Lens for vehicle lighting, vehicle lighting unit, and vehicle lighting device

Abstract

To provide a lens of a vehicle lamp, a vehicle lamp unit and a vehicle lamp device capable of improving fluidity of resin and control of a low-beam light distribution pattern, and further capable of forming a cut-off line with no warpage.SOLUTION: The present invention includes an incident part 2, a second reflection surface 3, a cut-off line forming part 4, and an emission surface 5. The cut-off line forming part 4 is provided in a lateral direction of a vehicle. As a result, according to the present invention, the fluidity of resin is improved, the control of a low-beam light distribution pattern is improved, and a cut-off line with no warpage can be formed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lens for a vehicle lamp, a vehicle lamp unit, and a vehicle lamp device. [Background technology]

[0002] Examples of vehicular lamp lenses, vehicular lamp units, and vehicular lamp devices that irradiate a light distribution pattern having a cutoff line along the left-right direction of the vehicle, that is, a low-beam light distribution pattern, are shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2. Patent Documents 1 and 2 will be described below.

[0003] The concentrator (hereinafter referred to as "concentrator") used in the low beam headlight module of Patent Document 1 includes a concentrating structure and a cutoff line forming structure. The concentrating structure is provided on the LED light source side, which is the rear end of the concentrator. The cutoff line forming structure is provided on the front end of the concentrator, i.e., the end closer to the lens side. The contour curve of the end face closer to the lens side of the cutoff line forming structure is arc-shaped. The concentrator of Patent Document 1 emits a low beam light distribution pattern having a cutoff line along the left-right direction of the vehicle.

[0004] The vehicle light guide and vehicle lamp unit of Patent Document 2 include an incident surface, a first reflecting surface, a second reflecting surface, a light blocking portion, and an exit surface. The second reflecting surface is based on a paraboloid of revolution and has a focus located in a position near the focus of the exit surface. The light blocking portion extends linearly in the left-right direction through the focus. In the vehicle light guide and vehicle lamp unit of Patent Document 2, light from a light source is incident as incident light from the incident surface. The incident light is internally reflected as parallel light by the first reflecting surface. The parallel light is reflected as reflected light by the second reflecting surface toward the focus. A part of the reflected light is blocked by the light blocking portion, and the rest of the reflected light passes through the light blocking portion. The transmitted light that passes through the light blocking portion irradiates a headlight pattern (a low-beam light distribution pattern having a cutoff line along the left-right direction of the vehicle) from the exit surface to the front of the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6637187 [Patent Document 2] JP 2020-191204 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the light collector of Patent Document 1 has an end face close to the lens side of the cutoff line forming structure that has an arc-shaped contour curve. As a result, the light collector of Patent Document 1 has a problem with the fluidity of the resin, since smooth flow of the resin cannot be obtained at the end face close to the lens side of the cutoff line forming structure during resin molding.

[0007] On the other hand, the vehicle light guide and vehicle lighting unit of Patent Document 2 form the light blocking portion in a shape extending linearly in the left-right direction, i.e., in a simplified shape. As a result, the vehicle light guide and vehicle lighting unit of Patent Document 2 obtain smooth flow of resin in the light blocking portion during resin molding, improving the fluidity of the resin. Moreover, since the vehicle light guide and vehicle lighting unit of Patent Document 2 form the light blocking portion in a simplified shape extending linearly in the left-right direction, the control of the low-beam light distribution pattern is improved and easier to perform.

[0008] However, the vehicle light guide and vehicle lamp unit of Patent Document 2 have a light shielding portion formed in a shape extending linearly in the left-right direction, so the shape of the cutoff line of the low-beam light distribution pattern may be warped upward as it moves from the center to the left and right. For example, as shown in FIG. 11(B), the shape of the cutoff lines CLD1 and CLU1 of the low-beam light distribution pattern LP1 projected on the screen is warped upward with respect to the horizontal cutoff lines CLD and CLU (see the broken lines in FIG. 11(B)) as it moves left and right from the center (the top and bottom vertical lines VU-VD of the screen). If this warping is large, there is a possibility that the regulations will not be satisfied. For this reason, it is necessary to form a cutoff line of the low-beam light distribution pattern that does not warp upward. This warping is large as it moves left and right from the center of the cutoff lines CLD1 and CLU1.

[0009] The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a vehicle lamp lens, a vehicle lamp unit, and a vehicle lamp device that have improved resin fluidity, improved control of the low beam light distribution pattern, and can form a cut-off line that is free of warping. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The lens of the vehicle lamp of the present invention comprises an incident portion which receives at least a portion of the light from a light source, a reflective surface having a reflective surface focal point and which reflects the incident light from the incident portion, a cutoff line forming portion provided in the left-right direction of the vehicle and which controls a portion of the reflected light from the reflective surface to form a cutoff line, and an exit surface which emits the reflected light that passes through the cutoff line forming portion to the front of the vehicle as a light distribution pattern having a cutoff line, wherein the reflective surface focal point is located near the cutoff line forming portion, and the reflective surface has a first region where the reflected light passes near the cutoff line forming portion and a second region where the reflected light passes through a position away from the cutoff line forming portion towards the reflective surface.

[0011] The lens of the vehicle lamp of the present invention includes an entrance portion having an entrance optical axis inclined with respect to a vertical line, and causing at least a portion of light from a light source to enter as parallel light parallel or nearly parallel to the entrance optical axis; a reflecting surface based on a paraboloid of revolution, with the rotation axis of the paraboloid of revolution being the reflecting surface optical axis and the focus of the paraboloid of revolution being the reflecting surface focus, and reflecting the light incident from the entrance portion; a cutoff line forming portion provided in the left-right direction of the vehicle and controlling a portion of the reflected light from the reflecting surface to form a cutoff line along the left-right direction of the vehicle; and an exit surface for emitting the reflected light that has passed through the cutoff line forming portion to the front of the vehicle as a light distribution pattern having a cutoff line, wherein the exit surface has an exit surface focus in the vicinity of the reflecting surface focus, and the reflecting surface has a central reflecting area and an outer reflecting area, outside The optical axis of the reflecting surface of the reflecting area is center The reflecting surface of the reflecting area is inclined toward the vertical line as compared with the optical axis of the reflecting surface of the reflecting area.

[0012] In the lens of the vehicle lamp of this invention, it is preferable that the optical axis of the incident portion is inclined with the direction of the incident light pointing toward the exit surface side with respect to a vertical line, and the reflective surface optical axis of the left reflective area of ​​the outer reflective area transitions from parallel or nearly parallel to the optical axis of the incident portion to parallel or nearly parallel to the vertical line as it moves to the left, and the reflective surface optical axis of the right reflective area of ​​the outer reflective area transitions from parallel or nearly parallel to the optical axis of the incident portion to parallel or nearly parallel to the vertical line as it moves to the right.

[0013] In the lens of the vehicle lamp of the present invention, it is preferable that the cutoff line forming portion has a lower horizontal cutoff line forming portion and an upper horizontal cutoff line forming portion, one of the left reflective area or the right reflective area controls the reflected light that passes through the lower horizontal cutoff line forming portion, and the other of the left reflective area or the right reflective area controls the reflected light that passes through the upper horizontal cutoff line forming portion, and the optical axis of the reflective surface of one of the left reflective area or the right reflective area is parallel to or nearly parallel to a vertical line with respect to the optical axis of the reflective surface of the other of the left reflective area or the right reflective area.

