Vehicle lighting

Abstract

To provide a vehicular lighting fixture capable of improving designability.SOLUTION: A vehicular lighting fixture includes: a plurality of light emitting elements 1, 2, 3. 4, 5; a lens for transmitting light emitted from each of the plurality of light emitting elements; and a housing 10e for passing the light which has transmitted the lens. The plurality of light emitting elements includes: at least one first light emitting element 1 arranged on a left end side when mounted on a vehicle; and at least one second light emitting element 5 arranged on a right end side when mounted on the vehicle. First light 11 which has emitted from the first light emitting element 1 and transmitted the lens passes the housing 10e so as to diffuse being deviated into a right direction with a frontward / backward direction when mounted on the vehicle being a reference, and second light which has emitted from the second light emitting element 5 and transmitted the lens passes the housing 10e so as to diffuse being deviated into a left direction with the frontward / backward direction when mounted on the vehicle being a reference.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to vehicle lamps.

Background Art

[0002] The vehicle lamp described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-047815 (Patent Document 1) includes a first lamp unit for forming a high-beam light distribution pattern and a second lamp unit for forming a low-beam light distribution pattern. The first lamp unit has five light-emitting modules and is disposed closer to the vehicle center side than the second lamp unit. The second lamp unit has three light-emitting modules 46 and is disposed closer to the left end side of the vehicle than the first lamp unit.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] One of the objectives of the specific aspect according to the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle lamp capable of improving the design property.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] A vehicle lamp according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes Multiple a plurality of light-emitting elements, before a lens that transmits light emitted from each of the plurality of light-emitting elements, a housing that allows the light transmitted through the lens to pass therethrough, and beforeThe multiple light-emitting elements include at least one first light-emitting element positioned on the left end when mounted on the vehicle, and at least one second light-emitting element positioned on the right end when mounted on the vehicle, One or more third light-emitting elements are positioned between the first and second light-emitting elements, It has, The light emitted from the plurality of light-emitting elements passes through the lens to form a low beam and a high beam. The light emitted from the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element passes through the lens to form a portion of the low beam. before The first light emitted from the first light-emitting element and transmitted through the lens passes through the housing such that it is biased to the right with respect to the front-to-back direction when mounted on the vehicle. before The second light emitted from the second light-emitting element and transmitted through the lens passes through the housing in such a way that it is biased to the left, relative to the front-to-back direction when mounted on the vehicle. car It is a dual-purpose light fixture.

[0006] According to the above configuration, a vehicle lighting fixture can be obtained that has improved design. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the optical elements of a vehicle lighting fixture according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figures 2(A) and 2(B) show simplified cross-sectional structures of vehicle lighting fixtures. [Figure 3] Figures 3(A) and 3(B) show the configurations of vehicle lighting devices for comparative examples, respectively. [Figure 4] Figure 4(A) schematically shows the operating state of the light-emitting element when illuminated with low beam only. Figure 4(B) schematically shows the operating state of the light-emitting element when illuminated with both low beam and high beam. [Figure 5] Figures 5(A) to 5(E) show the light distribution patterns caused by the light emitted from each light-emitting element. [Figure 6] Figure 6(A) shows the light distribution pattern for the low beam. Figure 6(B) shows the light distribution patterns for both the low beam and the high beam. [Figure 7]FIG. 7(A) and FIG. 7(B) are diagrams for explaining an example configuration of a lens for causing light emitted from a light-emitting element to be deflected and spread in a specific direction. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a more detailed embodiment of the lens.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an optical element of a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment. The vehicle lamp 10 of the present embodiment includes a light source substrate 10a, a heat sink 10b, a lens 10c, and a drive circuit 10d.

[0009] The light source substrate 10a includes a plurality of light-emitting elements 1 to 5 arranged along the left-right direction (X direction in the figure) when mounted on a vehicle. In this embodiment, an LED is considered as an example of each of the light-emitting elements 1 to 5, but each of the light-emitting elements 1 to 5 may be a laser element.

[0010] The heat sink 10b is used for heat dissipation of the light source substrate 10a and is disposed on the back side of the light source substrate 10a.

[0011] The lens 10c is disposed on the front side of the substrate 10a and forms a light distribution pattern by transmitting the light emitted from each of the light-emitting elements 1 to 5.

