Vehicle lighting fixtures

Abstract

To provide a vehicular lighting fixture capable of achieving improvement in lighting appearance while suppressing complication in a structure.SOLUTION: A vehicular lighting fixture 1 includes: a first lighting fixture unit U1; and a second lighting fixture unit U2 arranged adjacent to the first lighting fixture unit U1. A reflection member 12 includes: a first reflection part 12a for allowing light from a first light source 11 to enter a rear surface side of a diffusion lens part 13 and emit from a surface side; and a second reflection part 12b for reflecting the light from the first light source 11 toward the second lighting fixture unit U2 side which is arranged adjacently, allowing reflection light to enter the rear surface side of the diffusion lens part 13 and emit from an end surface 13a of the diffusion lens part 13, and allowing the emitted light to enter an end surface 24b of a spot lens part 24.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, a vehicle lamp has been proposed in which lamp units each having a light source and a lens are placed adjacent to each other, and light from one lamp unit is guided to the other lamp unit and emitted through the lens of the other lamp unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-92883 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the vehicle lamp described in Patent Document 1 tends to have a complex structure because light from one lamp unit is reflected two or more times before being directed to the other lamp unit. Furthermore, the vehicle lamp described in Patent Document 1 directs light from one lamp unit into the rear surface of the lens of the other lamp unit and then out from the front surface, so it can only direct weak light that does not affect the main light distribution, and if the goal is to improve the lighting appearance, for example, the degree of improvement is insufficient.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve these conventional problems, and its purpose is to provide a vehicle lamp that can improve the appearance when lit while minimizing structural complexity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle lamp of the present invention is a vehicle lamp comprising: a first lamp unit having a first light source, a reflecting member that reflects light from the first light source, and a first lens portion that receives light reflected by the reflecting member from the back side and emits it from the front side; and a second lamp unit that is arranged adjacent to the first lamp unit and has a second light source and a second lens portion that receives light from the second light source from the back side and emits it from the front side, wherein the reflecting member has a first reflecting portion that causes light from the first light source to enter the back side of the first lens portion and emit it from the front side, and a second reflecting portion that reflects light from the first light source toward the adjacent second lamp unit, causes the reflected light to enter the back side of the first lens portion and emit it from a first side surface of the first lens portion, and causes the emitted light to enter the second side surface of the second lens portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the lighting appearance while suppressing the complexity of the structure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle lamp shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line AA. [Figure 3] 2 is a BB end view of the vehicle lamp shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 2 is a CC end view of the vehicle lamp shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of the end view shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged end view showing a partial configuration of a vehicle lamp according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention will be described below in accordance with preferred embodiments. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown below and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In addition, in the embodiments shown below, some components are omitted from illustration and description, but it goes without saying that publicly known or well-known technologies are applied as appropriate to the details of the omitted technologies within the scope of the content described below.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a front view showing a vehicle lamp according to this embodiment, Fig. 2 is an AA end view of the vehicle lamp shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a BB end view of the vehicle lamp shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a CC end view of the vehicle lamp shown in Fig. 1.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the vehicle lamp 1 of this embodiment is intended to be used, for example, as a vehicle headlamp, and is configured with a first lamp unit U1 and a second lamp unit U2 within a lamp chamber defined by a housing, an outer lens, etc. (not shown).

[0012] The second lamp unit U2 forms a spot light distribution pattern for low beams having a cutoff line in front of the vehicle, and is disposed adjacent to the first lamp unit U1 in the vehicle width direction. The first lamp unit U1 forms a diffuse light distribution pattern in front of the vehicle that is more diffused than the spot light distribution pattern of the second lamp unit U2. The vehicular lamp 1 forms a light distribution pattern for low beams by superimposing the light distribution patterns formed by the first and second lamp units U1 and U2.

