Lamp units, vehicle lighting fixtures

Abstract

To provide a lamp unit capable of forming an illumination pattern on a road surface with little tilting of a lamp unit axis with respect to the road surface, and to provide a vehicular lighting fixture using the same.SOLUTION: A lamp unit 20 includes a light source 31, a condenser lens 22 for condensing the light from the light source 31, a light shielding member (shade 23) in which an irradiation slit 35 for partially passing the light condensed in the condenser lens 22 is provided, and a projection lens 24 for forming an irradiation pattern Pi by projecting the light through the light shielding member (shade 23), which are arrayed along a lamp unit axis A2. In the projection lens 24, a reference focus Fb is set on the lamp unit axis A2, the projection lens is arranged at the position rotated downward around the reference focus Fb, and a projection lens axis A5 faces further downward than the lamp unit axis A2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a lamp unit and a vehicle lighting fixture. [Background technology]

[0002] Vehicle lighting fixtures have been considered that use lamp units to form illumination patterns on the road surface around the vehicle (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). These conventional lamp units form illumination patterns by projecting light from a light source through an illumination slit in a light-blocking member (shade) with a projection lens, and can inform viewers of the intention expressed by the illumination pattern. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-102332 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-192349 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In vehicle lighting fixtures, it is conceivable to align a lamp unit with a signal light unit such as a turn signal lamp to form a single lamp. The axis of the signal light unit is parallel to the road surface so that people around the vehicle can directly see the light.

[0005] However, conventional vehicle lamps form an illumination pattern on the road surface by tilting the lamp unit axis of the lamp unit, which combines a light source, a light blocking member, and a projection lens, downward toward the road surface. Therefore, even if a lamp unit and a signal light unit are installed together in conventional vehicle lamps, they will interfere with each other due to their different orientations, making it difficult to align the lamp unit and the signal light unit.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a lamp unit that can form an irradiation pattern on the road surface with almost no inclination of the lamp unit axis relative to the road surface, and a vehicle lighting fixture using the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The lamp unit of the present disclosure comprises a light source, a focusing lens that focuses light from the light source, a shading member provided with an illumination slit that partially transmits the light focused by the focusing lens, and a projection lens that projects the light that has passed through the shading member to form an illumination pattern, all arranged along the lamp unit axis, and is characterized in that the projection lens has a reference focus set on the lamp unit axis and is positioned at a position rotated downward around the reference focus, with the projection lens axis pointing downward relative to the lamp unit axis. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the lamp unit of the present disclosure and the vehicle lamp using the same, an illumination pattern can be formed on the road surface with almost no inclination of the lamp unit axis relative to the road surface. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the vehicle lamp of the first embodiment according to the present disclosure is mounted on a vehicle and forms an illumination pattern. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle lamp. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a lamp unit of a vehicle lamp. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a lamp unit without the housing. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration and positional relationship of a light source. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7]1 is an explanatory diagram showing how light from a light source travels from a condenser lens to a shade on a cross section (horizontal section) of a lamp unit. [Figure 8] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing how light from a light source travels through an upper third slit portion on a longitudinal section (vertical section) of the lamp unit. FIG. [Figure 9] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing how light from a light source travels through a second slit portion in the middle on a longitudinal section (vertical section) of the lamp unit. FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing how light from a light source travels through a lower first slit portion on a longitudinal section (vertical section) of the lamp unit. FIG. [Figure 11] 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a problem that occurs when a lamp unit that is provided alongside a signal light unit is tilted. FIG. [Figure 12] 5 is an explanatory diagram similar to FIG. 4 showing the configuration of a lamp unit according to a second embodiment. [Figure 13] 6 is an explanatory diagram similar to FIG. 5 showing the configuration and positional relationship of a light source according to a second embodiment. [Figure 14] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing how light from a light source travels through an upper third slit portion on a longitudinal section (vertical section) in the lamp unit of Example 2. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of a lamp unit, a lamp unit 20 as an example of a vehicle lamp, and a vehicle lamp 10 according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that in FIG. 1, the vehicle lamp 10 is shown exaggerated relative to the vehicle 1 to make it easier to understand how the vehicle lamp 10 is installed, and does not necessarily correspond to the actual appearance. Also, in FIGS. 8, 9, 10, and 14, hatching indicating cross sections of the condenser lens and the projection lens is omitted, and the shade frame portion of the shade is omitted to make it easier to understand how the light travels. [Example]

[0011] A vehicular lamp 10 (lamp unit 20) according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 11. As shown in Fig. 1, the vehicular lamp 10 according to the first embodiment is used as a lamp for a vehicle 1 such as an automobile, and is provided in front of the vehicle 1, separate from the headlights provided on the vehicle 1, to form an irradiation pattern Pi on a road surface 2 in the vicinity in front of the vehicle 1. The vicinity in front of the vehicle 1 necessarily includes a nearby area closer to the vehicle 1 than the headlight area illuminated by the headlights provided on the vehicle 1, and may also include the headlight area partially. Note that the vehicular lamp 10 may also form an irradiation pattern Pi on the road surface 2 in the vicinity behind or to the sides of the vehicle 1, and is not limited to the configuration according to the first embodiment.

[0012] In the first embodiment, the vehicular lamps 10 constitute signal lights such as turn lamps and backup lamps provided on the vehicle 1, and in the first embodiment, the turn lamps are provided as a pair on the left and right sides of the front of the vehicle 1. The vehicular lamps 10 may also constitute other signal lights, such as clearance lamps, backup lamps (stop lamps), and tail lamps, and are not limited to the first embodiment. The two vehicular lamps 10 have basically the same configuration except for the differences in the mounting positions and the positions at which the irradiation pattern Pi is formed, and therefore will be simply described as the vehicular lamps 10 below. As shown in FIG. 2 , the vehicular lamp 10 includes a lamp housing 11, a lamp lens 12, a signal light unit 13, and a lamp unit 20.

[0013] The lamp housing 11 is formed of a light-opaque material such as a colored or painted resin material, and is open at the front and closed at the rear. The lamp lens 12 is formed of a light-transmitting material such as a transparent resin material or a glass material, and can cover the open front end of the lamp housing 11. The lamp lens 12 is fixed in a sealed state to the opening of the lamp housing 11, ensuring watertightness. The lamp housing 11 and the lamp lens 12 define a lamp chamber 14.

[0014] A signal light unit 13 and a lamp unit 20 are arranged in the lamp chamber 14 and fixed to the lamp housing 11 or the like. The signal light unit 13 is configured by mounting optical components such as a light source (not shown) on a signal light unit axis A1 within a signal light housing 15, with a signal light light-emitting unit 16 mounted at the front end on the signal light unit axis A1 and a signal light heat-dissipating unit 17 mounted at the rear end. The signal light unit 13 is turned on and off appropriately when power is supplied from a lighting control circuit. In the first embodiment, the signal light unit 13 is a turn lamp, so it flashes at regular intervals when turned on. The signal light unit 13 is mounted with its signal light unit axis A1 parallel to the road surface 2, ensuring visibility to those around the vehicle 1.

[0015] The lamp unit 20 is provided below the signal light unit 13. In the following description, the direction in which the lamp unit axis A2 of the lamp unit 20 extends is referred to as the axial direction (referred to as Z in the drawings), the vertical direction when the axial direction is aligned with a horizontal plane is referred to as the up-down direction (referred to as Y in the drawings), and the direction (horizontal direction) perpendicular to the axial direction and the up-down direction is referred to as the width direction (referred to as X in the drawings) (see FIG. 2, etc.).