[0014] The vehicle lighting unit of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a light source and a vehicle lighting lens of the present invention that receives light from the light source and emits it as a light distribution pattern having a cutoff line along the left-right direction of the vehicle.

[0015] In the vehicle lamp unit of the present invention, it is preferable that the vehicle lamp unit has a plurality of light sources, and the lens of the vehicle lamp has a plurality of light entrance portions corresponding to the plurality of light sources.

[0016] The vehicle lighting device of the present invention is characterized by comprising a lamp lens and a lamp housing which form a lamp chamber, and the vehicle lighting unit of the present invention which is arranged in the lamp chamber. Effect of the Invention

[0017] The vehicle lamp lens, vehicle lamp unit, and vehicle lamp device of the present invention have improved resin fluidity, improved control of the low beam distribution pattern, and can form a cut-off line that is free of warping. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a lens showing an embodiment of a vehicle lamp lens, a vehicle lamp unit, and a vehicle lamp device according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view (view taken along the line II in FIG. 1) showing the lens and the light source. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view (a vertical sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1) showing the optical path in the lens. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view (a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2) showing the optical path in the lens. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view (a vertical sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 2) showing a cutoff line forming portion of the lens. [Figure 6]FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram (partially enlarged view of FIG. 3) showing the main parts of the lens (the optical axis of the incident portion and the optical axis of the reflecting surface). [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a lens (a horizontal cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4). [Figure 8] Fig. 8 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view (partial vertical cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in Fig. 7) showing the optical path at the entrance and reflecting surface of the lens. Fig. 8(A) is a partial vertical cross-sectional view showing the optical path at the entrance and reflecting surface of a lens that does not embody the present invention. Fig. 8(B) is a partial vertical cross-sectional view showing the optical path at the entrance and reflecting surface of a lens that embody the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the reflecting surface of the lens (a partially enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4). [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the luminous intensity of points regulated by regulations in a low-beam light distribution pattern. [Figure 11] Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a low-beam light distribution pattern. Fig. 11(A) is an explanatory diagram showing a low-beam light distribution pattern by a reflecting surface consisting of a basic paraboloid of revolution. Fig. 11(B) is an explanatory diagram showing a low-beam light distribution pattern by a reflecting surface that does not implement this invention. Fig. 11(C) is an explanatory diagram showing a low-beam light distribution pattern by a reflecting surface that implements this invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged vertical sectional view showing the optical path of the incident portion of the lens (a partially enlarged vertical sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3). [Figure 13] Fig. 13(A) is a partially enlarged longitudinal sectional view (partially enlarged vertical sectional view, taken along line XIII-XIII in Fig. 12) showing the optical path of the incident portion of the lens. Fig. 13(B) is a partially enlarged longitudinal sectional view (partially enlarged vertical sectional view, taken along line XIII-XIII in Fig. 12) showing a modified example of the optical path of the incident portion of the lens. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a virtual image surface of the exit surface. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment (example) of the lens of a vehicle lamp, a vehicle lamp unit, and a vehicle lamp device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the vehicle lamp is applied to left-hand traffic in Japan, the UK, and other countries.

[0020] In this specification and the appended claims, the terms "front," "rear," "upper," "lower," "left" and "right" refer to the front, rear, upper, lower, left and right of the lens, vehicle lighting unit and vehicle lighting device of the present invention when installed on a vehicle. In the drawings, the symbols "F" and "B" refer to "front," "rear," "U" and "D" respectively.

[0021] 10 and 11 are explanatory diagrams showing a low-beam light distribution pattern projected onto a screen installed 25 m ahead of the vehicle. In Fig. 10 and Fig. 11, the symbols "VU-VD" indicate the top and bottom vertical lines of the screen, and the symbols "HL-HR" indicate the left and right horizontal lines of the screen.

[0022] Furthermore, since the drawings are schematic diagrams showing the lens of the vehicle lamp, the vehicle lamp unit, and the vehicle lamp device according to the present invention, the main components of the lens of the vehicle lamp, the vehicle lamp unit, and the vehicle lamp device according to the present invention are shown, and components other than the main components are omitted. Furthermore, hatching is omitted in Figures 3, 6, 8, 9, 12, and 13.

[0023] (Description of the configuration of the embodiment) Below, we will explain the configurations of the lens 1 of the vehicle lamp according to this embodiment (hereinafter referred to as "lens 1"), the vehicle lamp unit 1U according to this embodiment (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle lamp unit 1U"), and the vehicle lamp device 100 according to this embodiment (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle lamp device 100").

[0024] (Description of Vehicle Lighting Device 100) The vehicle lighting device 100 is provided on each of the left and right sides of the front of a vehicle (automobile) not shown. In this example, the vehicle lighting device 100 is a vehicle headlamp that irradiates a low-beam light distribution pattern (see the light-collecting low-beam light distribution pattern LP shown in FIG. 11(C)) ahead of the vehicle.

[0025] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view (horizontal cross-sectional view) showing a vehicle lighting device 100. As shown in Fig. 1, the vehicle lighting device 100 includes a lamp housing 101, a lamp lens 102, and a vehicle lighting unit 1U.

[0026] The lamp housing 101 is made of a light-impermeable resin material. The lamp lens 102 is made of a light-transmitting resin material or glass. The lamp lens 102 is an outer lens or an outer cover. The lamp lens 102 conforms to the design surface of the vehicle.

[0027] The lamp housing 101 and the lamp lens 102 form a lamp chamber 103. In the lamp chamber 103, the vehicle lamp unit 1U, one or more other vehicle lamp units (not shown), an inner panel (not shown), and the like are arranged.

[0028] By arranging other vehicle lighting units, the vehicle lighting device 100 can emit light distribution patterns other than a low beam light distribution pattern, such as a high beam light distribution pattern, a light distribution pattern for a daytime running lamp, or a light distribution pattern for a front turn signal lamp.

[0029] (Description of 1U vehicle lighting unit) 1, 2 and 3, the vehicle lamp unit 1U includes a plurality of light sources 10, four in this example, and one lens 1. The vehicle lamp unit 1U irradiates a low beam light distribution pattern, which will be described later, ahead of the vehicle.

[0030] The low beam light distribution pattern has a horizontal cutoff line on the upper side that runs along the left-right direction of the vehicle, and illuminates a wide range of the road surface below the cutoff line, i.e., the road surface from the front side of the vehicle to the near side of the vehicle, in the left-right direction.

[0031] (Explanation of light source 10) In this example, the light source 10 is a self-luminous semiconductor light-emitting element (semiconductor light-emitting element) type light source such as an LED, OEL, or OLED (organic electroluminescence). The light source 10 has a light-emitting surface 11, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3. The light-emitting surface 11 is disposed above an incident portion 2 (described below) of the lens 1. The light-emitting surface 11 is illustrated as a point (the center point of the light-emitting surface 11) in Figures 6, 8, 12, and 13.

[0032] (Lens 1 explanation) The lens 1 receives light L0 from a light source 10 and projects a light distribution pattern having a horizontal cutoff line along the left-right direction of the vehicle forward of the vehicle.

