Vehicle lamp

Abstract

To provide a technique for avoiding or suppressing deterioration in appearance, in a vehicular lamp in which an antifogging coating film is formed.SOLUTION: A vehicular lamp includes: a housing which is mounted on a vehicle and has an opening part; an outer lens which covers the opening part of the housing and in which antifogging processing is performed on an inner surface; and a light source which is arranged in an internal space defined by the housing and the outer lens. The inner surface of the outer lens includes: a first region; and a second region which is adjacent to the first region and is positioned below the first region. On the inner surface of the outer lens, a protrusion, a step or a groove is provided along a boundary of the first region and the second region.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to vehicle lamps (for example, headlamps, rear combination lamps, etc.).

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a vehicle having a headlamp. This headlamp includes a housing and an outer lens. An engine hood is disposed above the headlamp.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Generally, in a headlamp as described above, an anti-fog coating film is formed on the inner surface of the outer lens. Due to this anti-fog coating film, water vapor inside the headlamp forms a water film along the anti-fog coating film without condensing as water droplets. Thereby, fogging of the outer lens can be prevented. However, if a water film exceeding a certain amount is generated, there is a possibility that a drip mark of the water film may occur due to the drying of the water film running along the inner surface of the outer lens. The deterioration in appearance due to such drip marks of the water film is not limited to headlamps and can occur in lamps generally subjected to anti-fog treatment.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, this specification provides a technology for avoiding or suppressing a decrease in appearance in a vehicle lamp subjected to anti-fog treatment.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The technology disclosed in this specification is embodied in a vehicle lamp. In its first aspect, the vehicle lamp is attached to a vehicle and includes a housing having an opening, an outer lens that covers the opening of the housing and has an anti-fogging treatment on its inner surface, and a light source disposed in an internal space defined by the housing and the outer lens. The inner surface of the outer lens has a first region and a second region adjacent to the first region and located below the first region. A protrusion, a step, or a groove is provided on the inner surface of the outer lens along the boundary between the first region and the second region.

[0007] In the above-described vehicle lamp, the inner surface of the outer lens is subjected to an anti-fogging treatment. Therefore, fogging of the outer lens can be prevented. Further, the outer lens has a first region and a second region located below the first region, and a protrusion, a step, or a groove (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a protrusion or the like) is provided along the boundary between these regions. According to such a configuration, even when a water film exceeding a certain amount is generated on the outer lens, the protrusion or the like can avoid or suppress the movement of the water film from the first region to the second region. Thereby, it is possible to avoid or suppress a deterioration in appearance due to dripping marks of the water film.

[0008] In a second aspect, in the first aspect, when the vehicle on which the vehicle lamp is mounted is placed in sunlight, the temperature rise amount in the first region may be smaller than the temperature rise amount in the second region. When the vehicle on which the vehicle lamp is mounted is placed in sunlight, in a portion where the temperature rise amount of the outer lens is small, the temperature difference from the temperature of the air in the internal space defined by the housing and the outer lens becomes relatively large. Then, when those temperatures decrease, in the outer lens subjected to the anti-fogging treatment, a water film is likely to be formed in a region where the temperature rise amount is small. Therefore, in the above-described configuration, a water film is more likely to be generated in the first region 15a than in the second region 15b. In this regard, since protrusions or the like are provided along the boundary between the first region and the second region, it is possible to avoid or suppress the movement of the water film from the first region to the second region.

[0009] In a third aspect, in the first or the second aspect, when the vehicle lamp is attached to the vehicle, the first region may include a region covered from above by a vehicle component, and the second region may not include a region covered from above by the component. In this case, the region covered from above by the vehicle component has a smaller temperature rise amount in sunlight than the region not covered from above by the vehicle component. Therefore, also in the above-described configuration, a water film is more likely to be generated in the first region than in the second region. In this regard, since protrusions or the like are provided along the boundary between the first region and the second region, it is possible to avoid or suppress the movement of the water film from the first region to the second region.