[0016] 3 and 4, the lamp unit 20 is housed in a light source housing 25 with the light source section 21, condenser lens 22, shade 23, and projection lens 24 positioned on a lamp unit axis A2 to form a single projection optical system, constituting a projector-type road projection unit. The light source housing 25 is composed of a semi-cylindrical lower member 25a and an upper member 25b, and with the above-mentioned components (22 to 24) installed on the lower member 25a, the lower member 25a and the upper member 25b are fitted together and attached to an installation base 26. In the light source housing 25, the central axis of the cylindrical shape formed by the fitted lower member 25a and upper member 25b is the lamp unit axis A2, which serves as a reference line for installing the above-mentioned components (22 to 24). The light source housing 25 is provided with a condenser lens groove into which the condenser lens 22 is fitted, a shade groove into which the shade 23 is fitted, and a projection lens groove into which the projection lens 24 is fitted. In the light source housing 25, a lower member 25a is provided with a pair of fixing protrusions 25c in the width direction, and an upper member 25b is provided with a pair of fixing pieces 25d in the width direction (only the front side of both is shown in FIG. 3), and each fixing protrusion 25c can be fitted into a fixing hole 25e of each fixing piece 25d. The configuration of the light source housing 25, such as its shape, may be set as appropriate and is not limited to the configuration of Example 1.

[0017] The installation base 26 is where the light source unit 21 is mounted. It is made of thermally conductive aluminum die-cast or resin, and functions as a heat sink that dissipates heat generated by the light source unit 21 to the outside. The installation base 26 has an installation location 26a and a heat dissipation location 26b. The installation location 26a is where the light source unit 21 (its substrate 32) is mounted, and is shaped like a flat plate perpendicular to the axial direction. A light source housing 25, which is made up of a lower member 25a and an upper member 25b fitted together, is attached to the installation location 26a via a pair of mounting pieces 27 positioned to sandwich the light source unit 21 in the width direction. The heat dissipation location 26b has multiple heat dissipation fins 26c provided continuously from the installation location 26a. The heat dissipation location 26b dissipates heat generated by the light source unit 21 mounted to the installation location 26a mainly from each heat dissipation fin 26c to the outside.

[0018] The light source unit 21 includes a light source 31 and a substrate 32 on which the light source 31 is mounted. The light source 31 is configured with a light-emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode), and in Example 1, emits amber light (amber light) with a Lambertian distribution centered on the emission optical axis. Note that the color (wavelength band), distribution pattern, number of colors, etc. of the light source 31 may be appropriately set and are not limited to the configuration of Example 1. As shown in FIG. 5 , the light source 31 of Example 1 includes two LED chips 31a arranged side by side in the width direction and a phosphor 31b covering each of the LED chips 31a. Light from each LED chip 31a passes through the phosphor 31b and is emitted as amber light. Therefore, in the light source 31, the phosphor 31b functions as a light-emitting surface. In the light source 31, the phosphor 31b is formed in a rectangular shape elongated in the width direction, and an emission optical axis 31L is set extending axially from the center of the phosphor 31b. In the light source 31 of the first embodiment, an emission optical axis 31L is aligned with the lamp unit axis A2 on the substrate 32.

[0019] The board 32 is attached to the installation location 26a of the installation base 26, and the light source 31 is mounted on the board 32. A lighting control circuit is provided on the board 32, and power is supplied from the board 32 as needed to light the light source 31. By connecting the light source housing 25 to the installation location 26a as described above, the board 32 is positioned on the rear end side of the light source housing 25 (the end on the installation base 26 side in the axial direction) and faces the condenser lens 22 (its incident surface 22a) housed in the light source housing 25.

[0020] The condenser lens 22 condenses light emitted from the light source 31, and condenses the light around each slit portion 36 (described later) on the shade 23, i.e., in an area on the shade 23 where all the slit portions 36 are provided (a set area As (see FIG. 6)). As shown in FIG. 4, the condenser lens 22 is basically a convex lens, and in Example 1, it is a biconvex lens in which the entrance surface 22a and the exit surface 22b are free-form surfaces. The optical settings of the condenser lens 22 will be described later. The condenser lens 22 has flange portions provided on both ends in the width direction that can be fitted into condenser lens grooves in the light source housing 25. The condenser lens 22 has a condenser lens axis A3 extending in the axial direction. The condenser lens axis A3 is an axis that passes through a lens center point Lc of the condenser lens 22 and extends in the axial direction. When the condenser lens 22 is fitted into the condenser lens groove, the condenser lens axis A3 coincides with the lamp unit axis A2. The incident surface 22a and the exit surface 22b may be convex or concave as long as they make the condenser lens 22 a convex lens and satisfy the optical settings described below, and are not limited to the configuration of Example 1.

[0021] The shade 23 is an example of a light-blocking member that forms an irradiation pattern Pi by partially transmitting light from the light source 31 condensed by the condensing lens 22. As shown in FIG. 1 , the irradiation pattern Pi has three irradiation patterns Di aligned at approximately equal intervals in a direction away from the vehicle 1. When each irradiation pattern Di is individually shown, the one farthest from the vehicle 1 is designated as the first irradiation pattern Di1, followed by the second irradiation pattern Di2 and the third irradiation pattern Di3 in order as they approach the vehicle 1. Therefore, in the irradiation pattern Pi, the first irradiation pattern Di1 is the far-field irradiation pattern, the third irradiation pattern Di3 is the near-field irradiation pattern, and the second irradiation pattern Di2 between them is the intermediate irradiation pattern. In Example 1, each irradiation pattern Di is a wide-open V-shaped symbol, and the first irradiation pattern Di1 is slightly larger than the other two irradiation patterns Di2 and Di3.

[0022] The direction in which the vertices of the V-shapes of each illumination pattern Di are aligned is the arrow direction Da, and the side they point to (the side of the first illumination pattern Di1) is the front side of the arrow direction Da. By arranging three illumination patterns Di, the illumination pattern Pi can be made to look like an arrow pointing from the vehicle 1 in the arrow direction Da. In the illumination pattern Pi, the first illumination pattern Di1, the second illumination pattern Di2, and the third illumination pattern Di3 are elongated in a direction perpendicular to the arrow direction Da on the road surface 2, which serves as the projection surface.

[0023] Here, the first illumination pattern Di1 has two side edges Die positioned perpendicular to the arrow direction Da, which slope inward (toward the vehicle 1) as they move rearward in the arrow direction Da, i.e., tilted inward with respect to the arrow direction Da. The second illumination pattern Di2 and the third illumination pattern Di3 have both side edges Die parallel to the arrow direction Da. Therefore, the illumination pattern Pi gives the impression that the first illumination pattern Di1 corresponds to the arrowhead of an arrow symbol and the remaining two illumination patterns Di correspond to the shafts of an arrow symbol, more effectively giving the impression of pointing in the arrow direction Da. Additionally, the illumination pattern Pi makes both side edges Die of the first illumination pattern Di1 appear to be directed toward a person in front of the vehicle 1, either to the left or right, and conveys the impression that the person intends to turn in that direction. The illumination pattern Pi, consisting of these three illumination patterns Di, is formed by the shade 23.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 6 , the shade 23 has a shade portion 33 and a shade frame portion 34. The shade frame portion 34 is a substantially circular frame surrounding the shade portion 33 and can be fitted into a shade groove in the light source housing 25, and is attached to the light source housing 25. The shade frame portion 34 in Example 1 has a vertically extending upper end and a vertically extending lower end partially cut out in the width direction. The shade 23 has a shade reference point Ps set at the center position of the shade portion 33, and a line passing through the shade reference point Ps and perpendicular to the shade portion 33 is defined as a shade reference axis A4. When the shade frame portion 34 is attached to the light source housing 25, the shade reference axis A4 of the shade 23 coincides with the lamp unit axis A2, and the shade reference point Ps is positioned on the lamp unit axis A2.

[0025] The shade portion 33 is basically formed of a plate-like member that blocks the transmission of light, and the member is partially cut out to provide an illumination slit 35 that penetrates the member. The illumination slit 35 corresponds to the illumination pattern Pi, and forms the illumination pattern Pi into a predetermined shape by partially passing light from the light source 31 that is condensed by the condenser lens 22. In the first embodiment, the illumination slit 35 is composed of three slit portions 36.