[0012] The drive circuit 10d is connected to the light source substrate 10a and drives each of the light-emitting elements 1 to 5.

[0013] Among the light-emitting elements 1 to 5 of the light source substrate 10a, the light-emitting elements 2 and 4 are used for forming a high beam, and the light-emitting elements 1, 3, and 5 are used for forming a low beam. The light-emitting elements 1 and 5 are disposed at the left end and the right end, respectively. The light-emitting element 3 is disposed in the middle between the light-emitting element 1 and the light-emitting element 5. The light-emitting element 2 is disposed between the light-emitting element 1 and the light-emitting element 3. The light-emitting element 4 is disposed between the light-emitting element 3 and the light-emitting element 5.

[0014] Figs. 2(A) and 2(B) are diagrams showing a simplified cross-sectional structure of a vehicle lamp. As described above, the light emitted from each of the light-emitting elements 1 to 5 of the vehicle lamp 10 is condensed by the lens 10c and irradiated forward of the vehicle. In front of the lens 10c, a housing (extension) 10e is provided for narrowing and passing the emitted light from each of the light-emitting elements 1 to 5 within a certain range. The light-emitting surface of the lens 10c is disposed on the side closer to the second opening on the lower side in the drawing of the housing 10e. As shown in the drawing, the diameter of this second opening is smaller than that of the first opening on the upper side in the drawing of the housing 10e.

[0015] Among the light-emitting elements 1 to 5, the light emitted from each of the light-emitting elements 2 to 4 disposed between the leftmost and rightmost light-emitting elements 1 and 5 in the left-right direction (X direction in the drawing) when mounted on the vehicle is condensed by the lens 10c and spreads substantially symmetrically with respect to the front-rear direction (Y direction in the drawing) when mounted on the vehicle and is irradiated forward of the vehicle.

[0016] On the other hand, extracting the light emitted from the light-emitting elements 1 and 5 and as shown in Fig. 2(B), the light from the light-emitting elements 1 and 5 spreads asymmetrically with respect to the Y direction and exits from the lens 10c.

[0017] Specifically, for the light 十一 from the light-emitting element 1, the component 11a that travels in the right direction with respect to the Y direction is more than the component 11b that travels in the left direction. Then, this light 11 exits from the lens 10c so as to spread while being biased in the direction opposite to its own position (left side in the illustrated example) among the light-emitting elements 1 to 5 on the side away from the inner wall closer to itself of the housing 10e.

[0018] Also, for the light 15 from the light-emitting element 5, the component 15a that travels in the left direction with respect to the Y direction is more than the component 15b that travels in the right direction. Then, this light 15 exits from the lens 10c so as to spread while being biased in the direction opposite to its own position (right side in the illustrated example) among the light-emitting elements 1 to 5 on the side away from the inner wall closer to itself of the housing 10e.

[0019] These light-emitting elements 1 and 5 are used to form a low beam, and since they need to emit light at a wider angle, their light spread angle is set to be larger compared to the other light-emitting elements 2 to 4. Nevertheless, by biasing the direction of spread, the aperture diameter L of the housing 10e can be narrowed.

[0020] Figures 3(A) and 3(B) show the configurations of comparative vehicle lighting fixtures, respectively. In each figure, the comparative vehicle lighting fixtures 100a and 100b are equipped with light-emitting elements 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105, a lens 110c, and a housing 110e. In the comparative vehicle lighting fixtures 100a and 100b, the light-emitting elements 101 to 103, which are arranged towards the left side of the figure, are used to form the low beam, while the light-emitting elements 104 and 105, which are arranged towards the right side of the figure, are used to form the high beam. Furthermore, the light-spreading angle of the light-emitting elements 101 to 103 is set to be larger than that of the light-emitting elements 104 and 105.

[0021] In the comparative example vehicle light fixture 100a shown in Figure 3(A), the opening diameter L1 of the housing 110e is larger than that of the vehicle light fixture 10 in the embodiment described above, in order to prevent the light from each light-emitting element 101 to 103 from being blocked by the housing 110e. As a result, the presence of the vehicle light fixture 100a becomes more conspicuous, which is undesirable from the viewpoint of appearance design.