[0010] In a fourth aspect, in the third aspect, the protrusion, step, or groove may be located on the first region side with respect to the boundary between the first region and the second region. According to such a configuration, in a state where the vehicle lamp is attached to the vehicle, protrusions or the like provided on the inner surface of the outer lens can be covered from above by a vehicle component. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a decrease in the appearance when the vehicle lamp is attached to the vehicle.

[0011] In a fifth aspect, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the vehicle lamp may further include an inner lens unit disposed in the internal space. In this case, the inner lens unit may have a third region facing the first region of the outer lens and a fourth region facing the second region of the outer lens. The heat absorption rate of the third region may be smaller than the heat absorption rate of the fourth region. According to such a configuration, since the temperature rise amount of the first region is smaller than that of the second region, a water film is more likely to be generated in the first region than in the second region. In this regard, since protrusions or the like are provided along the boundary between the first region and the second region, it is possible to avoid or suppress the movement of the water film from the first region to the second region.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] (Example 1) With reference to the drawings, a vehicle 100 equipped with the headlamp 10 of Example 1 will be described. The vehicle 100 is a so-called automobile, which is a vehicle that travels on a road surface. The vehicle 100 is, for example, an engine vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle, an electric vehicle, a solar car, or the like. Part or all of the technology described in this example can be similarly adopted for vehicles that travel on a track. In addition, the vehicle is not limited to being operated by a user, and may be remotely operated by an external device or may be self-driving.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 100 includes a design panel 102. The design panel 102 is a member for improving the design of the front part of the vehicle 100 and is disposed above the headlamp 10. Therefore, a part of the headlamp 10 is covered from above by the design panel 102, and the remaining part of the headlamp 10 is not covered from above by the design panel 102. Note that the design panel 102 may be attached to the vehicle body 104 or may be attached to the headlamp 10. The design panel 102 in the present embodiment is an example of a component of the vehicle 100 in the present technology. In other embodiments, the components of the vehicle 100 may be a hood, a fender, a front bumper, etc. provided at the front part of the vehicle body 104.

[0015] Here, each direction of the headlamp 10 in the drawing conforms to the direction when mounted on the vehicle 100, that is, the direction of the vehicle 100. Therefore, the direction FR indicates the front in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 100, and the direction RR indicates the rear in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 100. Also, the direction LH indicates the left in the left-right direction of the vehicle 100, and the direction RH indicates the right in the left-right direction of the vehicle 100. And the direction UP indicates the upper in the up-down direction of the vehicle 100, and the direction DW indicates the lower in the up-down direction of the vehicle 100.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the headlamps 10 are attached to both the left and right sides of the front part of the vehicle 100 and irradiate light forward of the vehicle 100. The headlamps 10 are provided symmetrically with respect to the left-right direction of the vehicle 100. Hereinafter, the headlamp 10 provided on the left side portion of the vehicle 100 will be mainly described, but the description is also applicable to the headlamp provided on the right side portion of the vehicle 100. Also, the technology described in the present embodiment is not limited to the headlamp 10 and can also be adopted for vehicle lamps such as rear combination lamps. The rear combination lamp mentioned here is a vehicle lamp in which a tail lamp, a brake lamp, a turn signal lamp, etc. are integrated and attached to both the left and right sides of the rear part of the vehicle 100.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the headlamp 10 includes a housing 12 and an outer lens 14. The housing 12 is a housing member that houses components of the headlamp 10 such as a light source 22. The housing 12 has an opening 12a, and the opening 12a is provided at the front portion of the housing 12. The outer lens 14 is provided in front of the housing 12 and covers the opening 12a of the housing 12. Therefore, an internal space IS is defined by the housing 12 and the outer lens 14. Although it is an example, the housing 12 and the outer lens 14 are connected by an adhesive 16. Further, although not particularly limited, a breathing hole 12b is provided at the rear portion of the housing 12, and the internal space IS communicates with the outside through the breathing hole 12b.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the outer lens 14 includes a transparent lens 18 and a design lens 20. The transparent lens 18 is a transparent lens that transmits light that has passed through the inner lenses 28a and 28b. The design lens 20 is a non-transparent lens that improves the design of the headlamp 10. Although it is an example, the design lens 20 in the present embodiment is colored black. The transparent lens 18 is arranged from the front portion to the upper portion of the headlamp 10, and the design lens 20 is arranged at the upper portion of the headlamp 10. Thereby, the portion covered by the design lens 20 is not visible from the outside of the headlamp 10, and the design of the headlamp 10 can be improved.