[0026] The three slit portions 36 correspond one-to-one to the three irradiation patterns Di. Because the projection lens 24 inverts the shade 23 (irradiation slit 35) and projects it onto the road surface 2, the slit portions 36 are rotationally symmetrical about the shade reference axis A4 (lamp unit axis A2) with respect to the positional relationship of the irradiation patterns Di of the irradiation pattern Pi (see FIGS. 1, 6, etc.). Therefore, of each slit portion 36, the first slit portion 361 at the bottom in the vertical direction serves as a far slit portion corresponding to the first irradiation pattern Di1 (far irradiation pattern) of the irradiation pattern Pi. Furthermore, of each slit portion 36, the second slit portion 362 above it serves as an intermediate slit portion corresponding to the second irradiation pattern Di2 (intermediate irradiation pattern). Furthermore, of each slit portion 36, the third slit portion 363 at the top serves as a near slit portion corresponding to the third irradiation pattern Di3 (near irradiation pattern). In the shade 23 of Example 1, in the vertical direction, the third slit portion 363 is provided above the lamp unit axis A2, below which the second slit portion 362 is provided across a horizontal line including the lamp unit axis A2, and below which the first slit portion 361 is provided. The light transmitted through this shade 23 (each slit portion 36 of the irradiation slit 35) is projected onto the road surface 2 by the projection lens 24.

[0027] Each of the slit portions 36 is shaped like a wide-open V-shape, similar to the corresponding illumination pattern Di, and is inverted vertically and horizontally relative to each illumination pattern Di. The positions, shapes, sizes, and intervals of the three slit portions 36 on the shade portion 33 are set according to the distance to the road surface 2 so that each illumination pattern Di has the size and interval shown in FIG. 1 on the road surface 2. In detail, the lamp unit 20 (vehicle lamp 10) is provided at a position higher than the road surface 2 and forms each illumination pattern Di on the road surface 2 in a line in the direction of the arrow Da, so that the distance to the position on the road surface 2 where each corresponding illumination pattern Di is formed varies for each slit portion 36. For this reason, the position, shape, size, and intervals of each slit portion 36 are set according to the distance to which each illumination pattern Di, which is light transmitted through the slit portion 36, is projected onto the road surface 2 by the projection lens 24. Specifically, in Example 1, the first slit portion 361 is shaped to resemble a thin V-shaped symbol, the second slit portion 362 is shaped to resemble a V-shaped symbol that is thicker than the first slit portion 361, and the third slit portion 363 is shaped to resemble a V-shaped symbol that is thicker than the second slit portion 362, and each is made narrower in the width direction than the corresponding illumination pattern Di.

[0028] In this way, the three slit portions 36 are different in size from each other and spaced apart from each other, unlike the respective illumination patterns Di. In each slit portion 36, the first slit portion 361 has the smallest reduction ratio with respect to the corresponding illumination pattern Di, and the light that has passed through it is enlarged at the largest magnification when projected onto the road surface 2 to form the first illumination pattern Di1. In addition, in each slit portion 36, the third slit portion 363 has the largest reduction ratio with respect to the corresponding illumination pattern Di, and the light that has passed through it is enlarged at the smallest magnification when projected onto the road surface 2 to form the third illumination pattern Di3.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 4, the projection lens 24 is basically a convex lens, and in Example 1, the incident surface 24a and the exit surface 24b are free-form convex surfaces, and the lower side in the vertical direction is cut out. The projection lens 24 forms an irradiation pattern Pi (see Fig. 1) on the road surface 2 by projecting the irradiation slits 35 (each slit portion 36) of the shade 23. Note that the incident surface 24a and the exit surface 24b may be convex or concave as long as the projection lens 24 is a convex lens, and are not limited to the configuration of Example 1.

[0030] The projection lens 24 has a reference focus Fb located on the lamp unit axis A2 near the shade reference point Ps of the shade 23. When the incident surface 24a and the exit surface 24b are set as reference curved surfaces, the reference focus Fb is the point where light parallel to the projection lens axis A5 of the projection lens 24 is collected when the light is incident from the exit surface 24b. The projection lens axis A5 is the center line of the projection lens 24 when the incident surface 24a and the exit surface 24b are set as reference curved surfaces. The incident surface 24a and the exit surface 24b are free-form surfaces based on the reference curved surfaces. Therefore, even if the parallel light is incident from the exit surface 24b, not all of the light necessarily passes through the reference focus Fb. The projection lens 24 has an incidence range Ri from the reference focus Fb within 35 degrees around the projection lens axis A5. In other words, the projection lens 24 is set so that when the above-described parallel light is incident on the exit surface 24b side, the light traveling in a direction within 35 degrees with respect to the projection lens axis A5 passes through the reference focus Fb. The size (angle) of this incident range Ri may be set appropriately and is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment.

[0031] The projection lens 24 is disposed in a state rotated (tilted) downward from the lamp unit axis A2 around a line that passes through the reference focus Fb and extends in the width direction, and in Example 1, the projection lens axis A5 is angled downward by 20 degrees with respect to the lamp unit axis A2. Note that the projection lens 24 is not limited to the configuration of Example 1 as long as it is disposed in a state rotated downward from the lamp unit axis A2 around the reference focus Fb set at the above-mentioned position. The angle of the projection lens axis A5 with respect to the lamp unit axis A2 is preferably in the range of 15 to 20 degrees.

[0032] In this way, the projection lens 24 has a projection lens axis A5 that is tilted downward by 20 degrees with respect to the lamp unit axis A2, starting from the reference focus Fb, and an incident range Ri that is set to a range of 35 degrees from the reference focus Fb. Therefore, the projection lens 24 is in a state in which the projection lens axis A5 is tilted downward with respect to the lamp unit axis A2 (moving downward in the vertical direction as it moves forward in the axial direction) so that the lamp unit axis A2 is positioned within the incident range Ri from the reference focus Fb. Because the reference focus Fb of this projection lens 24 is located on the lamp unit axis A2 and near the shade reference point Ps of the shade 23, the projection lens 24 can form an image of the irradiation slit 35 (each slit portion 36) of the shade portion 33 on the projection lens axis A5 with the least aberration according to its own optical settings. Therefore, the projection lens 24 can project light that has passed through the irradiation slit 35 (each slit portion 36) of the shade 23, which has a luminous flux distribution described below, onto the area around the position on the road surface 2 where it intersects with the projection lens axis A5.

[0033] Here, since the projection lens 24 is disposed at a position rotated downward from the lamp unit axis A2 as described above, it interferes with the cylindrical light source housing 25. To prevent this interference, the projection lens 24 has a notched lower end in the vertical direction to form a lower end surface 24c, and a notched side surface adjacent to the lower end surface 24c to form a curved surface 24d. The lower end surface 24c and the curved surface 24d are formed by partially cutting out a portion of the projection lens 24 that interferes with the light source housing 25 (lower member 25a). The lower end surface 24c is a flat surface located at a position approximately equal to the lower end of the shade 23 in the vertical direction, and the curved surface 24d is a curved surface that follows the inner surface of the light source housing 25 (lower member 25a). This allows the projection lens 24 to be housed inside the light source housing 25. When the projection lens 24 is fitted into the focusing lens groove of the light source housing 25, it is attached to the light source housing 25 with the projection lens axis A5 tilted downward relative to the lamp unit axis A2 as described above, and is positioned as described above relative to the shade 23 which is also fitted into the shade groove of the light source housing 25.

[0034] Next, the optical settings of the condenser lens 22 will be described with reference to Figs. 8 to 10. The optical settings of the condenser lens 22 are made by appropriately setting the curves of the incident surface 22a and the exit surface 22b. The condenser lens 22 of Example 1 condenses the divergent light emitted from the light source 31 as a whole, thereby irradiating the set area As (see Fig. 6) in the shade 23. In Example 1, the set area As is the range in which the illumination slits 35 (each slit section 36) are provided in the shade section 33 of the shade 23.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 7, in a cross section including the axial direction and the width direction, the condenser lens 22 condenses the light flux from the light source 31 that passes near the lamp unit axis A2 (condenser lens axis A3) between the emission surface 22b and the shade 23 so that the luminous flux passing through a position away from the lamp unit axis A2 approaches the lamp unit axis A2, and collimates the luminous flux that passes through a position away from the lamp unit axis A2. That is, in the cross section, the condenser lens 22 maximizes the luminous flux density on the lamp unit axis A2 and gradually decreases the luminous flux density with increasing distance from the lamp unit axis A2. Here, although Fig. 7 shows the luminous flux as being concentrated at the outermost position farthest from the lamp unit axis A2, this is because the luminous flux is depicted evenly to make it easier to understand the state of the luminous flux (optical path); in reality, the luminous flux density gradually decreases with increasing distance from the lamp unit axis A2. Furthermore, the light from the light source 31 has a Lambertian distribution, and the density of the luminous flux increases as it approaches the lamp unit axis A2, which also contributes to the greatest amount of light being collected on the lamp unit axis A2.