[0022] On the other hand, as in the comparative example vehicle light fixture 100b shown in Figure 3(B), if the light from each light-emitting element 101 to 103 is not blocked by the housing 110e, and the light-emitting elements 101 to 105 and the lens 110c are positioned closer to the upper opening of the housing 110e in the figure, although the opening diameter L2 of the housing 110e can be reduced, the presence of the lens 110c and each light-emitting element 101 becomes more conspicuous, which is undesirable from the viewpoint of appearance design.

[0023] Figure 4(A) schematically shows the operating state of the light-emitting elements when only the low beam is irradiated. As shown in the figure, in the vehicle lighting device 10 of this embodiment, the low beam is formed when the light emitted from each of the light-emitting elements 1, 3, and 5 passes through the lens 10c. Each of the light-emitting elements 1 and 5 lights up when a drive voltage is applied from the drive circuit 10d.

[0024] Figure 4(B) schematically shows the operating state of the light-emitting elements when illuminating with low beam and high beam. In the vehicle lighting device 10 of this embodiment, as shown in the figure, the low beam is formed when the light emitted from each of the light-emitting elements 1 and 5 passes through the lens 10c, and the high beam is formed when the light emitted from each of the light-emitting elements 2 and 4 passes through the lens 10c. Each of the light-emitting elements 1 to 5 lights up when a drive voltage is applied from the drive circuit 10d.

[0025] Figures 5(A) to 5(E) show the light distribution patterns caused by the light emitted from each light-emitting element. Figure 5(A) shows the light distribution pattern obtained by passing the light emitted from the light-emitting element 5 through the lens 10c. Specifically, this light distribution pattern is a wide-area illumination pattern that spreads out from the center (0°) in front of the vehicle to the left (L side) below the horizontal line.

[0026] Figure 5(B) shows the light distribution pattern obtained by passing the light emitted from the light-emitting element 2 through the lens 10c. Specifically, this light distribution pattern is a relatively narrow illumination pattern that mainly illuminates from about 5° below the horizontal (D side) to about 5° above the horizontal (U side), and also illuminates a range of about 10° to the left and right of the center (0°) in front of the vehicle.

[0027] Figure 5(C) shows the light distribution pattern obtained by passing the light emitted from the light-emitting element 3 through the lens 10c. Specifically, this light distribution pattern illuminates mainly from about 7° below the horizontal line (D side) to about 4° above the horizontal line (U side), and below the horizontal line, it illuminates a range of about 15° to the left and right of the center of the front of the vehicle (0°), and above the horizontal line, it illuminates a range of about 6° to the left and right of the center of the front of the vehicle. This light distribution pattern brightly illuminates a spot about 10m from the vehicle at the front center of the vehicle.

[0028] Figure 5(D) shows the light distribution pattern obtained by passing the light emitted from the light-emitting element 4 through the lens 10c. Specifically, this light distribution pattern, similar to the case of the light-emitting element 2 described above, is a relatively narrow illumination pattern that mainly illuminates from about 5° below the horizontal line (D side) to about 5° above the horizontal line (U side), and also illuminates a range of about 10° to the left and right of the center (0°) in front of the vehicle.

[0029] Figure 5(E) shows the light distribution pattern obtained by passing the light emitted from the light-emitting element 1 through the lens 10c. Specifically, this light distribution pattern is one in which the light is broadly illuminated, mainly below the horizontal line, spreading from the center (0°) in front of the vehicle to the right (R side).

[0030] Figure 6(A) shows the light distribution pattern for the low beam. This light distribution pattern is obtained by combining the light distribution patterns shown in Figures 5(A), 5(C), and 5(E) described above. As shown in the figure, it is a light distribution pattern that mainly illuminates below the horizontal line, that is, a light distribution pattern that mainly illuminates a position relatively close to the vehicle.

[0031] Figure 6(B) shows the light distribution patterns for the low beam and high beam. This light distribution pattern (first light distribution pattern) is obtained by combining the light distribution patterns shown in Figures 5(A), 5(B), 5(D), and 5(E) described above. The illustrated light distribution pattern is a superposition of the low beam light distribution pattern, which illuminates mainly below the horizontal line, and the high beam light distribution pattern, which illuminates the far area in the front center of the vehicle. In other words, it is a light distribution pattern that illuminates light to both positions relatively close to the vehicle and positions relatively far from the vehicle.

