Vehicle lighting fixtures

Abstract

To provide a vehicular lighting fixture capable of improving controllability of a light flux to enhance utilization efficiency of light, and suppressing irradiation unevenness.SOLUTION: A vehicular lighting fixture includes a plurality of light-emitting elements (30), and a plurality of light flux controlling portions (40) provided respectively corresponding to the plurality of light-emitting elements (30), and forms a linear irradiation pattern with a predetermined shape in front of the plurality of light flux control portions (40). The light flux control portion (40) is equipped with a refraction part (40A) disposed at a center portion, and a generally cone-shaped reflection part (40B) surrounding the refraction part (40A) and expanding forward. The refraction part (40A) refracts light from the light-emitting element (30) to directly emits the light forward, and the reflection part (40B) reflects the light from the light-emitting element (30) to scatter and emit the light forward. The light emitted from the light-emitting element (30) passes through the light flux control portion (40), and then forms a far-field pattern in which a length in an extending direction of the linear irradiation patten is longer than a length in a direction intersecting the extending direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, vehicle lamps having various shapes of illumination patterns (hereinafter, "design illumination patterns") that also take into account design novelty have been studied. In particular, there is a demand for such vehicle lamps to have a good design appearance with improved light utilization efficiency and suppressed uneven light emission. For example, Patent Document 1 is known as a document disclosing such a vehicle lamp that has improved light utilization efficiency and improved appearance.

[0003] The vehicle lamp disclosed in Patent Document 1 comprises a light source and a light guide that allows light emitted from the light source to enter from the rear surface and exit from the front surface, and comprises a first incident portion through which the rear surface of the light guide allows the light from the light source to enter so as to refract it forward, second incident portions on both sides of the first incident portion allow the light from the light source to enter so as to refract it laterally, and a reflecting portion that internally reflects the light from the light source that enters from the second incident portions forward, wherein the first incident portion is configured to allow the light from the light source to enter as diffused light, and the reflecting portion is configured to reflect the light from the light source that enters from the second incident portions as diffused light.

[0004] In the vehicle lamp of Patent Document 1 configured as described above, the area on the front surface of the light guide where the incident light from the first incident portion reaches and the area where the internally reflected light from the reflecting portion reaches can be made to overlap over a wide range, thereby reliably preventing the occurrence of dark areas between the first incident portion and the reflecting portion, and thereby effectively suppressing the occurrence of uneven light emission in the light guide. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-75331 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Here, the vehicle lamp according to Patent Document 1 uses a light guide as a means for guiding light from a light source to the vicinity of a translucent cover. The light guide is molded using transparent acrylic resin or the like, and is an effective component for reliably guiding light from a light source. However, when considering the efficiency of space utilization, weight reduction, and the like, it would be convenient if light could be propagated directly through space from a component that controls the light flux, such as a lens (hereinafter, "light flux control unit"), without using a light guide.

[0007] In this case, the issue is how to control the FFP (Far Field Pattern) of the light source by the light flux control unit in order to reliably form the intended design irradiation pattern. This issue will be explained with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 shows a part of a conventional vehicle lamp such as a tail lamp provided at the rear end of a vehicle, as viewed from the rear of the vehicle.

[0008] Fig. 7 shows the design irradiation pattern 26 and the FFP 24B of the light from the light-emitting element (light source) after it has been controlled by the light flux control unit. The lamp area 50 is an area in which a lamp having its original function, such as a tail lamp, is arranged. Although not shown in Fig. 7, the vehicle lamp according to this conventional technology is provided with a design member, also called a design inner, which enhances the appearance of the light emitted from the light-emitting element. The design member includes a forming portion that forms diffused or deflected irradiation light.

[0009] On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 7, in a vehicle lamp according to the prior art, the light from the light emitting element is made into parallel light by a light flux control unit from the viewpoint of securing the amount of light, and the shape of the FFP24B is made circular. And, due to the constraint on the number of light emitting elements, each FFP24B has a diameter of a predetermined value or more, and the FFP24B are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other without overlapping.