[0013] 2 and 4, the first lamp unit U1 is configured to include a first light source 11, a reflecting member 12, a diffusion lens portion (first lens portion) 13, a decorative member 14, and a shade 15. The first light source 11 is configured, for example, by an LED (Light Emitting Diode). This first light source 11 is attached to a base member B such as a heat sink via a substrate, for example, and is disposed so that its optical axis is directed upwards of the vehicle.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 4, the reflecting member 12 includes a first reflecting portion 12a and a second reflecting portion 12b. The first reflecting portion 12a has an inner surface formed by a spheroid, a paraboloid, or the like, and is disposed so as to cover the upper portion of the first light source 11 (see FIG. 2). The reflecting member 12 has an aluminum or silver-based reflective layer formed by vapor deposition, painting, or the like on the inner surface thereof, and reflects light from the first light source 11 toward the front of the vehicle. The second reflecting portion 12b shown in FIG. 4 is provided extending from the first reflecting portion 12a toward the front of the vehicle. The second reflecting portion 12b is provided so as to protrude forward from a side of the first reflecting portion 12a opposite to the side adjacent to the second lamp unit U2, and an aluminum or silver-based reflective layer is formed on the surface facing the second lamp unit U2 by vapor deposition, painting, or the like. Therefore, the second reflecting portion 12b reflects light from the first light source 11 toward the adjacent second lamp unit U2.

[0015] The diffusion lens portion 13 receives and emits light from the first light source 11 that has been reflected forward by the first reflecting portion 12a. The diffusion lens portion 13 is a cylindrical lens that is elongated in the vehicle width direction to facilitate the formation of a diffused light distribution pattern. The front and back sides of the diffusion lens portion 13 are wavy, and the end face (first side face) 13a on the second lamp unit U2 side in particular is adapted to be close to a spot lens portion (see reference numeral 24) of the second lamp unit U2, which will be described later.

[0016] The decorative members 14 are members provided on the rear surface of the diffusion lens portion 13 near both ends, and have a reflective layer formed by aluminum deposition or the like on the surface facing the diffusion lens portion 13. This reflective layer allows the decorative member 14 to illuminate the areas near both ends of the diffusion lens portion 13 by utilizing light (leakage light) from the first light source 11, and also to illuminate the areas near both ends of the diffusion lens portion 13 by utilizing reflection of external light even when the first light source 11 is off. In other words, the decorative member 14 can enhance the design of the vehicle lamp 1.

[0017] The shade 15 is disposed between the first light source 11 and the diffusing lens portion 13, and forms a cut-off line by cutting off part of the light from the first light source 11 or reflecting it in another direction.

[0018] 3 and 4, the second lamp unit U2 includes a second light source 21, a reflecting member 22, a shade 23, a spot lens portion (second lens portion) 24, and an extension portion 25. Like the first light source, the second light source 21 is configured by, for example, an LED. This second light source 21 is also attached to a base member B, such as a heat sink, via a substrate so that its optical axis is directed upwards of the vehicle.

[0019] The reflecting member 22 is configured in the same manner as the first reflecting portion 12a of the first lamp unit U1. That is, the reflecting member 22 is configured to have a spheroid, paraboloid, or the like with an aluminum or silver-based reflective layer formed on its inner surface by vapor deposition, painting, or the like, and covers the upper part of the second light source 21 to reflect light from the second light source 21 toward the front of the vehicle.

[0020] The shade 23 is disposed between the second light source 21 and the spot lens portion 24, and forms a cut-off line by cutting off part of the light from the second light source 21 or reflecting it in another direction.

[0021] The spot lens portion 24 receives and emits light from the second light source 21 that has been reflected forward by the reflecting member 22, and has a generally trapezoidal shape when viewed from the front, as shown in Fig. 1, for example. The generally triangular portion of the spot lens portion 24 (the dot portion shown in Fig. 1) on the first lighting unit U1 side is a dummy portion 24a. An end face (second side face) 24b of the dummy portion 24a, i.e., the end face 24b of the spot lens portion 24, is configured to closely face the end face 13a of the diffusing lens portion 13.

