Vehicle lamp

Abstract

This vehicle lamp includes: a plurality of light sources that respectively emit light; a shade that has a plurality of transmission holes through which light emitted from the plurality of light sources respectively passes; and a projection lens that has a plurality of lens parts on which light transmitted through the transmission holes is respectively incident, and that emits light for drawing toward a road surface. At least three lens parts are provided, and the plurality of lens parts include a nearby lens part for emitting light toward a position closest to the vehicle and a distant lens part for emitting light toward a position farthest from the vehicle. Out of the plurality of lens parts, the distant lens part is positioned at the lowest side, and at least two lens parts other than the distant lens part are positioned side by side on the upper side of the distant lens part.

Description

Vehicle lighting fixtures

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of vehicle lighting fixtures that emit light to project a drawing pattern onto a road surface.

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art There is a type of vehicle lamp that is provided with a drawing lamp unit that projects a drawing pattern onto a lamp chamber formed by a lamp housing and a cover (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The vehicle lamp described in Patent Document 1 includes a drawing lamp unit (image projection device) in which three lens parts are arranged in order in the vertical or horizontal direction, and light emitted from each of the three lens parts is projected onto the road surface as a drawing pattern. The three drawing patterns are projected onto the road surface at different distances from the vehicle by the light emitted from the lens parts.

[0004] International Publication No. 2022 / 19231

[0005] Incidentally, in a vehicle lamp having a drawing lamp unit as described above, it is possible to form a vertically or horizontally long drawing lamp unit by arranging multiple lens portions in order vertically (up and down) or horizontally (left and right).

[0006] However, when multiple lens units are arranged vertically, the vertical length becomes longer, and when multiple lens units are arranged horizontally, the horizontal length becomes longer, so depending on the arrangement of other components and other lamp units, the drawing lamp unit may interfere with other components.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to achieve miniaturization while ensuring a good balance between the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0008] The vehicle lighting fixture of the present invention comprises a plurality of light sources that each emit light, a shade having a plurality of transmission holes through which the light emitted from the plurality of light sources passes, and a projection lens having a plurality of lens sections into which the light transmitted through the transmission holes is incident, and emitting light for drawing toward the road surface, wherein at least three lens sections are provided, and the plurality of lens sections include a near lens section that emits light toward a position closest to the vehicle and a far lens section that emits light toward a position farthest from the vehicle, and among the plurality of lens sections, the far lens section is positioned at the bottom and at least two lens sections other than the far lens section are positioned side by side above the far lens section.

[0009] As a result, the distance lens section from which light is emitted most upward is positioned at the lowest, and at least two lens sections other than the distance lens section from which light is emitted downward from the distance lens section are positioned side by side above the distance lens section.

[0010] According to the present invention, the distance lens section, from which light is emitted most upward, is positioned at the lowest, and at least two lens sections other than the distance lens section, from which light is emitted downward from the distance lens section, are positioned side by side above the distance lens section.This means that the projection lens does not become excessively long in either the vertical or horizontal direction, and can be made compact while maintaining a good balance in the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0011] 2 to 9 show an embodiment of the vehicle lamp of the present invention, and this figure is a side view of the vehicle lamp showing a cross section of the lamp outer casing. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a drawing lamp unit. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a drawing lamp unit. FIG. 3 is a front view of a projection lens. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a projection lens. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the path of light emitted from a light source and controlled by a lens portion. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state in which a drawing pattern is drawn on a road surface. FIG. 7 is a front view of another projection lens. FIG. 8 is a front view showing an example of a projection lens provided with four lens portions.

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A vehicle lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] In the following, the front, rear, up, down, left and right directions will be described assuming that the direction of light emitted from the vehicle lamp is the front. However, the front, rear, up, down, left and right directions shown below are for the convenience of explanation, and the present invention is not limited to these directions in terms of implementation.

[0014] The vehicle lamp according to the present invention is provided, for example, as a combination lamp having a plurality of lamp units, one of which is a drawing lamp unit. However, the vehicle lamp may be configured to include only a drawing lamp unit. The following will describe in detail only the drawing lamp unit.

[0015] The vehicle lamp 1 comprises a lamp housing 2 to which various components are attached and a cover 3 at least a portion of which is made of a transparent material (see FIG. 1). The cover 3 is joined to the lamp housing 2 at the front side thereof, and the joining of the cover 3 to the lamp housing 2 constitutes a lamp outer casing 4. The internal space of the lamp outer casing 4 is formed as a lamp chamber 5.