[0010] However, a part of each of the FFPs 24B arranged as described above may protrude from the design irradiation pattern 26, forming a protruding portion 27, as shown in FIG. In addition, since the diameter of the FFP24B is relatively large, the light from the light emitting element may be irradiated to the area of ​​the design component other than the forming part around the forming part, and unintended scattered light may occur. Furthermore, in the design irradiation pattern, a dark area 25 may occur, which is an area where the FFP24B do not overlap. Since the scattered light and the dark area 25 cause uneven irradiation in the design irradiation pattern, it is necessary to prevent them from occurring as much as possible. In order to prevent the scattered light and the dark area 25 from occurring, the diameter of the FFP24B may be set to the same as the width of the design irradiation pattern, and the number of FFP24B may be increased and arranged closely, but in such a configuration, the number of light emitting elements increases as described above. That is, in the conventional technology, in order to increase the efficiency of light utilization, it was required to improve the controllability of the light flux emitted from the light emitting element.

[0011] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and aims to provide a vehicle lighting fixture that can improve the controllability of light flux, increase the light utilization efficiency, and suppress uneven illumination. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a vehicle lamp including a plurality of light-emitting elements and a plurality of light flux control sections provided corresponding to each of the plurality of light-emitting elements, and forming a linear irradiation pattern of a predetermined shape in front of the plurality of light flux control sections, the light flux control section including a refraction section disposed in a central portion and a refraction section surrounding the refraction section. fruit The front spread to The light emitting element is provided with a substantially cone-shaped reflecting portion, the refraction portion refracts the light from the light emitting element and emits it directly forward, the reflection portion reflects the light from the light emitting element and emits it forward while diffusing it, and after the light emitted from the light emitting element passes through the light flux control portion, it forms a far-field pattern whose length in the extension direction of the linear irradiation pattern is longer than the length in the direction intersecting the extension direction.

[0013] In such a vehicle lamp of the present invention, the light emitted from the light emitting element forms a far-field pattern having a slightly elongated shape with a major axis and a minor axis by the light flux control unit. Therefore, by arranging the major axis along the extension direction of the predetermined shape, it is easy to form a linear irradiation pattern of a predetermined shape. As a result, the formation of dark areas can be suppressed. In addition, since it is easy to match the minor axis to the width of the predetermined shape, it is easy to avoid the light being irradiated to unintended parts in the vehicle lamp. As a result, unintended scattered light, etc. can be suppressed. From the above, the controllability of the light flux emitted from the light emitting element is improved, so that the light utilization efficiency is increased, and a vehicle lamp with good appearance in which unevenness in irradiation is suppressed can be provided.

[0014] In one aspect of the present invention, the length of the far-field pattern in a direction intersecting the extension direction is set to be within the width of the predetermined shape.

[0015] In one aspect of the present invention, the inclination of the reflecting portion corresponding to the extension direction is gentler than the inclination of the reflecting portion corresponding to a direction intersecting the extension direction.

[0016] In one aspect of the present invention, the predetermined shape includes a curved shape, and the plurality of light flux control portions are arranged along the curved shape.

[0017] In one aspect of the present invention, a light exit surface of the light flux control portion is formed with a plurality of cylindrical steps extending in a direction intersecting with an extension direction of the linear irradiation pattern.

[0018] In one aspect of the present invention, the illumination device further includes a forming unit that diffuses the light irradiated from the light flux control unit to form the linear irradiation pattern.

[0019] In one aspect of the present invention, at least a portion of the surface of the forming portion facing the light beam control portion is provided with at least one of a plurality of fisheye lenses and a plurality of cylindrical steps formed in a direction intersecting the extension direction.

[0020] In one aspect of the present invention, the light-emitting device further includes a substrate having a mounting surface for mounting the plurality of light-emitting elements, the mounting surface being approximately parallel to a surface of the formation portion.

[0021] In one aspect of the present invention, the mounting surface and the surface of the formation portion are inclined with respect to a traveling direction of a vehicle on which the vehicle lamp is mounted. Effect of the Invention