[0033] The lens 1 is a light-transmitting member (such as a resin member), and in this example is made of a colorless and transparent resin material such as acrylic resin, PC (polycarbonate), PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate, methacrylic resin), etc. The lens 1 includes an entrance portion 2, a reflecting surface 3, a cutoff line forming portion 4, an exit surface 5, and a prism portion 12, as shown in Figures 1 to 9, 12, and 13.

[0034] (Explanation of the entrance part 2) The incident portion 2 is provided on the upper surface of one end portion (rear end portion) of the lens 1. There are four incident portions 2 corresponding to the four light sources 10. The four incident portions 2 are aligned in the left-right direction. The incident portions 2 cause at least a portion of the light L0 from the light sources 10 to be incident as parallel light.

[0035] 12 and 13(A) and (B), the incident portion 2 has a reflecting surface 20, first incident surfaces 21, 210, and a second incident surface 22. In addition, the reflecting surface 20 of the incident portion 2 will be referred to as the "first reflecting surface 20" hereinafter in order to distinguish it from the reflecting surface 3 (the reflecting surface described in the claims).

[0036] The incident portion 2 has an incident portion optical axis Z2. The incident portion optical axis Z2 passes through the centers of the first reflecting surface 20, the first incident surfaces 21, 210, and the second incident surface 22 of the incident portion 2. The first incident surfaces 21, 210, and the second incident surface 22 are concave with respect to the first reflecting surface 20.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13(A), the first incident surface 21 is a surface that refracts and enters the light L0 from the light emitting surface 11, the light L0 having a solid angle of about 70° to 80° with the center of the light emitting surface 11 as a point (vertex of the angle) as the first incident light L1. The solid angle is not particularly limited. The first incident light L1 is a parallel light that is parallel or nearly parallel to the incident optical axis Z2. The first incident surface 21 is provided on the lower side of the light emitting surface 11. The first incident surface 21 is a refracting surface of a hyperboloid of revolution formed by rotating a hyperbola having a focus at or near the center of the light emitting surface 11 around the main axis (incident optical axis Z2) of the hyperbola as the rotation axis. The first incident light L1, which is a parallel light, is suitable for forming a light distribution pattern of a condensed type.

[0038] As the first incident surface, the first incident surface 210 shown in FIG. 13(B) may be used instead of the first incident surface 21 shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13(A). As shown in FIG. 13(B), the first incident surface 210 is a surface that refracts and enters the light L0 from the light emitting surface 11, the light L0 having a solid angle of about 70° to 80° with the center of the light emitting surface 11 as a point (vertex of the angle) as the first incident light L10. The solid angle is not particularly limited. The first incident light L10 is diffused light that diffuses with respect to the incident part optical axis Z2. The first incident surface 210 is provided below the light emitting surface 11. The first incident surface 210 is a refractive surface having a cylindrical or nearly cylindrical shape. The first incident light L10, which is diffused light, is suitable for forming a diffuse type light distribution pattern.

[0039] In this way, the first incident surface can be arbitrarily selected from the first incident surface 21 shown in Figures 12 and 13(A) or the first incident surface 210 shown in Figure 13(B) depending on whether a concentrating type light distribution pattern or a diffusing type light distribution pattern is required.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13(A) and (B), the second incident surface 22 is a surface that refracts and enters the light L0 from the light emitting surface 11, the light L0 having a solid angle of about 70°-80° to about 180° with the center of the light emitting surface 11 as a point (vertex of the angle) as the second incident light L2. The solid angle is not particularly limited. The second incident surface 22 is a side wall surface on the outer periphery of the first incident surfaces 21 and 210, and is provided on the outside of the light emitting surface 11. The second incident surface 22 is a refracting surface of a rotation surface formed by rotating a straight line or a curved line around the incident optical axis Z2 as a rotation axis. The second incident surface 22 is a refracting surface that is inclined at least by the draft angle (not shown) of the molding die (not shown) of the lens 1 with respect to the incident optical axis Z2 direction.

[0041] The first reflecting surface 20 is a surface that totally reflects the second incident light L2 incident from the second incident surface 22 as reflected light L3 parallel or nearly parallel to the incident optical axis Z2. The reflected light L3 from the first reflecting surface 20 is hereinafter referred to as the "first reflected light L3" to distinguish it from the reflected light from the reflecting surface 3 (the reflected light described in the claims).

[0042] 13B is selected as the first entrance surface, the first incident light L10 from the first entrance surface 210 is diffused light, not parallel light. On the other hand, the second incident light L2 from the second entrance surface 22 (i.e., a part of the incident light) is reflected by the first reflecting surface 20 as the first reflected light L3, which is parallel light parallel or nearly parallel to the entrance optical axis Z2. As a result, the entrance 2 can allow at least a part of the light L0 from the light source 10 (i.e., the second incident light L2) to be incident as parallel light (i.e., the first reflected light L3).

[0043] 12 and 13(A), the incident unit 2 causes the light L0 from the light source 10 to be incident as the first incident light L1, which is a parallel light, and the first reflected light L3, which is the second incident light L2, which is a parallel light. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12 and 13(B), the incident unit 2 causes the light L0 from the light source 10 to be incident as the first incident light L10, which is a diffused light, and the first reflected light L3, which is the second incident light L2, which is a parallel light.

[0044] (Explanation of Reflective Surface 3) The reflecting surface 3 is provided on the lower surface of one end portion (rear end portion) of the lens 1. The incident portion 2 and the reflecting surface 3 are arranged one above the other. As shown in Figs. 3, 4, 6 to 9, the reflecting surface 3 is based on a paraboloid of revolution P (see the two-dot chain line in Figs. 3 and 6), and the axis of rotation of this basic paraboloid of revolution P is the reflecting surface optical axis Z3. The reflecting surface 3 has the focal point of the paraboloid of revolution P as the reflecting surface focal point RF. The reflecting surface 3 reflects the incident light from the incident portion 2 (the first incident light L1 and the first reflected light L3 of parallel light shown in Figs. 12 and 13(A), or the first incident light L10 of diffuse light and the first reflected light L3 of parallel light shown in Fig. 13(B). Hereinafter, these will be referred to as "incident light L1, L3, or L10, L3") toward the cutoff line forming portion 4 and the exit surface 5 as reflected light L4.

[0045] The reflecting surface 3 (the reflecting surface described in the claims) is hereinafter referred to as the "second reflecting surface 3" to distinguish it from the first reflecting surface 20. The reflected light L4 (the reflected light described in the claims) from the second reflecting surface 3 is hereinafter referred to as the "second reflected light L4" to distinguish it from the first reflected light L3 from the first reflecting surface 20.

[0046] The second reflecting surface 3 has a second reflecting surface 3S for light collection in the middle in the left-right direction and a second reflecting surface 3W for diffusion on both left and right sides. The second reflecting surface 3S for light collection corresponds to two of the four light sources 10 and the incident portion 2. The second reflecting surface 3S for light collection reflects the light L0 from the two light sources 10 and the incident light from the two incident portions 2 as second reflected light L4 to form a low-beam light distribution pattern LP for light collection (see FIG. 11(C)) of the low-beam light distribution pattern.