[0036] Furthermore, the condenser lens 22 condenses light from the light source 31 so as to converge within a set area As in a vertical cross section including the axial direction and the up-down direction. The condenser lens 22 sets the optical path from the light source 31 traveling from the exit surface 22b to the shade 23, i.e., the state of the light beam from the exit surface 22b to the shade 23, in accordance with the position of the irradiation slit 35 (each slit portion 36). The condenser lens 22 satisfies at least one of the following: the optical path (light beam) traveling toward the upper part of the irradiation slit 35 is parallel to the lamp unit axis A2; and the optical path (light beam) traveling toward the upper part of the irradiation slit 35 is inclined downward so as to approach the lamp unit axis A2 as it approaches the irradiation slit 35.

[0037] 8, the condenser lens 22 satisfies at least one of the following conditions: that the luminous flux from the light source 31 heading toward the upper third slit portion 363 is parallel to the lamp unit axis A2; and that the luminous flux is inclined downward so as to approach the lamp unit axis A2 as it approaches the irradiation slit 35; in Example 1, both conditions are combined. Here, in the condenser lens 22, the luminous flux that has passed through the upper portions of the incident surface 22a and the exit surface 22b is mainly directed toward the third slit portion 363. For this reason, in the condenser lens 22, the above-mentioned optical path is set mainly by setting the curvatures of the upper portions of the incident surface 22a and the exit surface 22b.

[0038] 9, the condenser lens 22 condenses the light beam from the light source 31 that is directed toward the central second slit portion 362 in the vicinity of the second slit portion 362, i.e., intersects with the lamp unit axis A2 in the vicinity of the second slit portion 362. Here, in the condenser lens 22, the light beam that has passed through the central portions of the incident surface 22a and the exit surface 22b is directed toward the second slit portion 362. For this reason, in the condenser lens 22, the above-mentioned optical path is set by setting the curvatures of the central portions of the incident surface 22a and the exit surface 22b.

[0039] 10, condenser lens 22 condenses light beams from light source 31 that are directed toward first slit portion 361 on the lower side near first slit portion 361, i.e., the light beams intersect with each other near first slit portion 361. Here, in condenser lens 22, mainly light beams that have passed through the lower parts of incident surface 22a and exit surface 22b are directed toward first slit portion 361. For this reason, in condenser lens 22, the above-mentioned optical paths are set mainly by setting the curvatures of the lower parts of incident surface 22a and exit surface 22b.

[0040] With the optical settings described above, the condenser lens 22 diffuses the light from the light source 31 that passes through it evenly in the vertical direction within the set area As, with the largest amount of light collected at the first slit portion 361 and the smallest amount collected at the third slit portion 363 as the condenser lens 22 approaches the lower end. That is, the largest amount of light is collected at the first slit portion 361 and the smallest amount at the third slit portion 363. While the luminous flux appears to be collected equally at each of the slit portions 36 in FIGS. 8 to 10 , this is because the luminous flux is depicted evenly in each drawing to facilitate understanding of the optical path (luminous flux). In reality, the amount of luminous flux collected decreases in the order of the first slit portion 361, the second slit portion 362, and the third slit portion 363. Furthermore, the sizes of the slit portions 36 decrease from top to bottom, so that the luminous flux is concentrated in a narrower area as the slit portions 36 approach the lower end. This also contributes to the largest amount of light being collected at the first slit portion 361. The light having such a luminous flux distribution that has passed through the shade 23, that is, each slit portion 36, is projected by the projection lens 24 onto the road surface 2 along the projection lens axis A5.

[0041] The lamp unit 20 is assembled as follows. First, the light source 31 is mounted on the substrate 32 to assemble the light source section 21, and the light source section 21 is fixed to the installation location 26a of the installation base 26. After that, in the lower member 25a of the light source housing 25, the condenser lens 22 is fitted into the condenser lens groove, the shade 23 is fitted into the shade groove, and the projection lens 24 is fitted into the projection lens groove. Then, the upper member 25b is fitted into the lower member 25a to form the light source housing 25, and the light source housing 25 is attached to the installation base 26 via both attachment pieces 27. Then, the condenser lens 22, the shade 23, and the projection lens 24 are housed in the light source housing 25, and the light source section 21 is provided opposite the condenser lens 22. As a result, the condenser lens 22, the shade 23, and the projection lens 24 are lined up in order from the light source unit 21 side on the lamp unit axis A2, and the projection lens 24 is positioned such that the projection lens axis A5 is tilted downward relative to the lamp unit axis A2, and the lamp unit 20 is assembled.

[0042] 2, the lamp unit 20 is fixed to the lamp housing 11 in the lamp chamber 14, adjacent to the lower side of the signal light unit 13, with the lamp unit axis A2 parallel to the signal light unit axis A1 of the signal light unit 13. In this way, the vehicle lamp 10 is assembled. In this vehicle lamp 10, the signal light unit axis A1 and the lamp unit axis A2 are parallel to the road surface 2, and the lamp unit 20 is provided with a projection lens 24 with its projection lens axis A5 tilted downward with respect to the lamp unit axis A2.

[0043] Next, the operation of the vehicle lamp 10 will be described. In the vehicle lamp 10, the signal light unit 13 can be appropriately turned on and off by supplying power from the lighting control circuit to the light sources. In the lamp unit 20, the signal light unit 13 can be appropriately turned on and off by supplying power from the lighting control circuit from the circuit board 32 to the light sources 31. The vehicle lamp 10 links the signal light unit 13 and the lamp unit 20, so that when the signal light unit 13 flashes, the light source 31 is turned on in accordance with the flash. In the lamp unit 20, light from the light source 31 is condensed by the condenser lens 22 and irradiates the shade 23. After passing through the illumination slits 35 (each slit portion 36), the light is projected by the projection lens 24, forming an illumination pattern Pi on the road surface 2. Therefore, in the lamp unit 20, the projection lens 24 (its emission surface 24b) functions as a light-emitting element that emits light when viewed from the surrounding area. The irradiation pattern Pi is formed by light having the above-mentioned luminous flux distribution passing through the irradiation slit 35 (each of its slit portions 36) of the shade 23 and then projected by the projection lens 24, resulting in three irradiation patterns Di arranged in the direction of the arrow Da.

[0044] Therefore, the vehicular lamp 10 can show people around the vehicle 1 the flashing of the signal light light-emitting unit 16 of the signal light unit 13 and the flashing of the three illumination patterns Di arranged in the direction of the arrow Da on the road surface 2 nearby, thereby improving the visibility of the turn lamp. This is particularly effective because it allows people in positions where it is difficult to see the signal light light-emitting unit 16 directly, such as people in an alley other than the vehicle 1 at an intersection in an alley with poor visibility or people attempting to overtake the vehicle 1 from behind, to see the illumination pattern Pi on the road surface 2. In addition, when the hazard lamps of the vehicle 1 are turned on, the two left and right vehicular lamps 10 are turned on simultaneously, i.e., the signal light light-emitting units 16 of the left and right signal light units 13 are turned on, and both lamp units 20 form both illumination patterns Pi on the road surface 2 so that they spread left and right. Therefore, the vehicle 1 can more reliably make the driver aware that the hazard lamps are on, compared to when only the signal light units 13 as left and right turn lamps are flashing.

