Vehicle lighting fixtures

Abstract

To provide an aesthetically superior vehicle lamp.SOLUTION: This vehicle lamp includes a light source, a cap that diffuses light from the light source, and a Fresnel lens that emits light from the cap to the front side. The cap includes, in at least one part thereof, a focal-point-matching part where the focus matches that of the Fresnel lens.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] BACKGROUND ART There is known a vehicle lamp configured such that light from a light source is diffused by a cap, made to enter a Fresnel lens, and emitted from the Fresnel lens to the front of the vehicle via an inner lens and an outer lens (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-106493 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The vehicle lamp described in Patent Document 1 is required to have a configuration that effectively utilizes the light diffused by the cap and has an excellent appearance.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has an object to provide a vehicle lamp that has excellent appearance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle lamp according to the present invention comprises a light source, a cap that diffuses light from the light source, and a Fresnel lens that emits the light from the cap to the front side, and the cap has a focal point matching portion in at least a part thereof where the focal point matches with the Fresnel lens.

[0007] In the above vehicle lamp, the focal point coincidence portion is provided on the light exit surface of the cap.

[0008] In the above vehicle lamp, the Fresnel lens has a predetermined focal point, and the focal point coincidence portion has a spherical shape with the predetermined focal point of the Fresnel lens as its center.

[0009] In the above-described vehicle lamp, the focal point portion is connected to the surroundings via a step portion.

[0010] In the above-described vehicle lamp, the step portion has a flat portion extending in the front-to-rear direction.

[0011] In the above-mentioned vehicle lamp, the cap is positioned at a position offset in a predetermined direction from the center of the lamp's light-emitting range when viewed from the front, and the focal point coincidence portion is positioned at a position offset in the predetermined direction from the center of the cap when viewed from the front.

[0012] The above-mentioned vehicle lamp further includes an inner panel having a rectangular opening at a position overlapping the cap when viewed from the front, and the focal point coincidence portion is formed so as to extend from the center of the cap when viewed from the front to the portion from one end of one side of the opening to the other end.

[0013] The above vehicle lamp further comprises an inner lens that emits light from the Fresnel lens to the front side. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, a vehicle lamp with excellent appearance can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the rear part of a vehicle according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration along the cross section AA in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the cap as viewed from the front side. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of the cap as viewed from the lower front side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicle lamp according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include those that are easily replaceable by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

[0017] In this embodiment, the front and rear directions are directions in a state where the device is mounted on a vehicle (mounted on a vehicle). For example, when the device is mounted on the front of the vehicle, the front is the front direction (front side) and the rear is the rear direction (rear side). When the device is mounted on the rear of the vehicle, the rear is the front direction (front side) and the front is the rear direction (rear side). When the device is mounted on the side of the vehicle, the outside of the vehicle is the front direction (front side) and the inside of the vehicle is the rear direction (rear side).

[0018] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the rear of a vehicle 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 includes a vehicle body 2, a running device 3, and a vehicle lamp 100. The vehicle body 2 has a driver's cab where a driver sits. The vehicle body 2 is supported by the running device 3. The running device 3 has wheels on which tires 4 are mounted, a steering device for changing the direction of travel of the vehicle 1, and a brake device for slowing down or stopping the running device 3. The vehicle 1 includes a boarding / alighting door provided on the side of the vehicle body 2, and a tailgate 7 provided on the rear of the vehicle body 2. The boarding / alighting door and the tailgate 7 are each movably supported on the vehicle body 2 via a hinge mechanism.

[0019] In this embodiment, the vehicular lamp 100 is provided on each of the left and right sides of the rear of the vehicle body 2. In this embodiment, the vehicular lamp 100 is provided at the rear of the vehicle body 2. Therefore, the rear side in the front-to-rear direction will be referred to as the front side of the vehicular lamp 100, and the front side in the front-to-rear direction will be referred to as the back side of the vehicular lamp 100.

[0020] The vehicle lighting device 100 includes functional lamps, such as tail lamps that are provided at the rear of the vehicle body 2 and light up in conjunction with the lighting of the head lamps, stop lamps that are provided at the rear of the vehicle body 2 and light up in conjunction with the operation of the brake device, and rear turn signal lamps that are provided at the rear of the vehicle body 2 and light up to indicate the direction in which the vehicle 1 is traveling to those around it.

[0021] The vehicle lamps 100 are arranged, for example, on the vehicle body 2 side. In this embodiment, the vehicle body 2 is a fixed part. The back door 7 is a movable part. The structure of the vehicle lamp 100 provided on the left rear part of the vehicle body 2 and the structure of the vehicle lamp 100 provided on the right rear part of the vehicle body 2 are symmetrical in the left-right direction and are substantially the same structure. The following mainly describes the vehicle lamp 100 provided on the right rear part of the vehicle body 2, and the description of the vehicle lamp 100 provided on the left rear part of the vehicle body 2 will be simplified or omitted.