[0022] The present invention can provide a vehicle lamp capable of improving the controllability of light flux, increasing the light utilization efficiency, and suppressing uneven illumination. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a front plan view showing a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment together with a light emitting element. [Diagram 2] 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the vehicle lamp shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a light flux control section according to the embodiment, as viewed from a light emitting element side. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing the optical path of a light flux control section according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 4 is a partial front plan view showing the relationship between the design irradiation pattern of the vehicle lamp according to the embodiment and the FFP. FIG. [Figure 6] (a) is a front plan view of a forming portion of a decorative component according to an embodiment, and (b) is a partially enlarged view of the back. [Figure 7] 1 is a partial front plan view showing the relationship between the design irradiation pattern and the FFP of a vehicle lamp according to a conventional technology. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The same or equivalent components, members, and processes shown in each drawing will be given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted as appropriate. In the following description, a vehicle lamp according to the present invention will be described by exemplifying an embodiment in which the vehicle lamp is applied to a tail lamp provided at the rear end of a vehicle. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to other vehicle lamps such as stop lamps, rear combination lamps, daytime running lamps, and clearance lamps. The vehicle lamp according to the present invention has a configuration that generates a design irradiation pattern that is a linear irradiation light having a decorative function. In the following description, the "design irradiation pattern" means an irradiation pattern intended in the design of the vehicle lamp. In contrast, an irradiation pattern that is actually formed is called a "linear irradiation pattern", and the two are distinguished from each other. In addition, the "design irradiation pattern" corresponds to the "predetermined shape" in the present invention.

[0025] A vehicle lamp 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6. As shown in Fig. 1, the vehicle lamp 10 includes a forming portion 20A, a light emitting element 30, and a lamp area 50. Fig. 1 is a plan view of the vehicle lamp 10 as seen from the rear side of the vehicle, and in the following, the side of the surface of the vehicle lamp 10 as seen from this direction will be referred to as the front side, and the opposite side as the back side. In other words, the -Z direction in Fig. 1 is the forward direction of the vehicle, and the +Z direction is the reverse direction of the vehicle.

[0026] The light emitting elements 30 arranged in a plurality (15 are illustrated in FIG. 1) are light sources that form a linear irradiation pattern (light distribution pattern). The forming portion 20A is a part of the design member 20 (see FIG. 2(a)), and is a part of the configuration for forming a good-looking linear irradiation pattern with suppressed uneven irradiation, that is, a uniform luminous intensity distribution. The details of the design member 20 and the forming portion 20A will be described later. The lamp area 50 is an area where a lamp having an original function such as a tail lamp is arranged as necessary. Of course, there is also a form in which a lamp is not arranged in the lamp area 50 depending on the form of the vehicle lamp. In this embodiment, a design irradiation pattern of a substantially C-shape is illustrated as an example, but this is not limited to this, and any design irradiation pattern of a linear shape such as a straight line, a ring shape, or a rectangular shape may be adopted. In this embodiment, the direction along the linear design irradiation pattern is referred to as the "extension direction", and the direction intersecting with the center line of the design irradiation pattern is referred to as the "direction intersecting with the extension direction". When the design irradiation pattern is a curve, the direction of the tangent to the center line becomes the extension direction.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows an optical system for forming a linear irradiation pattern, and FIG. 2(a) shows a cross-sectional view cut along line AA shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2(b) shows a cross-sectional view cut along line BB. As shown in FIG. 2(a), the optical system includes a light-emitting element 30, a light flux control unit 40, a design member 20, and a support member 21. Although not shown in FIG. 2(a), a plurality of light-emitting elements 30 and light flux control units 40 are arranged. The light-emitting element 30 is mounted on a mounting surface (not shown) of a substrate 31. In this embodiment, the light-emitting surface of the light-emitting element 30 is parallel to the mounting surface of the substrate 31, but may be inclined in consideration of optical design, etc. A part of the design member 20 includes a forming unit 20A that diffuses and deflects the light irradiated from the light flux control unit 40 to form a more attractive irradiation light. The support member 21 is a member that supports and fixes the design member 20.

[0028] The light emitting element 30 according to the present embodiment is, for example, a red light emitting LED (Light Emitting Diode). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and white or amber LEDs may be used. The material of the substrate 31 may be a normal glass epoxy substrate or the like, without any particular limitations.

[0029] The light flux control section 40 is a section that changes the optical path of the light received from the light emitting element 30 to control the light flux and irradiate it toward the forming section 20A. In other words, it is a section that controls the light distribution of the linear irradiation pattern. As shown in FIG. 2(a), the light flux control section 40 includes a refraction section 40A and a reflection section 40B. The refraction section 40A and the reflection section 40B each have a function of forming a linear irradiation pattern according to the design irradiation pattern by controlling the light flux according to a different principle. The light flux control section 40 is, for example, a synthetic resin molded product. As a material for molding the light flux control section 40, for example, a transparent acrylic resin can be used without any particular limitation. The refraction section 40A and the reflection section 40B will be described in detail later.