[0032] Figures 7(A) and 7(B) illustrate examples of lens configurations for causing light emitted from a light-emitting element to spread in a specific direction. In each figure, P indicates the light-emitting point of the light-emitting element 1 (or light-emitting element 5), and 21-23 indicate refractive index interfaces. Of these refractive index interfaces, the spaces between refractive index interface 20 and refractive index interface 21, and between refractive index interface 22 and refractive index interface 23 are filled with the constituent material of lens 10c, while the space between refractive index interface 21 and refractive index interface 22 is a gap containing air. Refractive index interface 23 is also the light-emitting surface of lens 10c.

[0033] In the lens 10c shown in the example configuration in Figure 7(A), the curvature is set to be relatively strong (large) in a portion 22a on the left side of the refractive index interface 22. As a result, of the light emitted from the light emission point P and incident on the lens 10c, the light component incident on portion 22a of the refractive index interface 22 undergoes stronger refraction, and is further refracted at the refractive index interface 23, causing it to propagate biased to the right in the figure. With a lens 10c configured in this way, the light emitted from each light-emitting element 1, 5 can be propagated so that it spreads biased in a specific direction. Furthermore, by reversing each refractive index interface 20~23 in the X direction in the figure, it is possible to reverse the direction of the light bias.

[0034] In the lens 10c shown in the example configuration in Figure 7(B), the curvature of the refractive index interface 22 is partially set to be relatively weak (small) at the right-hand portion 22b in the figure. As a result, of the light emitted from the light emission point P and incident on the lens 10c, the light component incident on portion 22b of the refractive index interface 22 undergoes weaker refraction, and is further refracted at the refractive index interface 23, causing it to propagate biased to the right in the figure. Even with a lens 10c configured in this way, the light emitted from each light-emitting element 1, 5 can be propagated so that it spreads biased in a specific direction. Furthermore, by reversing each refractive index interface 20~23 in the X direction in the figure, it is possible to reverse the direction of the light bias.

[0035] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a more detailed embodiment of the lens. The lens 10c of the embodiment is shown assembled in the housing 10e. Hatching has been omitted to make the light rays shown by thin lines easier to see. As an example, the lens 10c of the embodiment having the refractive index interface described using Figure 7(B) above is shown. The refractive index interfaces 20 to 23 described above are used as the refractive index interface for the light emitted from each light-emitting element 1 and 5. Although not shown, the refractive index interface described using Figure 7(A) may also be used. The refractive index interface 23, which is also the light-emitting surface of the lens 10c, is located on the side of the housing 10e closer to the second aperture on the lower side in the figure. As shown in the figure, this second aperture has a smaller diameter than the first aperture on the upper side in the figure of the housing 10e.

[0036] According to the embodiments described above, it is possible to obtain a vehicle lighting device that can improve the design.

[0037] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified and implemented in various ways within the scope of the gist of this disclosure. For example, the embodiments described above showed a vehicle lighting device with a configuration in which light-emitting elements responsible for high beam formation and light-emitting elements responsible for low beam formation are mixed together, but the vehicle lighting device may be configured with separate components for high beam formation and low beam formation. Specifically, the vehicle lighting device can be configured so that all of the light-emitting elements 1 to 5 in the embodiments described above are responsible for high beam formation. Similarly, the vehicle lighting device can be configured so that all of the light-emitting elements 1 to 5 in the embodiments described above are responsible for low beam formation.

[0038] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, each light-emitting element 1, 3, and 5 was responsible for low beam formation, and each light-emitting element 2 and 4 was responsible for high beam formation, but these roles may be swapped. Also, each light-emitting element 1 to 5 may be responsible for forming light other than low beam or high beam (for example, fog lamps, tail lamps, etc.). In addition, the number of light-emitting elements is not limited to the five shown in the embodiment.

[0039] In either case, by directing the light emitted from each light-emitting element 1, 5 corresponding to the left and right directions when mounted on a vehicle to spread biasedly in a specific direction, the design can be improved without increasing the aperture diameter of the housing 10e. Furthermore, if the number of light-emitting elements is increased, instead of using one light-emitting element on each end when mounted on a vehicle, the light emitted from two or more light-emitting elements on both the left and right ends may be biased and directed in a specific direction.