[0047] On the other hand, the second diffusing reflecting surface 3W corresponds to the two light sources 10 and the incident portion 2 on the left and right among the four light sources 10 and the incident portion 2. The second diffusing reflecting surface 3W reflects the light L0 from the two light sources 10 on the left and right, which is the incident light from the two incident portions 2 on the left and right, as the second reflected light L4, to form a diffusion low beam light distribution pattern (not shown). This diffusion low beam light distribution pattern is a light distribution pattern diffused in the left and right directions and downward with respect to the light collecting low beam light distribution pattern LP shown in FIG. 11(C).

[0048] The low-beam light distribution pattern is formed by superimposing the converging low-beam light distribution pattern LP and the diffusing low-beam light distribution pattern LP. The low-beam light distribution pattern is irradiated forward of the vehicle.

[0049] (Explanation of low beam light distribution pattern LP for light concentration) The light-collecting low-beam distribution pattern LP (hereinafter referred to as "low-beam distribution pattern LP") has a horizontal cutoff line on the upper side along the left-right direction of the vehicle as shown in Fig. 11(C). The cutoff line consists of a lower horizontal cutoff line CLD on the right side, an upper horizontal cutoff line CLU on the left side, and a diagonal cutoff line CLS in the middle.

[0050] In the low-beam light distribution pattern LP, the intersection point of the lower horizontal cutoff line CLD and the oblique cutoff line CLS is an elbow point, and the area in the vicinity of this elbow point is a high-luminous intensity area having the highest luminous intensity.

[0051] (Description of cutoff line forming part 4) The cutoff line forming unit 4 controls a portion of the second reflected light L4 from the second reflecting surface 3 to form a cutoff line along the left-right direction of the vehicle, i.e., a lower horizontal cutoff line CLD, an upper horizontal cutoff line CLU and an oblique cutoff line CLS of the low beam distribution pattern LP shown in Figure 11(C).

[0052] The cutoff line forming portion 4 is provided between the second reflecting surface 3 and the exit surface 5. The cutoff line forming portion 4 is provided on the underside of the lens 1 in the middle portion in the front-to-rear direction. The cutoff line forming portion 4 has a corner 4C formed by a horizontal surface 4H and a vertical surface 4V. The vertical surface 4V is inclined so that the upper side faces backward and the lower side faces forward.

[0053] The corner 4C of the cutoff line forming portion 4 extends linearly in the left-right direction of the vehicle on the exit surface focal line LFL or in the vicinity of the exit surface focal line LFL, which will be described later. Note that, although the cutoff line forming portion 4 is linear in this example, it may be curved along a virtual image plane VS of the exit surface 5, which will be described later. In other words, the cutoff line forming portion 4 may have a shape parallel or nearly parallel to the left-right direction of the vehicle.

[0054] The cutoff line forming unit 4 has a lower horizontal cutoff line forming unit 4D, an upper horizontal cutoff line forming unit 4U, and an oblique cutoff line forming unit 4S. The lower horizontal cutoff line forming unit 4D is provided in the left part from the center in the left-right direction and forms a lower horizontal cutoff line CLD. The upper horizontal cutoff line forming unit 4U is provided in the right part from the center in the left-right direction and forms an upper horizontal cutoff line CLU. The oblique cutoff line forming unit 4S is provided in the center in the left-right direction and forms an oblique cutoff line CLS.

[0055] The cutoff line forming part 4 may, for example, block light by refracting or internally reflecting light that reaches the cutoff line forming part 4 in a direction different from the direction of the emission surface 5, or may have a light absorbing layer disposed on a portion of the horizontal surface 4H including the corner portion 4C that corresponds to the cutoff line forming part 4, and absorb the light by this light absorbing layer. Note that the light internally reflected or refracted by the cutoff line forming part 4 is emitted to the outside of the lens 1 and is blocked or absorbed by an inner panel (such as an inner housing) that is disposed outside the lens 1 and in the lamp chamber 103, and is not emitted to the outside of the lamp chamber 103.

[0056] (Explanation of exit surface 5) The exit surface 5 is provided on the front surface of the other end portion (front end portion) of the lens 1. The exit surface 5 has an exit surface focal point LF described later. The exit surface 5 emits the second reflected light L4 that has passed through the cutoff line forming portion 4 as a light distribution pattern having a cutoff line. That is, the exit surface 5 irradiates the second reflected light L4 as emitted light L5 to the front of the vehicle. The emitted light L5 forms a low beam light distribution pattern LP (a low beam light distribution pattern LP having a lower horizontal cutoff line CLD, an upper horizontal cutoff line CLU, and an oblique cutoff line CLS) shown in FIG. 11(C).

[0057] (Explanation of the virtual image surface VS of the exit surface 5) The virtual image surface VS of the exit surface 5 will be described below with reference to Fig. 14. A normal (ordinary) lens has an image surface. This image surface is a surface (curved surface) formed by gathering together the points at which multiple parallel light rays from outside the lens enter the entrance surface, exit from the exit surface, and converge.

[0058] However, this lens 1 has only an exit surface 5. Therefore, at this exit surface 5, there is no image surface, and a virtual image surface VS (see FIG. 14) is formed in the vicinity of the image surface.

[0059] 14, the reference symbol "5H" denotes a cross-sectional line of the emission surface 5 when the emission surface 5 is cut in the lateral direction (horizontal direction). The reference symbol "5V" denotes a vertical cross-sectional line of the emission surface 5 when the emission surface 5 is cut in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction). The cross-sectional line 5H and the vertical cross-sectional line 5V form curves following the curved emission surface 5.

[0060] In Fig. 14, the symbol "VSH" denotes a cross-sectional line of the virtual image surface VS when the virtual image surface VS is cut in the lateral direction (horizontal direction). The symbol "VSV" denotes a vertical cross-sectional line of the virtual image surface VS when the virtual image surface VS is cut in the vertical direction (vertical direction). The cross-sectional line VSH and the vertical cross-sectional line VSV form curves following the curved surface of the virtual image surface VS.

[0061] (Explanation of the reflection surface focus RF and the emission surface focus LF) The second reflecting surface 3 has a reflecting surface focus RF at the focus of the basic paraboloid of revolution P. The exit surface 5 has an exit surface focus LF at or near the reflecting surface focus RF. In this example, the reflecting surface focus RF and the exit surface focus LF are coincident, as shown in Figures 4 and 7. However, the reflecting surface focus RF and the exit surface focus LF do not have to be coincident.

[0062] Here, the case where the second reflecting surface 3 is a reflecting surface formed of a basic (pure) paraboloid of revolution P will be described. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the second reflected light L40 is concentrated (focused) at one focal point (reflecting surface focal point RF, exit surface focal point LF), so that a low-beam light distribution pattern LP2 with a narrow (small) left and right diffusion width is formed as shown in FIG. 11(A). This low-beam light distribution pattern LP2 with a narrow (small) left and right diffusion width is not suitable for a light distribution pattern of a vehicle lamp. This low-beam light distribution pattern LP2 with a narrow (small) left and right diffusion width has a lower horizontal cutoff line CLD2, an upper horizontal cutoff line CLU2, and an oblique cutoff line CLS2, similar to the low-beam light distribution pattern LP shown in FIG. 11(C).