[0030] FIG. 2(b) is a cross-sectional view of the optical system when the viewing direction is changed. Therefore, the illustrated components are basically the same as those in FIG. 2(a). As shown in FIG. 2(b), in this embodiment, a plurality of light-emitting elements 30 are mounted on one substrate 31. The plurality of light-emitting elements 30 are arranged in an approximately C-shape on the mounting surface of the substrate 31. Other components such as a driving circuit for the light-emitting elements 30 and a lamp (not shown) may be mounted on the substrate 31, and the substrate 31 is formed in an appropriate shape so that these other components can also be mounted. Of course, the substrate 31 may be formed in an approximately C-shape according to the design irradiation pattern, taking into consideration the arrangement of other components. The substrate 31 does not necessarily have to be a single substrate, and may be formed in a form in which a substrate is arranged for each light-emitting element 30 or for each group of a predetermined number of light-emitting elements.

[0031] 2(b), in this embodiment, the plurality of light flux control sections 40 are integrally molded to form a light flux control section array 42. The light flux control section array 42 is formed in a substantially C-shape in accordance with the design irradiation pattern. Note that the light flux control sections 40 do not necessarily have to be integrally molded, and may be in a form in which a plurality of individual light flux control sections 40 are arranged, or may be arrayed in groups of a predetermined number.

[0032] Here, the arrangement of the optical system according to this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 2(a), in this embodiment, the substrate 31 and the forming portion 20A are substantially parallel. Note that "substrate 31 and forming portion 20A are substantially parallel" means that the substrate 31 has a mounting surface (not shown) on which the light emitting element 30 is mounted, and the mounting surface and the surface of the forming portion 20A are substantially parallel. Furthermore, the substrate 31 and forming portion 20A are inclined with respect to the Z-axis direction. Since the forward direction of the vehicle is the -Z direction, it can also be said that the substrate 31 and forming portion 20A are inclined with respect to the traveling direction (forward and backward directions) of the vehicle. The substrate 31 and forming portion 20A are arranged while maintaining a parallel relationship with each other. That is, the distance between the substrate 31 and the forming portion 20A is always constant regardless of the position of the light emitting element 30. This also suppresses uneven illumination in the linear illumination pattern of the vehicle lamp 10. In addition, tilting the substrate 31 has the effect of allowing the optical system to be arranged more compactly.

[0033] On the other hand, the main irradiation direction (optical axis) of the light flux control unit 40 is parallel to the vehicle traveling direction (Z-axis direction). In other words, the mounting surface of the substrate 31 and the surface of the forming unit 20A are inclined with respect to the main irradiation direction of the light flux control unit 40.

[0034] Next, the light flux control section 40 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a view of the light flux control section 40 from the back side (light emitting element 30 side), and shows the light flux control section 40 oriented to be disposed at the position P shown in FIG. 1 as an example. The light flux control section 40 includes a refraction section 40A, a reflection section 40B, and a convex section 43. The refraction section 40A and the reflection section 40B receive the light irradiated from the light emitting element 30, convert it into an FFP, for example, an elliptical shape, which is long in the extension direction of the design irradiation pattern and short in the direction intersecting the extension direction, and emit it toward the formation section 20A. In the example of FIG. 3, the Y-axis direction is the extension direction, and the X-axis direction is the direction intersecting the extension direction. In this embodiment, the shape of the FFP is an elliptical shape, but is not limited to this and may be an appropriate shape according to the design irradiation pattern. In this embodiment, the orientations (rotational positions with respect to the Z-axis) of the multiple light flux control sections 40 are set so that the long axis direction of the elliptical FFP is the extension direction. That is, the orientation of the light flux control section 40 differs depending on the position on the design irradiation pattern. In this embodiment, the term "ellipse" is used to mean a slightly elongated shape having a major axis and a minor axis, for example, a circular shape that is distorted in a particular direction.

[0035] The refracting portion 40A is composed of a lens member that is convex in the -Z direction and has a substantially circular shape in a plan view. The refracting portion 40A refracts the light received from the light emitting element 30, and irradiates the light to the forming portion 20A as a substantially circular light beam in a plane perpendicular to the main irradiation direction of the lens. The shape of the refracting portion 40A is not limited to a circular shape, and may be, for example, an elliptical shape having a major axis in the extension direction and a minor axis in a direction intersecting the extension direction.