[0022] Fig. 5 is a partial enlarged view of the end view shown in Fig. 4. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, light reflected by the second reflecting portion 12b of the first lighting unit U1 is incident on the second lighting unit U2. More specifically, the second reflecting portion 12b reflects the incident light from the first light source 11 toward the second lighting unit U2, causes the light to be incident on the back side of the diffusing lens portion 13, and then emits it from the end surface 13a. The light emitted from the end surface 13a is incident on the end surface 24b of the spotting lens portion 24.

[0023] The extension portion 25 is a member that extends from the front end of the reflecting member 22 to the spot lens portion 24. The front end of the extension portion 25 forms a blade portion 25a that spreads slightly rearward in the vehicle width direction. A reflective layer formed by aluminum vapor deposition or the like is formed on the blade portion 25a1 on the first lamp unit U1 side of the blade portion 25a. Therefore, when light from the first lamp unit U1 is incident on the end surface 24b, the dummy portion 24a of the spot lens portion 24 is visually recognized by a user or the like as emitting light due to the cooperation of the incident light and the reflective layer.

[0024] Here, it is preferable that the light emitted from the end face 13a of the diffusing lens portion 13 is appropriately incident on the end face 24b of the spotting lens portion 24 without being reflected by it. For this reason, it is preferable that the end faces 13a and 24b are substantially parallel to each other (for example, the angle difference is 10° or less). Explaining this in terms of the cross sections shown in Figures 4 and 5, the end faces 13a and 24b are inclined by substantially the same angle (for example, a°-b°≦10°) with respect to the optical axis OA2 of the second lamp unit U2.

[0025] 4 and 5, the front end of the spot lens portion 24 of the second lamp unit U2 is located further forward than the diffusion lens portion 13 of the first lamp unit U1. This makes it easier to guide the light from the first light source 11 through the diffusion lens portion 13 to the spot lens portion 24, which is located slightly forward.

[0026] In addition, it is preferable that the front end of the end face 13a of the diffusing lens portion 13 is located forward of the front end of the end face 24b of the spotting lens portion 24, and the rear end of the end face 13a of the diffusing lens portion 13 is located rearward of the rear end of the end face 24b of the spotting lens portion 24. This makes it easier for light to be incident on the entire end face 24b of the spotting lens portion 24, reducing the possibility that light will be incident on only a part of the end face 24b, causing uneven light emission of the dummy portion 24a and resulting in a poor appearance.

[0027] In addition, it is preferable that the decorative member 14 covers at least a portion of the space between the end faces 13a and 24b at the rear. This is because it is possible to reduce the deterioration of the appearance due to visibility from the back. In this embodiment, at least a portion of the space between the end faces 13a and 24b is covered by the decorative member 14 having a reflective layer, but this is not limiting and the space may be covered by a resin member or the like that does not have a reflective layer.

[0028] Next, the operation of the vehicle lamp 1 according to this embodiment will be described. First, when the headlights are turned on at night, the first light source 11 and the second light source 21 are turned on. As a result, in the first lamp unit U1, light from the first light source 11 is reflected by the first reflecting portion 12a of the reflecting member 12 and emitted forward of the vehicle through the diffusing lens portion 13. The emitted light forms a diffused light distribution pattern.

[0029] In the second lamp unit U2, light from the second light source 21 is reflected by the reflecting member 22, partially cut off by the shade 23, and emitted forward of the vehicle through the spot lens portion 24. The emitted light forms a spot light distribution pattern having a cutoff line.

[0030] Furthermore, light from the first light source 11 that is reflected by the second reflecting portion 12b is reflected toward the front of the vehicle and toward the second lamp unit U2. This reflected light enters the back surface side of the diffusion lens portion 13 and exits from the end surface 13a. The light that exits from the end surface 13a enters the end surface 24b of the spot lens portion 24. In particular, because the front end of the spot lens portion 24 is located further forward than the front end of the diffusion lens portion 13, the light that exits from the end surface 13a of the diffusion lens portion 13 naturally enters the end surface 24b of the spot lens portion 24.