[0045] Here, the operation of the lamp unit 20 will be described. In the lamp unit 20, the reference focus Fb of the projection lens 24 is positioned on the lamp unit axis A2 near the shade reference point Ps of the shade 23, and the projection lens 24 is rotated around the reference focus Fb to tilt the projection lens axis A5 downward with respect to the lamp unit axis A2. Therefore, in the lamp unit 20, the projection lens 24 can project onto the projection lens axis A5 an image of each slit portion 36 in the shade 23 (its shade portion 33) illuminated by light from the light source 31. At this time, because the lamp unit 20 positions the reference focus Fb near the shade reference point Ps of the shade 23, the projection lens 24 can project onto the projection lens axis A5 an image of the vicinity of the shade reference point Ps, i.e., the illuminated state of each slit portion 36, with the least aberration according to the optical settings. As a result, even if the lamp unit axis A2 of the lamp unit 20 is provided parallel to the road surface 2, the lamp unit 20 can appropriately form the irradiation pattern Pi on the road surface 2 from a position higher than the road surface 2.

[0046] Furthermore, the lamp unit 20 has a projection lens 24 with its projection lens axis A5 tilted downward with respect to the lamp unit axis A2 so that the lamp unit axis A2 is positioned within the incident range Ri from the reference focus Fb. For this reason, in the lamp unit 20, the direction along the lamp unit axis A2 of the light that has passed through each slit portion 36 is made the brightest, but the projection lens 24 can efficiently collect even such light in accordance with the optical settings, and can appropriately project the brightened appearance of each slit portion 36 onto the projection lens axis A5.

[0047] The lamp unit 20 is configured so that, in the condenser lens 22, the light flux from the light source 31 heading toward the upper third slit portion 363 is at least one of parallel to the lamp unit axis A2 and tilted downward to approach the lamp unit axis A2 as it approaches the irradiation slit 35. Due to the relative positions of the light source 31, the shade 23, and the projection lens 24, the lamp unit 20 does not easily project the light passing through the third slit portion 363 efficiently onto the projection lens axis A5, even with the projection lens 24 tilted downward as described above. Therefore, the lamp unit 20 sets the light flux from the condenser lens 22 heading toward the third slit portion 363 as described above. Therefore, compared to a case where this setting is not used, the light passing through the third slit portion 363 can be brought closer to the direction of the projection lens axis A5 of the projection lens 24. Therefore, the lamp unit 20 allows the projection lens 24 to efficiently project the light passing through the third slit portion 363 onto the projection lens axis A5. As a result, the lamp unit 20 can more appropriately form the irradiation pattern Pi on the road surface 2 on the projection lens axis A5 by using the projection lens 24 tilted downward as described above in cooperation with the condenser lens 22.

[0048] Additionally, in the lamp unit 20, the light source 31 includes two LED chips 31a, which are arranged side by side in the width direction, and the phosphor 31b is elongated in the width direction. Here, the condenser lens 22 of the lamp unit 20 condenses light onto the shade portion 33 of the shade 23 so that it irradiates the set area As while concentrating the light along the lamp unit axis A2 in the width direction and concentrating the light within the set area As in the vertical direction. In the lamp unit 20, the condenser lens 22 satisfies at least one of the following conditions: the luminous flux from the light source 31 heading toward the upper third slit portion 363 is parallel to the lamp unit axis A2, and the luminous flux is tilted downward toward the lamp unit axis A2 as it approaches the illumination slit 35. Therefore, in the lamp unit 20, the condenser lens 22 is required to control the light from the light source 31 more precisely in the vertical direction than in the width direction. In addition, by arranging both LED chips 31a side by side in the width direction and making the phosphor 31b long in the width direction, the lamp unit 20 can position the brightest part of the light source 31 so that it overlaps with the condenser lens axis A3 in the vertical direction. Therefore, in the lamp unit 20, the condenser lens 22 can control the light from the light source 31 in accordance with the optical settings in the vertical direction with the least aberration, thereby achieving a more appropriate luminous flux distribution for each slit portion 36.

[0049] Here, the conventional vehicle lamp described in the prior art documents forms an illumination pattern on the road surface by tilting the lamp unit axis of the lamp unit, which combines a light source, a light blocking member, and a projection lens, downward toward the road surface. For this reason, it is difficult to align the lamp unit with the signal light unit in the conventional vehicle lamp and install them together as a single lamp. This will be explained using FIGS. 2 and 11. The problem caused by tilting the lamp unit is the same even in the vehicle lamp 10 of the first embodiment when the lamp unit 20 (lamp unit axis A2) is tilted relative to the signal light unit 13 (signal light unit axis A1). Therefore, in FIG. 11, the signal light unit 13 and the lamp unit 20 are used, as in FIG. 2.

[0050] First, in the vehicle lighting fixture 10, when two units (the signal light unit 13 and the lamp unit 20) are installed together as a single lighting fixture, regulations require that the distance between each light-emitting portion, i.e., the signal light light-emitting portion 16, and the projection lens 24 (its exit surface 24b) must be equal to or less than a predetermined distance d (see FIG. 2). This predetermined distance d is set to 75 mm. Here, the signal light unit 13 is installed so that the signal light light-emitting portion 16, i.e., the light emitted therefrom, is directly visible to those around, and therefore the signal light unit axis A1 is parallel to the road surface 2. For this reason, in the vehicle lighting fixture 10, if the lamp unit 20 is tilted downward as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 11, the tilted lamp unit 20 will interfere with the signal light unit 13. 11, when the tilted lamp unit 20 of the vehicle lamp 10 is lowered to a position where it does not interfere with the signal light unit 13, the distance d' between the signal light light emitter 16 and the projection lens 24 (emission surface 24b) becomes larger than the predetermined distance d. For this reason, because the lamp unit of the conventional vehicle lamp is tilted, even if an attempt is made to combine it with the signal light unit as a single lamp, it will not be able to satisfy regulations.

[0051] In contrast, the vehicle lamp 10 is configured such that the lamp unit 20 tilts the projection lens 24 (projection lens axis A5) downward about the reference focus Fb, so that the illumination pattern Pi can be formed on the road surface 2 even if the lamp unit axis A2 is parallel to the road surface 2. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle lamp 10 can be provided with the lamp unit 20 and the signal light unit 13 side by side with the lamp unit axis A2 and the signal light unit axis A1 parallel to each other, so that the signal light light emitter 16 and the projection lens 24 (exit surface 24b) can be spaced a predetermined distance d (within regulations). As a result, the vehicle lamp 10 can be configured such that the lamp unit 20 and the signal light unit 13 are side by side as a single lamp, which increases the flexibility in the position and manner in which the lamp unit 20 and the signal light unit 13 are mounted on the vehicle 1 and improves usability.

[0052] The lamp unit 20 and the vehicle lamp 10 of the first embodiment can provide the following effects.

[0053] The lamp unit 20 has a light source 31, a condenser lens 22, a light blocking member (shade 23), and a projection lens 24 arranged along a lamp unit axis A2. The lamp unit 20 has a reference focus Fb set on the lamp unit axis A2, and is disposed at a position rotated downward about the reference focus Fb, so that the projection lens axis A5 points downward relative to the lamp unit axis A2. Therefore, even if the lamp unit axis A2 is set parallel to the road surface 2, the lamp unit 20 can project light that has passed through an irradiation slit 35 of the light blocking member (shade 23) in the direction of the projection lens axis A5, and can form an irradiation pattern Pi on the road surface 2.

[0054] The lamp unit 20 is tilted downward so that the projection lens 24 positions the lamp unit axis A2 within the light incidence range Ri set around the projection lens axis A5. For this reason, the lamp unit 20 is brightest in the direction along the lamp unit axis A2 of the light that has passed through each slit portion 36, but the projection lens 24 can efficiently focus such light in accordance with the optical settings, and can appropriately project onto the projection lens axis A5 the image of the illumination slit 35 brightened by the light that has passed through it.

[0055] The lamp unit 20 is configured so that the condenser lens 22 makes the traveling direction of light emitted from the light source 31 and passing through the upper end of the irradiation slit 35 parallel to the lamp unit axis A2, and tilts the traveling direction downward so as to approach the lamp unit axis A2 as it approaches the irradiation slit 35. Therefore, the lamp unit 20 can move the light, even that which has passed through the upper end of the irradiation slit 35, closer to the direction in which the projection lens axis A5 of the projection lens 24 extends, and in cooperation with the downwardly tilted projection lens 24, can more appropriately form the irradiation pattern Pi on the road surface 2 on the projection lens axis A5.