[0036] The reflecting portion 40B has a generally mortar-like shape (a convex curved surface of revolution-like shape) that spreads outward in the +Z direction (a direction away from the main irradiation direction of the refraction portion 40A), and has a convex portion 43 surrounding the refraction portion 40A at a portion corresponding to the bottom of the mortar. The convex portion 43 is a portion of the reflecting portion 40B that protrudes in the -Z direction from the vicinity of the boundary with the refraction portion 40A. The reflecting portion 40B receives light from the light-emitting element 30 on the inside of the convex portion 43 (the refraction portion 40A side), totally reflects the intruding light on the inner surface of the reflecting portion 40B, and forms a ring-shaped diffused light beam around the light beam from the refraction portion 40A. The width of this ring-shaped light beam in the extension direction is made larger than the width in the direction intersecting with the extension direction, and as a result, the light from the light-emitting element 30, combined with the light beam from the refraction portion 40A, is converted into an elliptical FFP having a major axis in the extension direction and a minor axis in the direction intersecting with the extension direction.

[0037] In order to make the ring-shaped light beam wider in the extension direction than in the direction intersecting the extension direction, the inclination angle measured from the main irradiation direction (optical axis) of the mortar-shaped side surface of the reflecting portion 40B is changed depending on the location. That is, the side surface of the reflecting portion 40B has a first inclined portion 41A with a relatively large inclination angle and a second inclined portion 41B with a relatively small inclination angle. In other words, the inclination of the side surface of the first inclined portion 41A can be expressed as being gentler than that of the second inclined portion 41B. The first inclined portion 41A is provided in a pair on the top and bottom (Y-axis direction), and the second inclined portion 41B is provided in a pair on the left and right (X-axis direction). Therefore, the light beam control portion 40 is symmetrical with respect to the X-axis and the Y-axis. The inclination angle of the reflecting portion 40B changes continuously from the maximum inclination angle portion S1 to the minimum inclination angle portion S2. As a result, a ring-shaped light beam with an elliptical outer shape is formed in a plane perpendicular to the main irradiation direction.

[0038] The light beam control section 40 according to this embodiment has a plurality of cylindrical steps 44 formed on the light emission surface (the surface in the XY plane opposite to the side visible in FIG. 3) that extend in a direction intersecting with the extension direction of the linear irradiation pattern (see FIG. 4(a)). The cylindrical steps 44 have the function of diffusing light more effectively. Here, the cylindrical steps refer to steps that have a shape obtained by cutting a cylinder in the axial direction (see FIG. 6(b)). The plurality of cylindrical steps 44 are arranged so that their axes are parallel to the direction intersecting with the extension direction. The cylindrical steps 44 diffuse the irradiated light in the circumferential direction of the semicylinder, so that the light irradiated from the light beam control section 40 to the cylindrical steps 44 is diffused in the extension direction. As a result, the cylindrical steps 44 have the effect of extending the FFP of the light that has passed through the light beam control section 40 in the extension direction. As a result, as described later, adjacent FFPs 24A (see FIG. 5) are more effectively overlapped with each other, which contributes to reducing uneven irradiation. Note that the steps provided in the optical path control section 40 are not limited to being cylindrical, and may be steps of an appropriate shape depending on the required diffusion state, etc.

[0039] Next, the operation of the above-mentioned light flux control section 40 will be described in more detail with reference to Fig. 4(a). Fig. 4(a) is a diagram illustrating, using optical paths, how the light emitted from the light emitting element 30 is subjected to light flux control by the light flux control section 40.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 4(a), the light emitted from the light emitting element 30 and incident from the refraction portion 40A has its optical path changed so as to be condensed, forming a light beam L1. On the other hand, the light incident from the convex portion 43 is totally reflected by the inner surface of the reflection portion 40B, forming a ring-shaped light beam L2 around the light beam L1 in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the main irradiation direction. The ring width of the light beam L2 is long in the extension direction and short in the direction intersecting the extension direction, so that the FFP of the light from the light emitting element 30 is shaped into an elliptical shape. In other words, in the light beam control portion 40, the light beam L1 from the refraction portion 40A mainly plays a role in increasing the light collection efficiency and ensuring the brightness, and the light beam L2 from the reflection portion 40B mainly plays a role in shaping the shape of the FFP.