[0022] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration along the AA cross section in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 shows an example of a vehicle lamp 100. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 2. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the vehicle lamp 100 includes a light source 10, a cap 20, a Fresnel lens 30, an inner lens 40, an inner panel 60, and an outer lens 70.

[0023] The vehicle lamp 100 has a configuration in which a light source 10, a cap 20, a Fresnel lens 30, and an inner lens 40 are housed in a lamp chamber 80 surrounded by an inner panel 60 and an outer lens 70.

[0024] The light source 10 may be, for example, a semiconductor light source such as an LED, a laser light source, or the like. The light source 10 has a light-emitting surface 11 that emits light. The light source 10 is supported by a support member 12 via a substrate or the like. The support member 12 may be configured to release heat from the light source 10.

[0025] The cap 20 is disposed in front of the light-emitting surface 11 of the light source 10. The cap 20 diffuses light from the light-emitting surface 11 and emits it toward the front. The cap 20 is supported by a frame 27. The cap 20 has an incident surface 21 and an exit surface 22. Light from the light source 10 is incident on the incident surface 21. The incident surface 21 is curved. The exit surface 22 emits the light that has entered from the incident surface 21. The detailed configuration of the cap 20, including the shape of the exit surface 22, will be described later. In this embodiment, an example is given in which the cap 20 and the frame 27 are integrally formed, but the cap 20 and the frame 27 may also be formed separately.

[0026] The Fresnel lens 30 is disposed on the front side of the cap 20. The Fresnel lens 30 emits light from the cap 20 toward the front side. The Fresnel lens 30 is plate-shaped and has a front portion 31, an inner wall portion 32, and an outer wall portion 33. The front portion 31 faces the light exit surface 22 of the cap 20. The inner wall portion 32 is disposed in a state of being bent from the end of the front portion 31 that is on the inside of the vehicle toward the rear side. The outer wall portion 33 is disposed in a state of being bent from the end of the front portion 31 that is on the outside of the vehicle toward the rear side.

[0027] The Fresnel lens 30 is plate-shaped and has a prism with concentric grooves formed thereon. The Fresnel lens 30 converts light from a predetermined focal point P into parallel light and emits it to the front side. In this embodiment, the predetermined focal point P is located at the light source 10 or in the vicinity of the light source 10.

[0028] The inner lens 40 is disposed on the front side of the Fresnel lens 30. The inner lens 40 has an incident surface 41 and an exit surface 42. Light from the Fresnel lens 30 is incident on the incident surface 41. The exit surface 42 emits the light that has entered from the incident surface 41 to the front side. The inner lens 40 is configured to diffuse light, such as a prism or texture, and diffuses the light from the Fresnel lens 30 and emits it to the front side.

[0029] The inner panel 60 holds the light source 10, the cap 20, the Fresnel lens 30, the inner lens 40, and the outer lens 70. The inner panel 60 has a rectangular opening 61 at a position overlapping the cap 20 in a front view. The opening 61 is arranged to surround the light source 10. The opening 61 has four sides 62, 63, 64, and 65.

[0030] The outer lens 70 accommodates the light source 10, the cap 20, the Fresnel lens 30, and the inner lens 40 between itself and the inner panel 60. The outer lens 70 transmits light emitted from the light exit surface 42 of the inner lens 40 to the front side (rear of the vehicle).

[0031] Next, a detailed configuration of the cap 20 will be described. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the cap 20 as viewed from the front side. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of the cap 20 as viewed from below the front side.

[0032] 2 to 5, in the cap 20, the emission surface 22 has a curved portion 23, a focal point portion 24, a step portion 25, and a peripheral edge portion 26. The cap 20 is disposed at a position shifted toward the inside of the vehicle with respect to the central axis AX2 of the lamp light emission range R, which is the light emission range of the vehicle lamp 100, when viewed from the front (FIG. 2).

[0033] The curved surface portion 23 has a shape such as a free-form surface.

[0034] The focal point matching section 24 is formed so as to have the same focal point as the Fresnel lens 30. The focal point matching section 24 has a spherical shape with the focal point P of the Fresnel lens 30 as its center.

[0035] The focal point matching portion 24 is connected to the surroundings via a step portion 25. The step portion 25 has a flat portion along the front-to-back direction. The step portion 25 is formed as a punching surface when punching out the cap 20 during production. The portion of the cap 20 where the focal point matching portion 24 is provided is thinner in the front-to-back direction than other portions, such as the portion where the curved surface portion 23 is provided.