[0019] An anti-fogging treatment is applied to the inner surface 15 of the outer lens 14. Although not particularly limited, in the present embodiment, an anti-fogging coating film is formed on the inner surface 15 of the outer lens 14. Therefore, an anti-fogging coating film is formed on the inner surface of each of the transparent lens 18 and the design lens 20. This anti-fogging coating film is formed by applying an anti-fogging paint containing a surfactant. Therefore, the water vapor in the headlamp 10 forms a water film along the anti-fogging coating film without condensing as water droplets, so that fogging of the outer lens 14 can be prevented.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the headlamp 10 further includes a light source 22. The light source 22 is a light emitter that emits visible light. The light source 22 is, for example, a Light Emitting Diode (LED). The light source 22 is disposed within the inner lens 28a within an internal space IS defined by the housing 12 and the outer lens 14. The light source 22 is configured to be controllable by a control device (not shown), and the emission of light is controlled by a command from the control device. The light source 22 in the present embodiment constitutes a Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) and is disposed on the front side of the plane of FIG. 1. Alternatively, or in addition, the light source 22 may constitute a turn signal lamp.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 1, the headlamp 10 includes an inner lens unit 24. The inner lens unit 24 is disposed in an internal space IS formed by a housing 12 and an outer lens 14 and is supported by the housing 12. The inner lens unit 24 includes a reflector 26, inner lenses 28a and 28b, and an extension 30. The reflector 26 is a reflecting member that reflects the light of the light source 22, and a vapor deposition treatment such as aluminum vapor deposition is applied to the front surface of the reflector 26. The reflector 26 is disposed behind the light source 22. The inner lenses 28a and 28b are transparent lenses that transmit the light of the light source 22. The inner lenses 28a and 28b include a first inner lens 28a and a second inner lens 28b. The first inner lens 28a defines the shape of the DRL and is provided in a ring shape. A part of the second inner lens 28b is disposed in front of the first inner lens 28a. The extension 30 is a non-transparent resin that shields the light of the light source 22. The extension 30 is disposed around the inner lenses 28a and 28b and improves the design property of the headlamp 10 by shielding the light from the inner lenses 28a and 28b. Note that the specific shapes and numbers of the reflector 26, the inner lenses 28a and 28b, and the extension 30 included in the inner lens unit 24 are not limited at all and can be appropriately changed according to the design of the headlamp 10.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inner surface 15 of the outer lens 14 has a first region 15a and a second region 15b. The first region 15a and the second region 15b are adjacent to each other, and the second region 15b is located below the first region 15a. As described above, a design panel 102 is disposed above the headlamp 10, and a part of the outer lens 14 is covered from above by the design panel 102. Thereby, the inner surface 15 of the outer lens 14 is divided into a region covered from above by the design panel 102 and a region not covered from above by the design panel 102. The former region is the first region 15a described above, and the latter region is the second region 15b described above. When the vehicle 100 is disposed under sunlight, in the first region 15a and the portion of the inner lens unit 24 facing it, the amount of temperature rise is relatively small because the sunlight is blocked by the design panel 102. On the other hand, in the second region 15b and the portion of the inner lens unit 24 facing it, since the sunlight is irradiated, the amount of temperature rise is relatively large. Thus, between the first region 15a and the second region 15b, when the vehicle 100 is disposed under sunlight, the amounts of temperature rise are different from each other.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inner surface 15 of the outer lens 14 further has a protrusion 15c. The protrusion 15c is provided along the boundary B between the first region 15a and the second region 15b. As described above, since the first region 15a and the second region 15b are adjacent in the vertical direction, their boundary B extends along a substantially horizontal direction, and the protrusion 15c also extends continuously along a substantially horizontal direction. The protrusion 15c protrudes downward from the first region 15a and the second region 15b. Note that the protrusion 15c does not necessarily have to be located on the boundary B and may be offset with respect to the boundary B.