[0056] In the lamp unit 20, the light source 31 is positioned so that its light-emitting surface (phosphor 31b) overlaps in the up-down direction (vertical direction) with the condenser lens axis A3 of the condenser lens 22. Therefore, in the lamp unit 20, the condenser lens 22 can efficiently direct the light from the light source 31 in a direction in accordance with the optical settings, and the brightness on the light-blocking member (shade 23) can be ensured while facilitating control of the direction of the light beam directed there.

[0057] In the lamp unit 20, the light blocking member (shade 23) sets a shade reference point Ps on the lamp unit axis A2, and the projection lens 24 is disposed with its reference focus Fb positioned near the shade reference point Ps. Therefore, in the lamp unit 20, the projection lens 24 can project the light blocking member with the least aberration in accordance with the optical settings, and can more appropriately project onto the projection lens axis A5 an image of the illumination slit 35 brightened by the light that has passed through it.

[0058] The vehicle lamp 10 includes the above-described lamp unit 20. Therefore, even if the lamp unit 20 is provided with the lamp unit axis A2 parallel to the road surface 2, the vehicle lamp 10 can form an irradiation pattern Pi on the road surface 2, which increases the degree of freedom in the position and manner in which the lamp is mounted on the vehicle 1 and improves usability.

[0059] The vehicle lamp 10 further includes a signal light unit 13 having a signal light light-emitting part 16 set on a signal light unit axis A1, and the lamp unit 20 and the signal light unit 13 are adjacent to each other with the lamp unit axis A2 and the signal light unit axis A1 parallel to each other. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 can position the signal light light-emitting part 16 and the projection lens 24 (exit surface 24b) closer than a predetermined distance d (a distance specified by regulations), and the vehicle lamp 10 can form an irradiation pattern Pi on the road surface 2 while arranging the lamp unit 20 and the signal light unit 13 side by side as a single lamp.

[0060] Therefore, the lamp unit 20 (vehicle lamp 10) of Example 1 as a lamp unit (vehicle lamp) according to the present disclosure can form the irradiation pattern Pi on the road surface 2 with almost no inclination of the lamp unit axis A2 relative to the road surface 2. [Example]

[0061] Next, a lamp unit 20A and a vehicle lamp 10A according to a second embodiment will be described as an example of a lamp unit and a vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure, with reference to Figures 12 to 14. The vehicle lamp 10A (lamp unit 20A) has the same basic concept and configuration as the vehicle lamp 10 (lamp unit 20) according to the first embodiment, so parts with the same configuration are given the same reference numerals and detailed descriptions will be omitted.

[0062] In a vehicle lamp 10A of the second embodiment, a lamp unit 20A has a light source section 21A and a condenser lens 22A configured differently from those of the lamp unit 20 of the first embodiment, and the attitude of the shade 23 is also different. As shown in FIG. 13 , the lamp unit 20A has a light source section 21A that includes a first light source 311 and a second light source 312, which are mounted on a substrate 32. The first light source 311 and the second light source 312 have the same configuration as the light source 31 of the first embodiment, and the phosphor 31b of each light source 311 functions as a light-emitting surface. In the first light source 311 and the second light source 312, the phosphor 31b is formed in a rectangular shape that is elongated in the width direction, and an emission optical axis 31L is set extending axially from the center of each light source 311.

[0063] The first light source 311 and the second light source 312 are provided on the substrate 32 in a position above the lamp unit axis A2 in the up-down direction, and are arranged side by side in the width direction with a gap therebetween. The first light source 311 and the second light source 312 have their phosphors 31b positioned above a line that includes the lamp unit axis A2 and extends in the width direction, and are positioned so as to overlap in the up-down direction with a line that includes the condenser lens axis A3 of the condenser lens 22A and extends in the width direction. Therefore, the first light source 311 and the second light source 312 have their phosphors 31b, which form their light-emitting surfaces, positioned so as to overlap in the up-down direction (vertical direction) with the condenser lens axis A3 of the condenser lens 22A.

[0064] 12, the condenser lens 22A has an incident surface 41 facing the light source unit 21A and an exit surface 42 facing the opposite side. The central portion of the incident surface 41 is recessed toward the inside of the condenser lens 22A (the side opposite the light source unit 21A), and has a curved incident surface portion 43 that is curved outwardly at the center and has an annular incident surface portion 44 surrounding it. In addition, a frustum-shaped reflecting surface 45 that surrounds the annular incident surface portion 44 is provided around the periphery of the incident surface 41.

[0065] The curved incident surface 43 faces the light source 21A in the axial direction, and the light source 21A is located near its rear focal point (rear focal point). The curved incident surface 43 causes light emitted from the light source 21A to enter the condenser lens 22A as light traveling forward in the axial direction. The annular incident surface 44 protrudes toward the light source 21A and causes light from the light source 21A that does not travel to the curved incident surface 43 to enter the condenser lens 22A. The reflective surface 45 is formed at a position where light entering the condenser lens 22A from the annular incident surface 44 travels. The reflective surface 45 reflects light incident from the annular incident surface 44, causing the light to travel forward in the axial direction. The reflective surface 45 may reflect light by total reflection, or may reflect light by adhering aluminum, silver, or the like to the reflective surface 45 through vapor deposition or painting. Therefore, in the focusing lens 22A, at the incident surface 41, light that passes through the curved incident surface portion 43 becomes direct light that goes directly to the exit surface 42, and light that passes through the annular incident surface portion 44 and is reflected by the reflecting surface 45 becomes reflected light that goes directly to the exit surface 42 after being reflected internally.

[0066] In this condenser lens 22A, the central axis of the annular incident surface portion 44 of the incident surface 41 is defined as the condenser lens axis A3. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 , the condenser lens 22A is disposed at a position where the condenser lens axis A3 is displaced up and down relative to the lamp unit axis A2. The condenser lens 22A is disposed at a position where the condenser lens axis A3 overlaps with the light-emitting surfaces (phosphors 31b) of the first light source 311 and the second light source 312 and is located below their respective output optical axes 31L in the up and down direction (vertical direction). Therefore, the condenser lens 22A basically positions the first light source 311 and the second light source 312 inside the annular incident surface portion 44 and faces the curved incident surface portion 43 in the axial direction, while the first light source 311 and the second light source 312 are displaced slightly up and down relative to the condenser lens axis A3.

[0067] The exit surface 42 emits light incident from the incident surface 41 toward the front in the axial direction. The exit surface 42 collects the light incident from the incident surface 41 into a set area As, causing the light to travel toward the irradiation slit 35 (each slit portion 36). The condenser lens 22A sets the state of the light beam reaching the shade 23 according to the position of the irradiation slit 35 (each slit portion 36). This setting is basically the same as that of the condenser lens 22 in Example 1, and satisfies at least one of the following: the light path (light beam) toward the upper part of the irradiation slit 35 is parallel to the lamp unit axis A2; and the light path (light beam) toward the upper part of the irradiation slit 35 is inclined downward so as to approach the lamp unit axis A2 as it approaches the irradiation slit 35.

[0068] 14, the condenser lens 22A satisfies at least one of the following conditions: that the luminous flux from the light source unit 21A (light sources 311, 312) heading toward the upper third slit portion 363 is parallel to the lamp unit axis A2; and that the luminous flux is inclined downward so as to approach the lamp unit axis A2 as it approaches the irradiation slit 35; in Example 1, both conditions are met. The condenser lens 22A condenses, in the vicinity of the luminous flux from the light source unit 21A (light sources 311, 312), the luminous flux heading toward the middle second slit portion 362, and condenses, in the vicinity of the luminous flux heading toward the lower first slit portion 361. These optical paths are set by adjusting the curvatures of the incident surface 41 (mainly the curved incident surface portion 43 and the reflecting surface 45) and the exit surface 42, taking into consideration the positional relationship of the condenser lens 22A with respect to the light source unit 21A (light sources 311, 312).