[0036] The focal point matching portion 24 is disposed in a predetermined direction, i.e., at a position shifted toward the inside of the vehicle, with respect to the central axis AX1 of the cap 20 in a front view. The focal point matching portion 24 is formed so as to extend from the central axis AX1 of the cap 20 in a front view to a portion from one end 62a to the other end 62b of one side 62 of the opening 61 of the inner panel 60.

[0037] Of the two step portions 25 that define the focal point matching portion 24, one step portion 25 extends upward and inward from the central axis AX1 of the cap 20 toward one end 62a of the side 62. The other step portion 25 extends downward and inward from the central axis AX1 of the cap 20 toward the other end 62b of the side 62.

[0038] The peripheral edge portion 26 is disposed on the vehicle inner side relative to the focal point matching portion 24. The peripheral edge portion 26 is formed, for example, in a flat plane perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction.

[0039] Next, the operation of the vehicle lamp 100 configured as described above will be described. When the driver performs a predetermined operation to turn on the tail lamps and stop lamps, such as turning on the head lamps or braking, the vehicle lamp 100 receives an operation signal from an operation device. A control circuit provided on the board or the like of the light source 10 controls the light emission of the light source 10 in accordance with the received signal.

[0040] 3, for example, light beams L1, L2, L3, and L4 are emitted from light-emitting surface 11 of light source 10. Light beam L1 travels from light-emitting surface 11 along central axis AX1 and enters a central portion of incident surface 21 of cap 20 at a position slightly shifted toward the outer side of the vehicle from central axis AX1. This light beam L1 is emitted from a central portion of curved portion 23 of exit surface 22 of cap 20, enters Fresnel lens 30, and exits from exit surface 35 of Fresnel lens 30.

[0041] Light L2 travels from light-emitting surface 11 in a manner spreading outward from the vehicle, and is incident on the portion of incident surface 21 of cap 20 that is located on the vehicle exterior side. This light L2 is refracted near the outer end of curved surface 23 toward the vehicle exterior, and is then emitted toward the vehicle exterior. Light L2 then enters Fresnel lens 30, is controlled by Fresnel lens 30 toward the front side, and is emitted from emission surface 35.

[0042] On the other hand, light L3 propagates from the light-emitting surface 11 toward the vehicle interior and enters the portion of the entrance surface 21 of the cap 20 that is located on the vehicle interior side. This light L3 is emitted without refracting from the focal point matching portion 24 of the exit surface 22, enters the Fresnel lens 30, and is controlled to be emitted forward from the exit surface 35 of the Fresnel lens 30. FIG. 3 shows a comparative example of light L3 as light L3a. If the focal point matching portion 24 of this embodiment is not provided and the curved surface portion 23a is also provided on the vehicle interior side, light L3a enters the vehicle interior side, is refracted from the curved surface 23a of the exit surface 22 toward the vehicle interior, enters the Fresnel lens 30, and is emitted from the exit surface 35 of the Fresnel lens 30. In this case, light L3a refracted from the curved surface portion 23a toward the vehicle interior and emitted from the exit surface 35 of the Fresnel lens 30 is shifted toward the vehicle interior side relative to light L3, which is focused on the light source 10. Therefore, the light L3a is refracted and emitted to the outside of the vehicle by the Fresnel lens 30. This causes a dark area to appear at the end Ra of the inner lens 40 on the inside of the vehicle (see FIGS. 2 and 3), degrading the appearance.

[0043] Light L4 propagates from the light-emitting surface 11 toward the vehicle interior relative to light L3 and enters the vehicle-interior portion of the entrance surface 21 of the cap 20. This light L4 is emitted without refraction from the focal point 24 of the exit surface 22, enters the Fresnel lens 30, and exits from the exit surface 35 of the Fresnel lens 30. FIG. 3 shows a comparative example to light L4 as light L4a. Light L4a enters the vehicle interior, is refracted toward the vehicle interior from the curved surface 23a of the exit surface 22, and enters the inner wall portion 32 of the Fresnel lens 30. This light L4a is not emitted forward as effective light, and a dark area is generated at the end Ra of the inner lens 40 on the vehicle interior side when the lamp is turned on, degrading the appearance. In contrast, in this embodiment, light L4 is emitted from the focal point 24, and therefore is less diffused toward the vehicle interior than light L4a. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in brightness at the end Ra of the inner lens 40 on the vehicle inner side.

[0044] As described above, the vehicle lamp 100 according to this embodiment comprises the light source 10, the cap 20 that diffuses the light from the light source 10, and the Fresnel lens 30 that emits the light from the cap 20 to the front side, and the cap 20 has a focal point matching portion 24 in at least a part of which the focal point P coincides with the Fresnel lens 30.