[0031] Furthermore, the end faces 13a and 24b are substantially parallel to each other. Therefore, the light emitted from the end face 13a is unlikely to be reflected by the end face 24b of the spotting lens portion 24, and is preferably guided to the dummy portion 24a of the spotting lens portion 24. As a result, the dummy portion 24a emits light and is visible, improving the appearance.

[0032] In particular, the front and rear ends of the end face 13a of the diffusing lens portion 13 are located forward and rearward, respectively, of the front and rear ends of the end face 24b of the spotting lens portion 24. This makes it easier for light to be incident on the entire end face 24b of the spotting lens portion 24, reducing the possibility of light being incident on only a part of the end face 24b, causing unevenness.

[0033] In this manner, according to the vehicle lamp 1 of this embodiment, the reflecting member 12 of the first lamp unit U1 reflects light from the first light source 11 toward the adjacent second lamp unit U2, causing the reflected light to enter the rear surface of the diffusion lens unit 13 and exit from the end surface 13a of the diffusion lens unit 13, and the emitted light to enter the end surface 24b of the spot lens unit 24. Therefore, the number of reflections required to guide light from the first lamp unit U1 to the second lamp unit U2 can be limited to, for example, one, thereby reducing structural complexity. Furthermore, because light exits from the end surface 13a of the diffusion lens unit 13 and enters the end surface 24b of the spot lens unit 24, light that enters the spot lens unit 24 is less likely to escape to the front surface side to the extent that it would affect the main light distribution. As a result, even strong light can be guided to the second lamp unit U2, improving the lighting appearance. Therefore, the lighting appearance can be improved while reducing structural complexity.

[0034] Furthermore, since the end faces 13a and 24b are substantially parallel to each other, the light from the end face 13a can be efficiently guided to the second lamp unit U2.

[0035] Furthermore, since the front and rear ends of the end face 13a are located forward and rearward of the front and rear ends of the end face 24b, the end face 24b on the second lamp unit U2 side is covered by the end face 13a on the first lamp unit U1 side, making it easier for light to be incident on the entire end face 24b on the second lamp unit U2 side. As a result, it is possible to prevent light from being incident on only a part of the end face 24b on the second lamp unit U2 side, which would result in an unbalanced appearance.

[0036] Furthermore, the second lamp unit U2 forms a spot light distribution pattern for low beams having a cutoff line, while the first lamp unit U1 forms a diffused light distribution pattern for low beams that is more widely diffused than the spot light distribution pattern. Therefore, light from the first lamp unit U1, which diffuses light more widely, is guided to the second lamp unit U2, making it easier to guide light than when light is guided from the second lamp unit U2, which has a narrow light distribution, to the first lamp unit U1. In particular, because the front end of the spot lens portion 24 of the second lamp unit U2 is located further forward than the diffusion lens portion 13 of the first lamp unit U1, it is not necessary to guide light significantly rearward, making it even easier to guide light.

[0037] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The vehicle lamp according to the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, but has a partially different configuration. The differences from the first embodiment will be described below.

[0038] Fig. 6 is an enlarged end view showing a partial configuration of a vehicle lamp 1 according to the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 6, in the vehicle lamp 1 according to the second embodiment, the rear sides of the end faces 13a, 24b are closer than the front sides. In the cross section shown in Fig. 6, the end faces 13a, 24b are inclined in opposite directions relative to the optical axis OA2, with the front side being more open than the rear side.

[0039] In this way, in the second embodiment, the rear side of the end faces 13a, 24b is closer than the front side, so that even if a user can see the end faces 13a, 24b from the front, it is difficult for the user to see anything behind the end faces 13a, 24b.

[0040] In this case, the angle a° between the optical axis OA2 and the end face 13a and the angle b° between the optical axis OA and the end face 24b are set so as to prevent light leakage, i.e., so that the angle of light emitted from the end face 13a does not exceed the critical angle when it enters the end face 24b.