[0063] Therefore, the second reflecting surface 3 is a reflecting surface having a surface shape in which the basic paraboloid of revolution P is continuously extended in the left-right direction of the vehicle. As a result, the second reflecting surface 3 diffuses the second reflected light L4 in the left-right direction without concentrating (concentrating) it on one focus point (reflecting surface focus RF, exit surface focus LF) as shown in FIG. 4. As a result, low-beam light distribution patterns LP, LP1 with a wide left-right diffusion width are formed as shown in FIG. 11(B) and (C). The low-beam light distribution patterns LP, LP1 with a wide left-right diffusion width are suitable for the light distribution pattern of a vehicle lamp. The low-beam light distribution pattern LP1 with a wide left-right diffusion width has a lower horizontal cutoff line CLD1, an upper horizontal cutoff line CLU1, and an oblique cutoff line CLS1, similar to the low-beam light distribution pattern LP shown in FIG. 11(C).

[0064] (Explanation of the second reflecting surface 3S for collecting light) As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the light-collecting second reflecting surface 3S of the second reflecting surface 3 has a middle second reflecting area 3C, a left second reflecting area 3L, and a right second reflecting area 3R.

[0065] The second reflection area 3C in the middle controls the second reflected light L4, L4C passing through the reflection surface focus RF and the exit surface focus LF, as shown in Figures 4 and 7. The second reflection area 3L on the left side controls the second reflected light L4, L4L passing to the left from the reflection surface focus RF and the exit surface focus LF, as shown in Figures 4 and 7. The second reflection area 3R on the right side controls the second reflected light L4, L4R passing to the right from the reflection surface focus RF and the exit surface focus LF, as shown in Figures 4 and 7.

[0066] 4, 7, and 14, the second reflected light L4, L4L from the left second reflection area 3L passes through an arbitrary point VPL on the cross-sectional line VSH of the virtual image surface VS, and the second reflected light L4, L4R from the right second reflection area 3R passes through an arbitrary point VPR on the cross-sectional line VSH of the virtual image surface VS.

[0067] (Explanation of the incident optical axis Z2 and the reflective surface optical axes Z3, ZC, ZL, and ZR) The incident optical axis Z2 and the reflecting surface optical axes Z3, ZC, ZL, and ZR will be described with reference to FIG.

[0068] The intermediate second reflection area 3C has an intermediate reflection surface optical axis ZC. The intermediate reflection surface optical axis ZC and the incident section optical axis Z2 are parallel or nearly parallel to each other. In addition, since the intermediate second reflection area 3C is a parabola of the basic paraboloid of revolution P, the intermediate reflection surface optical axis ZC is the reflection surface optical axis Z3. Therefore, in the following description of FIG. 6, the intermediate reflection surface optical axis ZC and the reflection surface optical axis Z3 can be regarded as being the same as the incident section optical axis Z2. Here, the angle between the incident section optical axis Z2 (the intermediate reflection surface optical axis ZC and the reflection surface optical axis Z3) and the vertical line ZV is ZθC°.

[0069] The second reflection area 3L on the left side has a left reflection surface optical axis ZL. As shown by the solid arrow in FIG. 6, the second reflection area 3L on the left side is gradually inclined toward the opposite side to the cutoff line forming part 4 and the exit surface 5 as it moves leftward, centering on the rotation axis O at the upper end of the second reflection surface 3. As a result, the left reflection surface optical axis ZL is gradually inclined toward the vertical line ZV side with respect to the incident part optical axis Z2 (the intermediate reflection surface optical axis ZC and the reflection surface optical axis Z3) as it moves leftward. Here, the angle between the left reflection surface optical axis ZL and the vertical line ZV is ZθL°. The angle ZθL° between the left reflection surface optical axis ZL and the vertical line ZV is smaller than the angle ZθC° between the incident part optical axis Z2 (the intermediate reflection surface optical axis ZC and the reflection surface optical axis Z3) and the vertical line ZV. As a result, the optical axis ZL of the left reflecting surface is inclined toward the vertical line ZV more than the optical axis ZC of the middle reflecting surface.

[0070] Further, the right second reflection area 3R has a right reflection surface optical axis ZR. As shown by the solid arrow in FIG. 6, the right second reflection area 3R is gradually inclined toward the opposite side of the cutoff line forming part 4 and the exit surface 5 as it moves to the right, centering on the rotation axis O at the upper end of the second reflection surface 3. As a result, the right reflection surface optical axis ZR is gradually inclined toward the vertical line ZV side with respect to the entrance part optical axis Z2 (the intermediate reflection surface optical axis ZC and the reflection surface optical axis Z3) as it moves to the right. Here, the angle between the right reflection surface optical axis ZR and the vertical line ZV is ZθR°. The angle ZθR° between the right reflection surface optical axis ZR and the vertical line ZV is smaller than the angle ZθC° between the entrance part optical axis Z2 (the intermediate reflection surface optical axis ZC and the reflection surface optical axis Z3) and the vertical line ZV. As a result, the optical axis ZR of the right reflecting surface is inclined toward the vertical line ZV more than the optical axis ZC of the middle reflecting surface.

[0071] (Explanation of the incident optical axis Z2 and the reflecting surface optical axes ZL and ZR in Patent Document 2) The incident optical axis Z2 and the reflecting surface optical axes ZL and ZR of Patent Document 2 will be described below with reference to Fig. 8(A). Note that the same parts and symbols as those of the embodiment are used.

[0072] In Patent Document 2, the reflective surface optical axis ZL of the second reflective area 30L on the left side and the incident optical axis Z2 are parallel or nearly parallel to each other, and the reflective surface optical axis ZR of the second reflective area 30R on the right side and the incident optical axis Z2 are parallel or nearly parallel to each other.

[0073] Therefore, in Patent Document 2, as shown in FIG. 8(A), the left second reflection area 30L and the right second reflection area 30R are the same as the middle second reflection area 3C.

[0074] Then, the second reflected light L41 reflected by the left second reflection area 30L and the right second reflection area 30R is concentrated (focused) at the exit surface focal point LF, similar to the second reflected light L4C reflected by the intermediate second reflection area 3C.

[0075] Here, the cross-sectional line VSH of the virtual image plane VS of the reflecting surface 5 is formed so as to move away from the cutoff line forming portion 4 toward the exit surface 5 as it moves left and right from the reflecting surface focal point RF and the exit surface focal point LF, as shown by the curved dashed lines in Fig. 4 and Fig. 7. For this reason, a part L4D of the second reflected light L41 reflected by the second reflecting region 30L on the left side and the second reflecting region 30R on the right side passes downward behind any points VPR, VPL on the cross-sectional line VSH of the virtual image plane VS and in front of the corner 4C of the cutoff line forming portion 4, as shown in Fig. 8(A).

[0076] The second reflected light L4D (hereinafter referred to as "downward second reflected light L4D") that passes downward between any point VPR, VPL and the cutoff line forming portion 4 is emitted as upward emitted light (not shown) from the emission surface 5. As a result, the downward second reflected light L4D causes the formation of cutoff lines CLD1, CLU1 that are curved upward with respect to the horizontal cutoff lines CLD, CLU, as shown in FIG.