[0069] The shade 23 has the same configuration as in the first embodiment, but its attitude with respect to the lamp unit axis A2 is different from that in the first embodiment. The shade 23 of the second embodiment is rotated about a line that passes through the shade reference point Ps and extends in the width direction so as to displace the front side (the projection lens 24 side) of the axial direction of the shade reference axis A4 downward, and the shade reference axis A4 is tilted with respect to the lamp unit axis A2. The inclination (angle) of the shade reference axis A4 with respect to the lamp unit axis A2 is smaller than the inclination of the projection lens axis A5 of the projection lens 24 with respect to the lamp unit axis A2. The inclination of the shade reference axis A4 with respect to the lamp unit axis A2 is preferably less than half the inclination of the projection lens axis A5 with respect to the lamp unit axis A2, and is approximately 10 degrees in the second embodiment.

[0070] With the above-described configuration, the vehicle lamp 10A can form an irradiation pattern Pi on a road surface 2, similar to the vehicle lamp 10 of the first embodiment. In this case, the vehicle lamp 10A has a lamp unit 20A provided with a single condenser lens 22A that guides light from each of the two light sources (311, 312) inward from an incident surface 41 and emits it from an exit surface 42. In the lamp unit 20A, the condenser lens 22A causes light emitted from both light sources in directions substantially along the respective emission optical axes 31L to enter through a curved incident surface portion 43 of the incident surface 41, and causes light emitted from both light sources in directions that diverge (at a large angle with respect to the emission optical axis 31L) to enter through an annular incident surface portion 44 of the incident surface 41 and be reflected by a reflecting surface 45. Therefore, even if the lamp unit 20A uses a single condenser lens 22A for the two light sources (311, 312), it is possible to efficiently utilize the light emitted from each light source.

[0071] Furthermore, the lamp unit 20A displaces the light source 21A and the condenser lens 22A upward from the lamp unit axis A2, i.e., the shade reference axis A4 of the shade 23, so that the traveling direction of light from the light source 21A heading from the condenser lens 22A toward the setting area As of the shade 23 can be directed downward. Therefore, the lamp unit 20A can assist in the optical setting of the condenser lens 22A (satisfying at least one of the following: the optical path (light beam) heading toward the upper part of the irradiation slit 35 is parallel to the lamp unit axis A2, and the optical path (light beam) heading toward the upper part of the irradiation slit 35 is inclined downward so as to approach the lamp unit axis A2 as it approaches the irradiation slit 35) by the positional relationship of the light source 21A and the condenser lens 22A with respect to the shade 23. This reduces the amount of adjustment of the curvatures of the incident surface 41 and the exit surface 42 required for the optical setting of the condenser lens 22A, and allows the lamp unit 20A to appropriately set the optical path from the condenser lens 22A to the shade 23 with a simpler configuration. Therefore, the lamp unit 20A can appropriately form the irradiation pattern Pi on the road surface 2 even if the lamp unit axis A2 is parallel to the road surface 2.

[0072] Furthermore, the lamp unit 20A is provided with the condenser lens 22A and both light sources such that the emission optical axes 31L of the light sources (311, 312) of the light source unit 21A are positioned above the condenser lens axis A3 of the condenser lens 22A. Therefore, the lamp unit 20A can also direct the light from the light source unit 21A toward the condenser lens 22A downward. This allows the lamp unit 20A to assist in the optical setting of the condenser lens 22A (satisfying at least one of the following: the optical path (light beam) toward the upper part of the irradiation slit 35 is parallel to the lamp unit axis A2, and the light beam is tilted downward so as to approach the lamp unit axis A2 as it approaches the irradiation slit 35) by adjusting the positional relationship of the light source unit 21A with respect to the condenser lens 22A. This allows the lamp unit 20A to reduce the amount of adjustment required to the curvature of the incident surface 41 and the exit surface 42 for optical settings in the condenser lens 22A, and allows the optical path from the condenser lens 22A to the shade 23 to be appropriately set with a simpler configuration.

[0073] The vehicle lamp 10A and the lamp unit 20A of the second embodiment can achieve the following effects. The vehicle lamp 10A and the lamp unit 20A are basically configured in the same manner as the vehicle lamp 10 and the lamp unit 20 of the first embodiment, and therefore can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment.

[0074] In addition, the lamp unit 20A is disposed such that the light blocking member (shade 23) is rotated around the reference point (shade reference point Ps) so that the projection lens 24 side of the light blocking reference axis (shade reference axis A4) is displaced downward. Therefore, the lamp unit 20A can easily direct the light beam, which is inclined closely to the projection lens axis A5 of the projection lens 24, from the light blocking member (shade 23) to the projection lens 24, thereby assisting the projection lens 24 in projecting the light beam onto the projection lens axis A5. In particular, the lamp unit 20A has a smaller inclination of the light blocking reference axis (shade reference axis A4) relative to the lamp unit axis A2 than the inclination of the projection lens axis A5 relative to the lamp unit axis A2. Therefore, the lamp unit 20A can gradually increase the downward angle between the light blocking member (shade 23) and the projection lens 24, thereby more smoothly tilting the light beam downward.

[0075] Therefore, the lamp unit 20A (vehicle lamp 10A) of Example 2 as a lamp unit (vehicle lamp) according to the present disclosure can form the irradiation pattern Pi on the road surface 2 with almost no inclination of the lamp unit axis A2 relative to the road surface 2.

[0076] The vehicle lighting fixture and lamp unit of the present disclosure have been described above based on various embodiments, but the specific configuration is not limited to the various embodiments, and design changes and additions are permitted as long as they do not deviate from the gist of the invention according to each claim in the scope of the claims.

[0077] In each embodiment, the irradiation pattern Pi is formed by aligning three V-shaped illumination patterns Di at approximately equal intervals in a direction away from the vehicle 1. However, as long as the irradiation pattern is formed by a shade (light-blocking member), the design of the symbol as the irradiation pattern Di, the position at which it is formed, the number of illumination patterns Di, and the like may be set as appropriate, and are not limited to the configuration of each embodiment. The design, position at which it is formed, and the number of each slit portion 36 of the shade 23 may be set as appropriate according to the set irradiation pattern, and are not limited to the configuration of each embodiment. Furthermore, although the vehicular lamp 10, 10A (lamp unit 20, 20A) is provided at the front of the vehicle 1 in each embodiment, it may also be disposed in a headlight lamp chamber or a taillight lamp chamber (lamp chambers on both the left and right sides of the rear of the vehicle) as long as it is provided on the vehicle 1 in accordance with the position at which the irradiation pattern is formed relative to the vehicle 1, and are not limited to the configuration of each embodiment.

[0078] In each embodiment, the light sources (31, 311, 312) emit amber light. However, the color of the light emitted from the light source may be appropriately set according to the location where the light source is installed and the content to be conveyed, and is not limited to the configuration of each embodiment.

[0079] Furthermore, in each embodiment, the shade 23 that transmits the light collected by the collecting lenses 22, 22A through the illumination slit 35 is used as the light blocking member. However, the light blocking member may have other configurations as long as it is provided with the illumination slit 35 that partially transmits the light collected by the collecting lens 22, and is not limited to the configuration of each embodiment. As another configuration, for example, a plate-shaped film member that blocks light transmission can be provided with an illumination slit that partially transmits light, and a light blocking plate (filter) can be used that transmits the light that has passed through the collecting lenses 22, 22A through the illumination slit.

[0080] In each embodiment, a vehicle 1 driven by a driver is provided with a vehicle lamp 10, 10A (lamp unit 20, 20A). However, the vehicle lamp (lamp unit) may be provided in a vehicle having an automatic driving function, and is not limited to the configuration of each embodiment. In this case, the vehicle lamp (lamp unit) only needs to form an illumination pattern at a timing according to the application for which it is provided, that is, at a timing according to some intention regarding the operation of the vehicle 1, and is not limited to the configuration of each embodiment.