[0041] In this way, the vehicle lamp 1 according to the second embodiment can improve the lighting appearance while suppressing structural complexity, as in the first embodiment. Also, it is possible to prevent light from being incident on only a portion of the end face 24b, which would cause an unbalanced appearance, and it is possible to make it easier to guide the light.

[0042] Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, the end faces 13a and 24b are closer to each other on the rear side than on the front side, so that when the vehicle lamp 1 is viewed from the front side, the distance between the end faces 13a and 24b is wide on the front side but narrow on the rear side, making it difficult to see the rear side.

[0043] Although the present invention has been described above based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and modifications may be made or well-known or publicly known techniques may be combined without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, techniques from the embodiments may be combined to the extent possible.

[0044] For example, in the above embodiment, light is guided from the first lamp unit U1, which forms a diffuse light distribution pattern, to the second lamp unit U2, which forms a spot light distribution pattern, but this is not particularly limited to this, and light may be guided from the second lamp unit U2, which forms a spot light distribution pattern, to the first lamp unit U1, which forms a diffuse light distribution pattern.

[0045] In addition, in the first embodiment, end faces 13a and 24b are parallel to each other, but this is not a limitation as long as the angle is set so that light emitted from end face 13a is not totally reflected by end face 24b. Therefore, the angle of end faces 13a and 24b may be set so that light incident on end face 24b is guided to the reflective layer of blade portion 25a1.

[0046] In the second embodiment, the rear ends of the end faces 13a and 24b are closer to each other than the front ends. However, for example, the front ends may be closer to each other than the rear ends.

[0047] Furthermore, in the above description, the angles of the end faces 13a and 24b are described based on the optical axis OA2 on the second lamp unit U2 side, but this is not particularly limited, and the optical axis OA1 on the first lamp unit U1 side may be used as the reference. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1: Vehicle lighting fixtures 11: 1st light source 12: Reflective material 12a: 1st reflection section 12b: 2nd reflection section 13: Diffusion lens part (first lens part) 13a: End surface (first side) 14: Decorative materials 15: Shade 21:Second light source 22: Reflective material 23: Shade 24: Spot lens part (second lens part) 24a: Dummy part 24b: End face (second side) 25: Extension part 25a, 25a1: Blade section B: Base material OA, OA1, OA2: Optical axis U1: First lighting unit U2: Second lighting unit

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp comprising: a first lamp unit having a first light source, a reflecting member that reflects light from the first light source, and a first lens portion through which light reflected by the reflecting member enters from a rear side and exits from a front side; and a second lamp unit having a second light source and a second lens portion through which light from the second light source enters from a rear side and exits from a front side, the second lamp unit being disposed adjacent to the first lamp unit, The reflecting member has a first reflecting portion for making light from the first light source incident on the rear surface side of the first lens portion and emitting it from the front surface side, and a second reflecting portion for reflecting the light from the first light source toward the second lamp unit arranged adjacently, making the reflected light incident on the rear surface side of the first lens portion and emitting it from a first side surface of the first lens portion, and making the emitted light incident on a second side surface of the second lens portion. A vehicle lamp characterized by:

2. The first side surface and the second side surface are substantially parallel to each other.

2. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1.

3. The front end of the first side surface is located forward of the front end of the second side surface, and the rear end of the first side surface is located rearward of the rear end of the second side surface.

3. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The first side surface and the second side surface are closer to each other at the rear side than at the front side.

2. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1.

5. the second lamp unit forms a spot light distribution pattern for low beam having a cut-off line in front of the vehicle, the first lamp unit forms a diffused light distribution pattern for a low beam in front of the vehicle that is more diffused than the spot light distribution pattern, The second lens portion of the second lamp unit has a front end located forward of the first lens portion of the first lamp unit.

5. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the light source is a light source for a vehicle.

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