[0077] (A further explanation of the incident optical axis Z2 and the reflecting optical axes Z3, ZC, ZL, and ZR) 6, the optical axis ZL of the left reflecting surface is inclined toward the vertical line ZV from the optical axis ZC of the middle reflecting surface, and the optical axis ZR of the right reflecting surface is inclined toward the vertical line ZV from the optical axis ZC of the middle reflecting surface. Then, the second reflected light L4L reflected by the left second reflecting area 3L (hereinafter referred to as "left second reflected light L4L") and the second reflected light L4R reflected by the right second reflecting area 3R (hereinafter referred to as "right second reflected light L4R") are directed downward with respect to the second reflected light L4C reflected by the middle second reflecting area 3C (hereinafter referred to as "middle second reflected light L4C").

[0078] As a result, as shown in Figure 8 (B), a portion of the downwardly directed left-side second reflected light L4L and the right-side second reflected light L4R is reflected as upwardly directed second reflected light L4U by the horizontal plane 4H behind the corner 4C of the cutoff line forming portion 4.

[0079] This allows the amount of light of the downward second reflected light L4D to be reduced compared to Patent Document 2 (where the reflecting surface optical axes ZL, ZR and the incident portion optical axis Z2 are parallel or nearly parallel to each other). Therefore, the horizontal cutoff lines CLD, CLU as shown in Fig. 11(C) are formed without the cutoff lines CLD1, CLU1 that are curved upward as shown in Fig. 11(B).

[0080] (Explanation of the left reflective surface optical axis ZL and the right reflective surface optical axis ZR) 6 and 12, the incident optical axis Z2 (the central reflecting surface optical axis ZC) is inclined with the direction of the incident light (particularly the first incident light L1, L3, which is parallel light) facing the exit surface 5 with respect to the vertical line ZV. That is, the incident optical axis Z2 is inclined such that the upper side faces backward and the lower side faces forward.

[0081] As it moves left from the reflecting surface focus RF and the exit surface focus LF, the left reflecting surface optical axis ZL gradually transitions from being parallel or nearly parallel to the incident optical axis Z2 (reflecting surface optical axis ZC) to being parallel or nearly parallel to the vertical line ZV.

[0082] In addition, as it moves to the right from the reflecting surface focus RF and the exit surface focus LF, the right-side reflecting surface optical axis ZR gradually transitions from being parallel or nearly parallel to the incident optical axis Z2 (reflecting surface optical axis ZC) to being parallel or nearly parallel to the vertical line ZV.

[0083] The angle ZθL° between the optical axis ZL of the left reflecting surface and the vertical line ZV is set larger than the angle ZθR° between the optical axis ZR of the right reflecting surface and the vertical line ZV. As a result, the optical axis ZL of the left reflecting surface is inclined toward the vertical line ZV with respect to the optical axis ZR of the right reflecting surface, and is parallel or nearly parallel to the vertical line ZV.

[0084] As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the angle LPθ° at which the left paraboloid of revolution PL is inclined relative to the intermediate paraboloid of revolution PC is greater than the angle RPθ° at which the right paraboloid of revolution PR is inclined relative to the intermediate paraboloid of revolution PC.

[0085] In Fig. 9, the left paraboloid of revolution PL forms the left second reflection area 3L. The right paraboloid of revolution PR forms the right second reflection area 3R. The middle paraboloid of revolution PC forms the middle second reflection area 3C. The middle paraboloid of revolution PC is also the basic paraboloid of revolution P.

[0086] 8, the second reflected light L4L from the second reflection region 3L on the left side is more downward than the second reflected light L4R from the second reflection region 3R on the right side. Then, the amount of the second reflected light L4L from the second reflection region 3L on the left side that is reflected by the horizontal surface 4H behind the corner 4C of the cutoff line forming portion 4 to become the upward second reflected light L4U is greater than the amount of the second reflected light L4R from the second reflection region 3R on the right side that is reflected by the horizontal surface 4H behind the corner 4C of the cutoff line forming portion 4 to become the upward second reflected light L4U.

[0087] As a result, the amount of light that the left-side second reflected light L4L becomes the downward second reflected light L4D can be reduced compared to the amount of light that the right-side second reflected light L4R becomes the downward second reflected light L4D. In other words, the amount of light that curves upward beyond the lower horizontal cutoff line CLD formed by the left-side reflective area 3L can be reduced compared to the amount of light that curves upward beyond the upper horizontal cutoff line CLU formed by the right-side reflective area 3R.

[0088] Here, the low beam light distribution pattern is determined by regulations. For example, as shown in Fig. 10, in the regulation R123 (R149 Class-C), there are BLL / BRR as points above the cut-off lines CLD, CLS, and CLU. The upper luminous intensity limit of the point BRR above the lower horizontal cut-off line CLD is set to 625cd, which is lower than the upper luminous intensity limit (3550cd) of the point BLL above the upper horizontal cut-off line CLU.

[0089] As a result, it is important to reduce the amount of light above the lower horizontal cutoff line CLD formed by the left reflective area 3L more than the amount of light above the upper horizontal cutoff line CLU formed by the right reflective area 3R.

[0090] Therefore, as described above, the optical axis ZL of the left reflecting surface is inclined toward the vertical line ZV with respect to the optical axis ZR of the right reflecting surface so that it is parallel or nearly parallel to the vertical line ZV. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of light above the lower horizontal cutoff line CLD formed by the left reflecting surface 3L more than the amount of light above the upper horizontal cutoff line CLU formed by the right reflecting surface 3R. This allows the low beam light distribution pattern formed by this lens 1 to satisfy the regulations shown in Figure 10.

[0091] (Description of the Function of the Embodiment) The lens 1 according to this embodiment, the vehicle lighting unit 1U according to this embodiment, and the vehicle lighting device 100 according to this embodiment are configured as described above, and their functions will be described below.

[0092] The four light sources 10 are turned on. Then, light L0 from the four light sources 10 enters the inside of the lens 1 from the four entrance portions 2 of the lens 1. The incident light L1, L3 or L10, L3 that enters the inside of the lens 1 from the two middle light sources 10 from the two middle entrance portions 2 is reflected by the second light collecting reflecting surface 3S in the middle portion of the second reflecting surface 3 as the second reflected light L4.

[0093] A part of the second reflected light L4 is controlled by the cutoff line forming unit 4. The second reflected light L4 that has passed through the cutoff line forming unit 4 is irradiated forward of the vehicle as emitted light L5 from the emission surface 5. The emitted light L5 forms a condensing low-beam light distribution pattern LP shown in FIG. 11(C).

[0094] On the other hand, incident light L1, L3, or L10, L3 that enters the lens 1 from the two incident portions 2 of the two light sources 10 is reflected as reflected light (not shown) by the diffusion second reflecting surfaces 3W on both the left and right sides of the second reflecting surface 3.

[0095] A part of the reflected light L4 is controlled by the cutoff line forming unit 4. The reflected light that has passed through the cutoff line forming unit 4 is irradiated to the front of the vehicle as outgoing light (not shown) from the exit surface 5. The outgoing light forms a diffused low beam light distribution pattern (not shown).

[0096] The converging low-beam light distribution pattern LP and the diffusing low-beam light distribution pattern are superimposed to form a low-beam light distribution pattern (not shown), which is irradiated ahead of the vehicle.

[0097] (Explanation of Effects of the Embodiment) The lens 1 according to this embodiment, the vehicle lighting unit 1U according to this embodiment, and the vehicle lighting device 100 according to this embodiment have the configuration and function as described above, and the effects thereof will be described below.