[0024] In the above-described headlamp 10, an anti-fogging treatment is applied to the inner surface 15 of the outer lens 14. Therefore, fogging of the outer lens 14 can be prevented. For example, when the vehicle 100 to which the headlamp 10 is attached is placed under sunlight, the temperature of the outer lens 14 and the temperature of the air in the internal space IS defined by the housing 12 and the outer lens 14 increase. Further, along with the increase in those temperatures, for example, moisture is released from the polymer material constituting the inner lens unit 24, and the amount of water vapor in the internal space IS increases. Thereafter, when those temperatures decrease, condensation may occur on the inner surface 15 of the outer lens 14. However, due to the anti-fogging treatment applied to the inner surface 15, a thin water film is formed along the inner surface 15 without condensing as water droplets.

[0025] However, on the inner surface 15 of the outer lens 14, there are a first region 15a with a relatively small temperature rise amount during sunlight exposure and a second region 15b with a relatively large temperature rise amount during sunlight exposure. Therefore, compared with the second region 15b, the water film is likely to grow thicker in the first region 15a. Since the second region 15b exists below the first region 15a, the water film generated in the first region 15a may spread to the second region 15b. In this case, water film drip marks may occur in the second region 15b, which may deteriorate the appearance of the headlamp 10. In this regard, in the present embodiment, a protrusion 15c is provided along the boundary B between the first region 15a and the second region 15b. According to such a configuration, even when the water film grows thick in the first region 15a, the protrusion 15c can avoid or suppress the movement of the water film from the first region 15a to the second region 15b. Thereby, it is possible to avoid or suppress the deterioration of the appearance due to the water film drip marks.

[0026] Although this is just one example, the position of the protrusion 15c provided on the inner surface 15 of the outer lens 14 can be changed as appropriate. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, in the headlamp 110 of the modified example, the protrusion 15c is located on the side of the first region 15a with respect to the boundary B between the first region 15a and the second region 15b. According to such a configuration, the protrusion 15c provided on the inner surface 15 of the outer lens 14 is covered from above by the design panel 102. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a decrease in the appearance of the headlamp 110. However, as another embodiment, the protrusion 15c may be located on the side of the second region 15b with respect to the boundary B. That is, the protrusion 15c may be located on either side with respect to the boundary B, and for example, it may be formed along the boundary B within a range of 30 mm on both sides centered on the boundary B.

[0027] Although this is just one example, as shown in FIG. 2, the inner lens unit 24 has a third region 24a facing the first region 15a of the outer lens 14 and a fourth region 24b facing the second region 15b of the outer lens 14. For example, when the heat absorption rate of the third region 24a is smaller than the heat absorption rate of the fourth region 24b, even if the design panel 102 does not exist, the amount of temperature rise in the first region 15a during sunlight is smaller than the amount of temperature rise in the second region 15b during sunlight. As a result, in the first region 15a, a water film is likely to grow thicker compared to the second region 15b. However, as described above, the transfer of the water film to the second region 15b is avoided or suppressed by the protrusion 15c. In this way, the technology described in this embodiment can be widely adopted for various configurations in which a non-uniform temperature rise occurs on the inner surface 15 of the outer lens 14. Each of the third region 24a and the fourth region 24b of the inner lens unit 24 may be provided on any of the reflector 26, the inner lenses 28a and 28b, and the extension 30.