[0040] This disclosure has the following features: (Note 1) Multiple light-emitting elements, A lens that transmits light emitted from each of the plurality of light-emitting elements, A housing that allows the light that has passed through the lens to pass through, Includes, The plurality of light-emitting elements each have at least one first light-emitting element positioned on the left end when mounted on the vehicle, and at least one second light-emitting element positioned on the right end when mounted on the vehicle. The first light emitted from the first light-emitting element and transmitted through the lens passes through the housing such that it spreads out biased to the right with respect to the front-to-back direction when mounted on the vehicle. The second light emitted from the second light-emitting element and transmitted through the lens passes through the housing in such a way that it spreads out biased to the left with respect to the front-to-back direction when mounted on the vehicle. Vehicle lighting fixtures. (Note 2) The first light has a component that travels to the right with respect to the longitudinal direction when mounted on the vehicle, and the component that travels to the left is greater than the component that travels to the left. The second light has a component that travels to the left more than the component that travels to the right, with reference to the longitudinal direction when mounted on the vehicle. Vehicle lighting equipment as described in Appendix 1. (Note 3) The housing has a first opening and a second opening that has a smaller diameter than the first opening. The lens has a light-emitting surface positioned on the side of the housing closest to the second aperture, and emits the first light and the second light from the light-emitting surface toward the first aperture. Vehicle lighting equipment as described in Appendix 1 or 2. (Note 4) The plurality of light-emitting elements each have one or more third light-emitting elements positioned between the first and second light-emitting elements. The third light emitted from the third light-emitting element and transmitted through the lens passes through the housing in a manner that is substantially symmetrical with respect to the front-to-rear direction when mounted on the vehicle. Vehicle lighting equipment as described in any one of the appendices 1 to 3. (Note 5) The first and second lights are emitted at a wider angle than the third light. Vehicle lighting equipment as described in Appendix 4. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0041] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5: Light-emitting element; 10: Vehicle lighting fixture; 10a: Light source substrate; 10b: Heat sink; 10c: Lens; 10d: Drive circuit; 10e: Housing; 20, 21, 22, 23: Refractive index interface

Claims

1. Multiple light-emitting elements, A lens that transmits light emitted from each of the plurality of light-emitting elements, A housing that allows the light that has passed through the lens to pass through, Includes, The plurality of light-emitting elements each comprises at least one first light-emitting element positioned on the left end when mounted on the vehicle, at least one second light-emitting element positioned on the right end when mounted on the vehicle, and one or more third light-emitting elements positioned between the first and second light-emitting elements. The light emitted from the plurality of light-emitting elements passes through the lens to form a low beam and a high beam. The light emitted from the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element passes through the lens to form a part of the low beam. The first light emitted from the first light-emitting element and transmitted through the lens passes through the housing such that it spreads out biased to the right with respect to the front-to-back direction when mounted on the vehicle. The second light emitted from the second light-emitting element and transmitted through the lens passes through the housing in such a way that it spreads out biased to the left with respect to the front-to-back direction when mounted on the vehicle. Vehicle lighting fixtures.

2. The first light has a component that travels to the right with respect to the longitudinal direction when mounted on the vehicle, and the component that travels to the left is greater than the component that travels to the left. The second light has a component that travels to the left more than the component that travels to the right, with reference to the longitudinal direction when mounted on the vehicle. A vehicle light fixture according to claim 1.

3. The housing has a first opening and a second opening that has a smaller diameter than the first opening. The lens has a light-emitting surface positioned on the side of the housing closest to the second aperture, and emits the first light and the second light from the light-emitting surface toward the first aperture. A vehicle light fixture according to claim 1.

4. The plurality of light-emitting elements each have one or more third light-emitting elements positioned between the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element. The third light emitted from the third light-emitting element and transmitted through the lens passes through the housing in a manner that is substantially symmetrical with respect to the front-to-rear direction when mounted on the vehicle. A vehicle light fixture according to claim 1.

5. The first and second lights are emitted at a wider angle than the third light. The vehicle light fixture according to claim 4.

Images