[0098] In the lens 1 according to this embodiment, the cutoff line forming portion 4 is provided in the left-right direction of the vehicle, i.e., in a simplified shape. As a result, in the lens 1 according to this embodiment, a smooth flow of resin is obtained in the cutoff line forming portion 4 during resin molding, and the fluidity of the resin is improved. Moreover, in the lens 1 according to this embodiment, the cutoff line forming portion 4 is formed in a simplified shape extending in the left-right direction, so that the control of the low-beam light distribution pattern is improved and easier to perform.

[0099] In the lens 1 of this embodiment, the reflective surface optical axis ZC of the intermediate second reflective area 3C and the incident optical axis Z2 are parallel or nearly parallel to each other, and the reflective surface optical axis ZL of the left second reflective area 3L and the reflective surface optical axis ZR of the right second reflective area 3R are inclined with respect to the incident optical axis Z2.

[0100] As a result, in the lens 1 of this embodiment, the left second reflected light L4L reflected by the left second reflective area 3L and the right second reflected light L4R reflected by the right second reflective area 3R are directed downward relative to the intermediate second reflected light L4C reflected by the intermediate second reflective area 3C.

[0101] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8 (B), the lens 1 in this embodiment can reflect a portion of the downward left-side second reflected light L4L and the right-side second reflected light L4R as upward second reflected light L4U at the horizontal plane 4H behind the corner 4C of the cutoff line forming portion 4.

[0102] As a result, the lens 1 according to this embodiment can reduce the amount of downward second reflected light L4D compared to Patent Document 2 (wherein the reflecting surface optical axes ZL, ZR and the incident portion optical axis Z2 are parallel or nearly parallel to each other). Therefore, the lens 1 according to this embodiment can form horizontal cutoff lines CLD, CLU as shown in Fig. 11(C) without cutoff lines CLD1, CLU1 that are curved upward as shown in Fig. 11(B).

[0103] In other words, the lens 1 of this embodiment has a cutoff line forming portion 4 arranged in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and even if it is formed in a curved shape (curvature) that approximates the virtual image plane of the exit surface, it can form horizontal cutoff lines CLD, CLU without cutoff lines CLD1, CLU1 that are curved upward.

[0104] The lens 1 according to this embodiment has an incident portion optical axis Z2 (central reflecting surface optical axis ZC) inclined with the direction of the incident light (particularly, the first incident light L1, L3, which is parallel light) facing the exit surface 5 side with respect to the vertical line ZV. As a result, the lens 1 according to this embodiment can efficiently reflect the incident light (particularly, the first incident light L1, L3, which is parallel light) toward the exit surface 5 side by the second reflecting surface 3. This allows the lens 1 according to this embodiment to efficiently utilize the incident light (particularly, the first incident light L1, L3, which is parallel light), and accordingly, can improve the light amount of the low beam light distribution pattern LP.

[0105] In the lens 1 according to this embodiment, the left reflecting surface optical axis ZL is shifted from a state parallel or nearly parallel to the incident optical axis Z2 (reflecting surface optical axis ZC) to a state parallel or nearly parallel to the vertical line ZV as it moves to the left. That is, in the lens 1 according to this embodiment, the left reflecting surface optical axis ZL is inclined toward the vertical line ZV with respect to the incident optical axis Z2 (central reflecting surface optical axis ZC). As a result, in the lens 1 according to this embodiment, the left reflecting surface optical axis ZL is inclined with respect to the incident optical axis Z2 as described above, so that the above-mentioned effects, that is, the fluidity of the resin is improved, the control of the low beam light distribution pattern is improved, and further, a cutoff line without warping can be formed.

[0106] In addition, in the lens 1 according to this embodiment, the right-side reflecting surface optical axis ZR is shifted from a state parallel or nearly parallel to the incident optical axis Z2 (reflecting surface optical axis ZC) to a state parallel or nearly parallel to the vertical line ZV as it moves to the right, similar to the left-side reflecting surface optical axis ZL. That is, in the lens 1 according to this embodiment, the right-side reflecting surface optical axis ZR is inclined toward the vertical line ZV with respect to the incident optical axis Z2 (central reflecting surface optical axis ZC). As a result, in the lens 1 according to this embodiment, the right-side reflecting surface optical axis ZR is inclined with respect to the incident optical axis Z2 as described above, so that the above-mentioned effects, that is, the fluidity of the resin is improved, the control of the low-beam light distribution pattern is improved, and further, a cutoff line without warping can be formed.

[0107] In the lens 1 according to this embodiment, the optical axis ZL of the left reflecting surface is inclined toward the vertical line ZV with respect to the optical axis ZR of the right reflecting surface so as to be parallel or nearly parallel to the vertical line ZV. As a result, in the lens 1 according to this embodiment, the angle LPθ° at which the left paraboloid of revolution PL is inclined with respect to the central paraboloid of revolution PC can be made larger than the angle RPθ° at which the right paraboloid of revolution PR is inclined with respect to the intermediate paraboloid of revolution PC.

[0108] The lens 1 according to this embodiment can direct the second reflected light L4L from the second reflection region 3L on the left side more downward than the second reflected light L4R from the second reflection region 3R on the right side. Then, the lens 1 according to this embodiment can direct the second reflected light L4L from the second reflection region 3L on the left side more downward than the second reflected light L4R from the second reflection region 3R on the right side. The amount of the second reflected light L4L from the second reflection region 3L on the left side that is reflected by the horizontal surface 4H behind the corner 4C of the cutoff line forming portion 4 to become the upward second reflected light L4U is greater than the amount of the second reflected light L4R from the second reflection region 3R on the right side that is reflected by the horizontal surface 4H behind the corner 4C of the cutoff line forming portion 4 to become the upward second reflected light L4U. This allows the lens 1 according to this embodiment to reduce the amount of the second reflected light L4L on the left side that becomes the downward second reflected light L4D more than the amount of the second reflected light L4R on the right side that becomes the downward second reflected light L4D. In other words, the lens 1 of this embodiment can reduce the amount of light that curves upward above the lower horizontal cutoff line CLD formed by the second reflective area 3L on the left side to be less than the amount of light that curves upward above the upper horizontal cutoff line CLU formed by the second reflective area 3R on the right side.

[0109] From the above, the lens 1 of this embodiment can reduce the amount of light above the lower horizontal cutoff line CLD formed by the second reflective area 3L on the left side to be less than the amount of light above the upper horizontal cutoff line CLU formed by the second reflective area 3R on the right side, and can form a low beam light distribution pattern that satisfies the regulations shown in Figure 10.

[0110] The lens 1 in this embodiment has four light sources 10 and four entrance portions 2 corresponding to the four light sources 10, thereby improving the amount of light in the low beam light distribution pattern.

[0111] (Explanation of examples other than the embodiment) In the above embodiment, an example is described in which the present invention is applied to countries such as Japan and the UK where people drive on the left side of the road. However, the present invention can also be applied to countries such as Europe and the US where people drive on the right side of the road. In the case of right-side driving, the left and right sides are reversed from the case of left-side driving. For example, the low-beam light distribution pattern LP shown in Figs. 10 and 11 is a low-beam light distribution pattern with the left and right sides reversed. Also, the second reflecting surface 3 and the cutoff line forming portion 4 are a second reflecting surface and a cutoff line forming portion with the left and right sides reversed.