[0028] (Example 2) Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the headlamp 120 of Example 2 will be described. Compared with the headlamp 10 of Example 1, in the headlamp 120 of this example, instead of the protrusion 15c, a step 15d is provided on the inner surface 15 of the outer lens 14. Note that, between Example 1 and this example, the other configurations are common. For the common configurations, the same reference numerals are used, and the redundant description is omitted here.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 4, the step 15d is provided along the boundary B between the first region 15a and the second region 15b. As described above, since the first region 15a and the second region 15b are adjacent to each other in the vertical direction, their boundary B extends along a substantially horizontal direction, and the protrusion 15c also extends continuously along a substantially horizontal direction. The step 15d extends forward and downward from the first region 15a toward the second region 15b located below the first region 15a. The step 15d is locally inclined compared with the first region 15a and the second region 15b. Even with such a configuration, when the water film grows thick in the first region 15a, the step 15d can avoid or suppress the movement of the water film from the first region 15a to the second region 15b.

[0030] (Example 3) Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the headlamp 130 of Example 3 will be described. Compared with the headlamp 10 of Example 1, in the headlamp 130 of this example, instead of the protrusion 15c, a groove 15e is provided on the inner surface 15 of the outer lens 14. Note that, between Example 1 and this example, the other configurations are common. For the common configurations, the same reference numerals are used, and the redundant description is omitted here.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 5, the groove 15e is provided along the boundary B between the first region 15a and the second region 15b. As described above, since the first region 15a and the second region 15b are adjacent in the vertical direction, their boundary B extends along a substantially horizontal direction, and the protrusion 15c also extends continuously along a substantially horizontal direction. The groove 15e is recessed upward from the first region 15a and the second region 15b. Even with such a configuration, when the water film grows thick in the first region 15a, the groove 15e can avoid or suppress the movement of the water film from the first region 15a to the second region 15b.

[0032] As described above, several specific examples have been described in detail, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples exemplified above. The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical utility alone or in combination.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0033] 10, 110, 120, 130: Headlamp, 12: Housing, 12a: Opening, 12b: Ventilation hole, 14: Outer lens, 15: Inner surface of the outer lens, 15a: First region, 15b: Second region, 15c: Protrusion, 15d: Step, 15e: Groove 22: Light source, 24: Inner lens unit, 24a: Third region, 24b: Fourth region, 100: Vehicle, 102: Design panel, 104: Vehicle body

Claims

1. A housing that is attached to a vehicle and has an opening, An outer lens that covers the opening of the housing and has an anti-fogging treatment on its inner surface, A light source disposed within an internal space defined by the housing and the outer lens, Comprising, The outer lens includes a transparent lens and a non-transparent design lens disposed on the inner surface of the upper portion of the transparent lens, The inner surface of the design lens has a first region and a second region that is adjacent to the first region and is located below the first region, On the inner surface of the design lens, a protrusion, step or groove is provided along the boundary between the first region and the second region, A vehicle lamp.

2. When the vehicle on which the vehicle lamp is attached is placed in sunlight, the amount of temperature rise in the first region is smaller than the amount of temperature rise in the second region. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1.

3. When the vehicle lamp is attached to the vehicle, The first region includes a region covered from above by a component of the vehicle, The second region does not include a region covered from above by the component. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1.

4. The protrusion, step or groove is located on the first region side with respect to the boundary between the first region and the second region. The vehicle lamp according to claim 3.

5. Further comprising an inner lens unit disposed within the internal space, The inner lens unit has a third region facing the first region of the design lens and a fourth region facing the second region of the design lens, The heat absorption rate of the third region is smaller than the heat absorption rate of the fourth region. The vehicle lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images