[0081] In each embodiment, in the lamp unit 20, 20A, the light source unit 21, 21A is provided on an installation base 26 that functions as a heat sink, and this installation base 26 is connected to the light source housing 25. However, as long as the lamp unit forms an irradiation pattern by collecting light from the light source on a light-blocking member using a condenser lens and projecting the light that has passed through the light-blocking member using a projection lens, the light source unit may be provided at the end of the housing or may have another configuration, and is not limited to the configuration of each embodiment.

[0082] In each embodiment, a single light source 31 or two light sources 311, 312 are provided. However, the number and arrangement of the light sources may be set as appropriate and are not limited to the configurations of each embodiment. When multiple light sources are provided, it is desirable to arrange them side by side in the width direction so that the condenser lenses 22, 22A can control the light from each light source in a state with the least aberration in the vertical direction according to the optical settings.

[0083] In each embodiment, the lamp unit axis A2 of the lamp units 20, 20A and the signal light unit axis A1 of the signal light unit 13 are parallel. However, the lamp unit axis A2 and the signal light unit axis A1 do not have to be completely parallel as long as they are approximately parallel. Here, "approximately parallel" means that the angle between them is up to 3 degrees, preferably within 1 degree. Therefore, the lamp unit axis A2 may also be approximately parallel to the road surface 2, i.e., tilted up to 3 degrees.

[0084] In each embodiment, the condenser lens 22, 22A has a condenser lens axis A3 parallel to the lamp unit axis A2. However, the condenser lens 22, 22A may be rotated about the lens center point Lc so that the light-blocking member (shade 23) side of the condenser lens axis A3 is displaced downward, and this configuration is not limited to the embodiments. In this case, the inclination of the condenser lens axis A3 relative to the lamp unit axis A2 is preferably smaller than the inclination of the light-blocking reference axis (shade reference axis A4) relative to the lamp unit axis A2, and preferably is less than half the inclination of the light-blocking reference axis relative to the lamp unit axis A2. This helps to set the optical path from the condenser lens 22, 22A to the shade 23 as described above, and reduces the amount of adjustment of the curvature of the incident surface 41 and the exit surface 42 required for optical setting of the condenser lens 22, 22A.

[0085] In Example 1, the shade reference axis A4 of the shade 23 is parallel to the lamp unit axis A2, and in Example 2, the shade reference axis A4 of the shade 23 is inclined relative to the lamp unit axis A2 so as to displace the projection lens 24 side downward. However, in the configuration of Example 1, the shade 23 may be inclined as in Example 2, and in the configuration of Example 2, the shade 23 may not be inclined as in Example 1, and the configuration is not limited to each example.

[0086] In each embodiment, in the vehicle lamp 10 (10A), a portion of the signal light heat dissipation portion 17 of the signal light unit 13 and a portion of the installation base portion 26 of the lamp unit 20 (20A) are exposed to the outside of the lamp housing 11. However, the vehicle lamp may house the entire signal light unit 13 and the lamp unit 20 (20A) inside the lamp housing 11, and is not limited to the configurations of each embodiment. In this case, the signal light unit 13 and the lamp unit 20 (20A) can be fixed to the lamp housing 11 via a bracket or the like, so that the signal light unit axis A1 and the lamp unit axis A2 can be arranged parallel (approximately parallel).

[0087] In each embodiment, in the vehicle lamp 10 (10A), the lamp unit 20 (20A) is adjacent to the signal light unit 13. However, the vehicle lamp may be any lamp unit including the lamp unit 20 (20A) configured as described above, and is not limited to the configurations of the embodiments. This vehicle lamp can provide the lamp unit 20 (20A) with the lamp unit axis A2 parallel (or substantially parallel) to the road surface 2, which increases the degree of freedom in the mounting position and manner on the vehicle 1 and improves usability. Even in this case, the vehicle lamp can be installed next to a vehicle lamp including a signal light unit with its signal light unit axis and lamp unit axis A2 parallel (or substantially parallel). [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 10, 10A Vehicle lamp 13 Signal light unit 16 Signal light light emitting section 20, 20A Lamp unit 22, 22A Condenser lens 23 Shade (as an example of a light blocking member) 24 Projection lens 31, 311, 312 Light source 31b Phosphor (as an example of a light emitting surface) 35 Illumination slit A1 Signal light unit axis A2 Lamp unit axis A3 Condenser lens axis A4 Shade reference axis (as an example of a light blocking reference axis) A5 Projection lens axis Fb Reference focus Lc Lens center point Pi Illumination pattern Ps Shade reference point Ri (as an example of a reference point) Incident range

Claims

1. a light source, a condenser lens for condensing light from the light source, a light blocking member provided with an illumination slit for partially transmitting the light condensed by the condenser lens, and a projection lens for projecting the light that has passed through the light blocking member to form an illumination pattern, which are arranged along a lamp unit axis; the projection lens has a reference focus set on the lamp unit axis, and is disposed at a position rotated downward around the reference focus so that the projection lens axis is directed downward relative to the lamp unit axis; the projection lens is disposed with the reference focus positioned in the vicinity of the light blocking member, and projects the light that has passed through the light blocking member by inverting it; The lamp unit is characterized in that the light-emitting surface of the condenser lens on the side of the light-blocking member is a convex surface with an apex located below the lamp unit axis.

2. 2. The lamp unit according to claim 1, wherein the projection lens is tilted downward so that the axis of the lamp unit is positioned within a light incidence range set around the projection lens axis.

3. The lamp unit of claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the focusing lens satisfies at least one of the following conditions: the direction of travel of light emitted from the light source and passing through the upper end of the irradiation slit is parallel to the lamp unit axis, and the direction of travel of light is inclined downward from the lamp unit axis.

4. 4. The lamp unit according to claim 1, wherein the light source has a light-emitting surface and is positioned so that the light-emitting surface overlaps with a focusing lens axis of the focusing lens in the vertical direction.

5. The lamp unit described in claim 1, characterized in that a shading reference axis is set in the shading member, which passes through a reference point set on the lamp unit axis and is perpendicular to the plane on which the irradiation slit is provided, and the shading member is rotated around the reference point so as to displace the projection lens side of the shading reference axis downward, and the inclination of the shading reference axis with respect to the lamp unit axis is smaller than the inclination of the projection lens axis with respect to the lamp unit axis.

6. The lamp unit described in claim 5, characterized in that the focusing lens is rotated around the lens center point so as to displace the light-blocking member side of the focusing lens axis downward, and the inclination of the focusing lens axis relative to the lamp unit axis is smaller than the inclination of the light-blocking reference axis relative to the lamp unit axis.

7. a light source, a condenser lens for condensing light from the light source, a light blocking member provided with an illumination slit for partially transmitting the light condensed by the condenser lens, and a projection lens for projecting the light that has passed through the light blocking member to form an illumination pattern, which are arranged along a lamp unit axis; the projection lens has a reference focus set on the lamp unit axis, and is disposed at a position rotated downward around the reference focus so that the projection lens axis is directed downward relative to the lamp unit axis; The light blocking member has a reference point set on the axis of the lamp unit, the projection lens is disposed so that the reference focus is located near the reference point; The light-shielding member has a light-shielding reference axis that passes through the reference point and is perpendicular to the plane on which the irradiation slit is provided, and is rotated around the reference point so as to displace the projection lens side of the light-shielding reference axis downward, and the inclination of the light-shielding reference axis with respect to the lamp unit axis is smaller than the inclination of the projection lens axis with respect to the lamp unit axis.

8. The lamp unit described in claim 7, characterized in that the focusing lens is rotated around the lens center point so as to displace the light-blocking member side of the focusing lens axis downward, and the inclination of the focusing lens axis relative to the lamp unit axis is smaller than the inclination of the light-blocking reference axis relative to the lamp unit axis.

9. A vehicle lamp comprising the lamp unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. 10. The vehicular lamp according to claim 9, Further, a signal light unit is provided in which a signal light emitting part is set on a signal light unit axis, The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the lamp unit and the signal light unit are adjacent to each other with the lamp unit axis and the signal light unit axis being parallel to each other.

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