[0112] In the above embodiment, the low-beam light distribution pattern LP of the light distribution pattern of the light concentration type is described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a normal type low-beam light distribution pattern and a diffusion type low-beam light distribution pattern.

[0113] Furthermore, the above embodiment has four light sources 10 and four entrance portions 2. However, in the present invention, one to three light sources 10 and four entrance portions 2 may be used, or five or more light sources 10 and entrance portions 2 may be used.

[0114] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0115] 1. Lens (vehicle lighting lens) 1U Vehicle Light Unit 10 light source 11 Light-emitting surface 12 Prism section 2 Input part 20 1st reflective surface (reflective surface) 21, 210 1st entrance plane 22 Second entrance plane 3 Second reflective surface (reflective surface) 3C Second intermediate reflection area 3L, 30L Second reflective area on the left 3R, 30R Second reflective area on the right 3S 2nd reflective surface for condensing light (middle part) 3W second reflective surface for diffusion (left side, right side) 4. Cut-off line forming section 4C Corner 4D Lower cutoff line forming part 4H horizontal plane 4S Diagonal cutoff line forming section 4U Upper cutoff line forming section 4V vertical plane 5. Exit surface 5H: Cross section of exit surface 5 5V Vertical cross section of exit surface 5 100 Vehicle lighting device 101 Lamp housing 102 Lamp lens 103 Light room After B CLD, CLD1, CLD2 Lower horizontal cut-off line CLS, CLS1, CLS2 Diagonal cut-off line CLU CLU1, CLU2 Upper horizontal cut-off line D bottom Before F HL-HR Left and right horizontal lines of the screen L left L0 Light (light from the light source) L1, L10 1st incident light L2 2nd incident light L3 1st reflected light (reflected light) L4, L40, L41 2nd reflected light (reflected light) L4C Intermediate 2nd Reflection L4D Secondary reflected light facing downwards L4L Second reflected light on the left L4R Second reflected light on the right L4U Second reflected light facing upwards L5 output light LF exit surface focus LP low beam light distribution pattern (concentrated low beam light distribution pattern) LP1 low beam light distribution pattern (low beam light distribution pattern with wide diffusion width on the left and right) LP2 low beam light distribution pattern (low beam light distribution pattern with narrow diffusion width on the left and right) LPθ° angle P paraboloid of revolution PC Mid-paraboloid of revolution PL Left paraboloid of revolution PC right paraboloid of revolution R right RF reflective surface focus RPθ° angle U Top VPL Any point on the cross-sectional line VSH of the virtual image plane VS VPR Any point on the cross-sectional line VSH of the virtual image plane VS VS virtual image plane VSH: Transverse section of virtual image plane VS VSV Vertical cross section of virtual image plane VS VU-VD Screen vertical lines Z2 Entrance optical axis Z3 reflective surface optical axis ZC Intermediate reflective surface optical axis ZL Left reflective surface optical axis ZR Right reflective surface optical axis ZV Vertical line ZθC° Angle ZθL° Angle ZθR° Angle

Claims

1. an incidence section for receiving at least a portion of light from the light source; a reflecting surface having a reflecting surface focal point and reflecting the incident light from the incident portion; a cutoff line forming unit provided in a left-right direction of the vehicle and configured to form a cutoff line by controlling a part of the reflected light from the reflecting surface; an exit surface that outputs the reflected light passing through the cutoff line forming portion to a front of the vehicle as a light distribution pattern having the cutoff line; Equipped with the reflecting surface focal point is disposed in the vicinity of the cutoff line forming portion, The reflective surface is a first region in which the reflected light passes near the cutoff line forming portion, the first region being a central reflection region; a second region through which the reflected light passes a position away from the cutoff line forming portion toward the reflecting surface, the second region being an outer reflecting region; having The entrance portion has an entrance portion optical axis, the reflecting surface is based on a paraboloid of revolution, and the axis of rotation of the paraboloid of revolution is the optical axis of the reflecting surface; The optical axis of the incident portion is inclined with respect to a vertical line in a state in which the direction of the incident light is directed toward the exit surface side, the reflection surface optical axis of the left reflection area of ​​the outer reflection area transitions from a state parallel or nearly parallel to the incident optical axis to a state parallel or nearly parallel to the vertical line as ... to the left; The reflection surface optical axis of the right reflection area of ​​the outer reflection area transitions from a state parallel or nearly parallel to the incident optical axis to a state parallel or nearly parallel to the vertical line as it moves to the right. A lens for a vehicle lamp.

2. an incident portion having an incident portion optical axis inclined with respect to a vertical line, and causing at least a portion of light from the light source to be incident as parallel light parallel or nearly parallel to the incident portion optical axis; a reflecting surface based on a paraboloid of revolution, a rotation axis of the paraboloid of revolution being a reflecting surface optical axis, a focus of the paraboloid of revolution being a reflecting surface focus, and the reflecting surface reflecting the incident light from the incident portion; a cutoff line forming unit provided in a left-right direction of the vehicle and configured to control a portion of the reflected light from the reflecting surface to form a cutoff line along the left-right direction of the vehicle; an exit surface that outputs the reflected light that has passed through the cutoff line forming portion to a front of the vehicle as a light distribution pattern having the cutoff line; Equipped with the exit surface has an exit surface focus in the vicinity of the reflecting surface focus, the reflective surface having a central reflective area and an outer reflective area; The optical axis of the reflecting surface of the outer reflecting area is inclined toward the vertical line compared to the optical axis of the reflecting surface of the central reflecting area, the optical axis of the incident portion is inclined with respect to the vertical line in a state in which the direction of the incident light is directed toward the exit surface side, the reflection surface optical axis of the left reflection area of ​​the outer reflection area transitions from a state parallel or nearly parallel to the incident optical axis to a state parallel or nearly parallel to the vertical line as ... to the left; The reflection surface optical axis of the right reflection area of ​​the outer reflection area transitions from a state parallel or nearly parallel to the incident optical axis to a state parallel or nearly parallel to the vertical line as it moves to the right. A lens for a vehicle lamp.

3. The cutoff line forming unit is A lower horizontal cutoff line forming portion; An upper horizontal cutoff line forming portion; having one of the left reflective area and the right reflective area controls the reflected light passing through the lower horizontal cutoff line forming portion; the other of the left reflective area or the right reflective area controls the reflected light passing through the upper horizontal cutoff line forming portion, The optical axis of the reflection surface of one of the left reflection area or the right reflection area is parallel or nearly parallel to the vertical line with respect to the optical axis of the reflection surface of the other of the left reflection area or the right reflection area.

3. The lens for a vehicle lamp according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A light source; The lens of the vehicle lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which receives light from the light source and emits the light as a light distribution pattern having a cutoff line along a left-right direction of a vehicle; Equipped with A vehicle lighting unit comprising:

5. The light source includes a plurality of light sources, The lens of the vehicle lamp has a plurality of entrance portions corresponding to the plurality of light sources.

5. The vehicle lamp unit according to claim 4.

6. a lamp lens and a lamp housing forming a lamp chamber; The vehicle lamp unit according to claim 4 or 5, which is disposed in the lamp chamber; Equipped with A vehicle lighting device comprising:

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