle lamp 410 forms, for example, a high beam light distribution pattern.

[0101] Even when the configuration of this modified example is adopted, the light source unit 420 is configured to cause the light emitted from the light-emitting element 422 to enter the projection lens 30 as light that converges in the left-right direction of the lamp by the condenser lens 426, so that the light emitted from the light source unit 420 is efficiently taken in through the entrance surface 30b of the projection lens 30 having a vertically elongated exit surface 30a and guided to the exit surface 230a.

[0102] Therefore, even when the configuration of this modified example is adopted, the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0103] It should be noted that the numerical values ​​given as the specifications in the above embodiment and its modified examples are merely examples, and it goes without saying that these may be set to different values ​​as appropriate.

[0104] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the configurations described in the above embodiment and its modified examples, and various other modified configurations can be adopted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0105] 10, 310, 410 Vehicle lighting fixtures 20, 420 Light source unit 22, 422 Light emitting element (light source) 22a, 422a Light emitting surface 24 Reflector (optical component) 24a Reflective surface 30, 130, 230, 330 Projection Lens 30a, 130a, 230a, 330a Output surface 30b, 130b, 230b, 330b entrance plane 30c, 130c, 230c, 330c standing wall surface 30c1, 130c1, 330c1 Front edge 30c2, 130c2, 330c2 Rear edge 30d, 230d, 330d Outer flange 32 Lens holder 32a Annular protrusion 34, 334 Cover member 34A, 334A side wall section 34A1, 334A1 Inner surface 34B, 334B proximal end 34B1, 334B1 Annular engagement portion 40, 440 Base material 40a Upward reflective surface 40a1 Front edge 40b Heat dissipation fin 426 Condenser lens (optical components) 428 Substrate Ax optical axis CL1 Lower cutoff line CL2 Upper cutoff line D1, D2 maximum interval E Elbow point F back focus H Maximum vertical width PL low beam light distribution pattern W Maximum left and right width

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp configured to form a desired light distribution pattern by irradiating light emitted from a light source unit toward a front of the lamp through a projection lens, the light source unit includes a light source and an optical member configured to cause light emitted from the light source to be incident on the projection lens as light converging in a left-right direction of the lamp, The projection lens has an exit surface having a vertically elongated outer shape when viewed from the front of the lamp, an entrance surface formed with a width wider than the exit surface, and a pair of left and right upright wall surfaces formed so as to extend to the left and right from both side edges of the exit surface toward the rear of the lamp.

2. 2. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the maximum distance between the rear ends of the pair of left and right standing wall surfaces is set to a value 1.5 times or more the maximum distance between the front ends.

3. 3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of left and right standing wall surfaces has an inclination angle set to a value within a range of 15 to 40 degrees with respect to a vertical plane extending in the front-rear direction of the lamp.

4. 4. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the maximum vertical width of the light exit surface is set to a value at least twice as large as the maximum horizontal width of the light exit surface.

5. A vehicle lamp as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a cover member is arranged on the front side of the projection lens to make at least a portion of the pair of left and right upright wall surfaces invisible when viewed from the front of the lamp.

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