[0041] 4(b), the light emitted from the multiple light flux control sections 40 are arranged so that the light fluxes of adjacent light flux control sections 40 overlap each other. This makes it possible to minimize the formation of dark areas 25 in the vehicle lamp 10 according to this embodiment.

[0042] Next, the action and effect of the vehicle lamp 10 according to this embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 shows a part of the vehicle lamp 10 as viewed from the front (the rear side of the vehicle), and shows the design irradiation pattern 26 and the FFP 24A after the light emitted from the light emitting element 30 has been flux-controlled by the flux control unit 40.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 5, the FFP 24A according to this embodiment is oval and arranged so that its major axis is along the extension direction of the design irradiation pattern 26. Adjacent FFPs 24A are positioned so as to overlap in the overlapping region 29. This effectively suppresses the occurrence of dark areas 25 as in the conventional technology shown in FIG. 7. In addition, the length of the minor axis of the FFP 24A is set to be approximately equal to the width of the design irradiation pattern, so that the occurrence of scattered light and uneven irradiation due to the FFP 24A protruding from the formation portion 20A is suppressed. These effects are combined to make the linear irradiation pattern of the vehicle lamp 10 look good.

[0044] Next, referring to FIG. 6, the forming portion 20A according to this embodiment will be described in more detail. FIG. 6(a) is a view of the forming portion 20A having a substantially C-shape as viewed from the front (the rear side of the vehicle). FIG. 6(a) shows an example of the forming portion 20A integrated with the reinforcing portion 28, but the reinforcing portion 28 is not essential and may be omitted. As shown in FIG. 2(a), the forming portion 20A is a part of the design member 20, but in FIG. 6(a), the parts other than the forming portion 20A are omitted from the illustration. The forming portion 20A has a function of precisely diffusing the light irradiated from the light flux control portion 40 to suppress uneven irradiation and further improve the appearance. For this reason, the forming portion 20A is provided with an appropriate diffusing means according to the required diffusion characteristics, etc. The diffusing means will be described below with reference to FIG. 6(b).

[0045] Fig. 6(b) is a partial enlarged view of the area indicated by the symbol S in Fig. 6(a) on the rear surface of the forming unit 20A. As shown in Fig. 6(b), a plurality of fisheye lenses 22 arranged in a lattice along the design irradiation pattern are provided on the rear surface side of the forming unit 20A. The light irradiated from the light path control unit 40 is precisely diffused by the fisheye lenses 22, suppressing uneven irradiation. The arrangement of the fisheye lenses is not limited to a lattice pattern, and may be an appropriate arrangement such as a staggered pattern, taking into consideration the diffusion state, light distribution state, etc. of the required design irradiation pattern.

[0046] 6(b), cylindrical steps 23A are formed on the inside of the fisheye lenses 22 and cylindrical steps 23B are formed on the outside of the fisheye lenses 22 on the rear surface of the forming unit 20A. The cylindrical steps 23A and 23B are formed by arranging convex portions each having a shape of a cylinder cut in the axial direction with the axis oriented in the direction (X-axis direction) intersecting with the extension direction of the design irradiation pattern. When the design irradiation pattern is an arc like this embodiment, the cylindrical convex portions may be formed as part of a radial line starting from the center of the arc.

[0047] The cylindrical steps 23A and 23B also have a function of diffusing the light irradiated from the light flux control portion 40. In this embodiment, the cylindrical steps 23A and 23B have a function of suppressing the transmission of light and ensuring the invisibility of the internal structure of the vehicle lamp 10 when the vehicle lamp 10 is viewed from the front. For this reason, the front side of the forming portion 20A is textured at a position facing the cylindrical steps 23A and 23B. By arranging the cylindrical steps 23A and 23B, the appearance of the vehicle lamp 10 is improved.

[0048] In the present embodiment, a form in which both a fisheye lens and a cylindrical step are provided is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a form in which either one of them is provided may be used. In addition, in the present embodiment, a form in which two systems of cylindrical steps are formed is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a form in which one system of cylindrical steps is formed, either on the inside or the outside, may be used. In addition, in the present embodiment, a form in which embossing is performed on the front side of the forming portion 20A facing the cylindrical steps 23A and 23B is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the embossing may be omitted. Furthermore, the steps provided on the forming portion 20A are not limited to a cylindrical shape, and may be steps of an appropriate shape depending on the required diffusion state, etc.