[0045] According to this configuration, the cap 20 has at least a part of the focal point coincidence portion 24 where the focal point P coincides with the Fresnel lens 30, so it is possible to suppress diffusion of the light emitted from the focal point coincidence portion 24. Therefore, the light diffused by the cap 20 can be used effectively, suppressing deterioration in appearance and making it possible to provide a vehicle lamp with excellent appearance.

[0046] In the vehicle lamp 100 according to this embodiment, the focal point matching portion 24 is provided on the light exit surface 22 of the cap 20. With this configuration, the diffusion of the light emitted from the focal point matching portion 24 can be appropriately suppressed.

[0047] In the vehicle lamp 100 according to this embodiment, the Fresnel lens 30 has a predetermined focal point P, and the focal point matching portion 24 is spherical with the predetermined focal point P of the Fresnel lens 30 as its center. With this configuration, the focal point P of the Fresnel lens 30 and the focal point P of the focal point matching portion 24 can be appropriately matched.

[0048] In the vehicle lamp 100 according to this embodiment, the focal point matching portion 24 is connected to the surroundings via the step portion 25. According to this configuration, the diffusion of the light emitted from the focal point matching portion 24 can be appropriately suppressed.

[0049] In the vehicle lamp 100 according to this embodiment, the step portion 25 has a flat surface along the front-to-rear direction. With this configuration, when manufacturing the cap 20 by molding, the step portion 25 can be used as a cutting surface during die cutting. Therefore, unintended light refraction can be suppressed compared to when the step portion 25 is formed as a gradually changing surface.

[0050] In the vehicle lamp 100 according to this embodiment, the cap 20 is disposed at a position offset in a predetermined direction from the central axis AX2 of the lamp light emitting range R in a front view, and the focal point matching portion 24 is disposed at a position offset in a predetermined direction from the central axis AX1 of the cap 20 in a front view. This configuration makes it possible to appropriately suppress diffusion of light directed in the predetermined direction from the cap 20.

[0051] The vehicle lamp 100 according to this embodiment further includes an inner panel 60 having a rectangular opening 61 at a position overlapping the cap 20 in a front view, and the focal point matching portion 24 is formed to extend from the central axis AX1 of the cap 20 to a portion from one end 62a to the other end 62b of one side 62 of the opening 61 in a front view. This configuration allows the focal point matching portion 24 to be appropriately designed.

[0052] The vehicle lamp 100 according to this embodiment further includes an inner lens 40 that emits light from the Fresnel lens 30 to the front side. This configuration makes it possible to prevent dark areas from being formed in the inner lens 40, resulting in a vehicle lamp 100 with excellent appearance.

[0053] The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and appropriate modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the focal point matching unit 24 is provided on the exit surface 22, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the focal point matching unit 24 may be provided on the entrance surface 21 in addition to the exit surface 22. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] AX1, AX2...central axis, P...focus, R...lamp light emission range, 1...vehicle, 2...vehicle body, 3...running gear, 4...tire, 7...back door, 10...light source, 11...light emitting surface, 12...support member, 20...cap, 21, 41...incident surface, 22, 35, 42...exiting surface, 23, 23a...curved surface portion, 24...focusing portion, 25...step portion, 26...periphery, 27...frame, 30...Fresnel lens, 31...front portion, 32...inner wall portion, 33...outer wall portion, 40...inner lens, 60...inner panel, 61...opening, 62, 63, 64, 65...side portion, 62a...one end, 62b...other end, 70...outer lens, 80...lamp chamber, 100...vehicle lamp

Claims

1. A light source and a cap that diffuses light from the light source; a Fresnel lens that emits light from the cap to the front side; Equipped with The cap has a focal point matching portion at least in part of which the focal point matches with the Fresnel lens. Vehicle lighting fixtures.

2. The focal point is provided on the light exit surface of the cap.

2. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1.

3. the Fresnel lens has a predetermined focal point; The focal point coincidence portion has a spherical shape centered on the predetermined focal point of the Fresnel lens.

2. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1.

4. The focal point is connected to the surroundings via a step.

2. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1.

5. The step portion has a flat portion along the front-to-back direction.

5. A vehicle lamp according to claim 4.

6. the cap is disposed at a position shifted in a predetermined direction from the center of the light-emitting range of the lamp when viewed from the front, The focal point coincidence portion is disposed at a position shifted in the predetermined direction with respect to the center of the cap when viewed from the front.

2. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1.

7. an inner panel having a rectangular opening at a position overlapping the cap in a front view; The focal point coincidence portion is formed so as to extend from the center of the cap to a portion from one end to the other end of one side of the opening when viewed from the front.

2. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1.

8. Further provided is an inner lens that outputs light from the Fresnel lens to the front side.

2. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1.

Images