[0049] As described above in detail, according to the vehicle lamp 10 of this embodiment, the light emitted from the light emitting element 30 forms a slightly elongated shape (for example, an elliptical shape) FFP having a major axis and a minor axis by the light flux control unit 40. Therefore, by arranging the light emitting elements 30 so that the major axis is along the extension direction of the design irradiation pattern 26 and has an overlapping region 29, it is easy to form a linear irradiation pattern according to the predetermined design irradiation pattern 26. As a result, the formation of the dark area 25 can be suppressed. In addition, since it is easy to match the minor axis to the width of the design irradiation pattern 26, it is easy to avoid the light being irradiated to an unintended part in the vehicle lamp 10. As a result, it is possible to suppress unintended scattered light. That is, in the vehicle lamp 10, the controllability of the light flux emitted from the light emitting element 30 is improved, and a vehicle lamp with a good appearance in which irradiation unevenness is suppressed, that is, a uniform luminous intensity distribution can be provided.

[0050] In the above embodiment, the outer shape of the reflecting portion of the light flux control portion 40 has been described as being a convex curved surface of revolution, but the shape is not limited to this, and may be any other curved shape or a shape composed of multiple planes.

[0051] In the above embodiment, the substrate 31 and the forming portion 20A are inclined with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle, but the present invention is not limited to this. At least one of them may be parallel to the traveling direction of the vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 10...Vehicle lighting fixtures 20...Design components 20A…Formation part 21...Support member 22...Fisheye lens 23A, 23B...Cylindrical step 24A, 24B…FFP 25...Dark part 26…Design irradiation pattern 27…Protruding part 28…Reinforcement 29…overlapping area 30...Light emitting element 31...Substrate 40...Light flux control section 40A…Bending part 40B…Reflector 41A…First slope part 41B…Second slope part 42...Light flux control unit array 43…Convex part 44…Cylindrical step 50…Lamp area L1, L2…luminous flux S1…Maximum inclination angle part S2…Minimum inclination angle part

Claims

1. A plurality of light emitting elements; a plurality of light flux control sections provided corresponding to the plurality of light emitting elements, respectively; and a vehicle lamp that forms a linear irradiation pattern of a predetermined shape in front of the plurality of light flux control sections, the light flux control section includes a refracting section disposed at a center portion, and a generally cone-shaped reflecting section surrounding the refracting section and extending forward, the refraction portion refracts the light from the light emitting element to emit the light directly forward, The reflecting portion reflects and diffuses the light from the light emitting element and emits the light forward, A vehicular lamp characterized in that the light emitted from the light-emitting element forms a far-field pattern whose length in the extension direction of the linear irradiation pattern is longer than its length in the direction intersecting the extension direction after passing through the light flux control unit.

2. 2. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, A vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein a length of said far-field pattern in a direction intersecting said extension direction is set to be within a width of said predetermined shape.

3. 3. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, A vehicle lamp, characterized in that an inclination of the reflecting portion corresponding to the extension direction is gentler than an inclination of the reflecting portion corresponding to a direction intersecting the extension direction.

4. 4. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1, the predetermined shape includes a curved shape; The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light flux control portions are arranged along the curved shape.

5. 5. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1, A vehicle lamp, comprising: a light exit surface of the light flux control portion, the light exit surface being formed with a plurality of cylindrical steps extending in a direction intersecting an extension direction of the linear irradiation pattern.

6. 6. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1, The vehicle lamp further comprises a forming section that diffuses the light emitted from the light flux control section and forms the linear irradiation pattern.

7. 7. The vehicular lamp according to claim 6, A vehicular lamp comprising: at least one of a plurality of fisheye lenses and a plurality of cylindrical steps formed in a direction intersecting the extension direction on at least a portion of a surface of the forming portion facing the light flux control portion.

8. 8. The vehicular lamp according to claim 6, Further comprising a substrate having a mounting surface on which the plurality of light emitting elements are mounted; The mounting surface and a surface of the forming portion are substantially parallel to each other.

9. 9. The vehicular lamp according to claim 8, A vehicular lamp, characterized in that the mounting surface and the surface of the forming portion are inclined with respect to a traveling direction of a vehicle on which the vehicular lamp is mounted.

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