[0016] A drawing lamp unit 6 is disposed in the lamp chamber 5. The drawing lamp unit 6 has a heat sink 7, a substrate 8, a shade 9, and a projection lens 10 (see FIGS. 1 to 3).

[0017] The heat sink 7 is made of a metal material and is formed, for example, in the shape of a vertically long plate facing the front-to-rear direction. The heat sink 7 is provided with, for example, an attachment protrusion (not shown), and the heat sink 7 is attached to the lamp housing 2 by means of a screw or the like.

[0018] The substrate 8 is formed in a vertically long rectangular shape and is attached to the front surface of the heat sink 7 via a thermally conductive sheet 11. In the vehicle lamp 1, the thermally conductive sheet 11 may be replaced with grease having heat dissipation properties.

[0019] For example, three light sources 12 are mounted at predetermined positions on the front surface of the substrate 8. As the light sources 12, for example, light emitting diodes (LEDs) are used.

[0020] The shade 9 is formed into a vertically long rectangle from a plate-like material, and is composed of a base plate portion 13 located in front of the light source 12, a pair of standing wall plate portions 14 protruding rearward from both the upper and lower ends of the base plate portion 13, and a pair of connecting plate portions 15 protruding in opposite directions in the vertical direction from the rear end of the standing wall plate portion 14. The base plate portion 13 is formed with the same number of transmission holes 13a as the number of light sources 12, and the transmission holes 13a are shaped in the shape of a drawing pattern formed by light emitted from the light source 12.

[0021] The shade 9 is disposed in front of the substrate 8 and is attached to the heat sink 7, for example, by fastening the connecting plate 15 together with the substrate 8. When the shade 9 is attached to the heat sink 7, each of the transmission holes 13a formed in the base plate 13 is positioned in front of the light source 12.

[0022] The projection lens 10 is made of a transparent material and has a vertically elongated shape, and has multiple lens sections, such as a near lens section 16, an intermediate lens section 17, and a far lens section 18 (see FIGS. 2 to 5). The near lens section 16 emits light toward a position closest to the vehicle 100, and the far lens section 18 emits light toward a position farthest from the vehicle 100. The intermediate lens section 17 emits light in a direction between the direction of light emitted from the near lens section 16 and the direction of light emitted from the far lens section 18.

[0023] The near-field lens portion 16 has, as its surface, an exit surface 19 formed in a curved, forward convex shape and an upper surface 20 positioned continuously above the exit surface 19. The intermediate-field lens portion 17 has, as its surface, an exit surface 21 formed in a curved, forward convex shape and an upper surface 22 positioned continuously above the exit surface 21. The far-field lens portion 18 has, as its surface, an exit surface 23 formed in a curved, forward convex shape and an upper surface 24 positioned continuously above the exit surface 23, and a lower surface 25 positioned continuously below the exit surface 23.

[0024] The near lens portion 16 and the intermediate lens portion 17 are aligned left and right and positioned directly above the far lens portion 18. The combined width of the near lens portion 16 and the intermediate lens portion 17 is approximately the same as the width of the far lens portion 18. The upper edge 16a of the near lens portion 16 is positioned slightly above the upper edge 17a of the intermediate lens portion 17, and the lower edge 16b of the near lens portion 16 is positioned slightly above the lower edge 17b of the intermediate lens portion 17.

[0025] The projection lens 10 is provided with a pair of connecting portions 26 and a pair of mounting portions 27, each formed in a plate shape and positioned spaced apart from each other above and below.

[0026] The pair of connecting portions 26 are positioned spaced apart vertically, formed into plate shapes facing approximately vertically, and gently inclined so as to move further apart vertically toward the rear. The front end of the upper connecting portion 26 is continuous with the upper end of the distance lens portion 18, and the rear end is continuous with the lower end of the near lens portion 16 and the lower end of the intermediate lens portion 17. The front end of the lower connecting portion 26 is continuous with the lower end of the distance lens portion 18, and the rear end is continuous with the upper end of the lower attachment portion 27.

[0027] The near lens portion 16 and the intermediate lens portion 17 are connected to the far lens portion 18 by an upper connecting portion 26, and the far lens portion 18 is positioned forward of the near lens portion 16 and the intermediate lens portion 17. In addition, the front surface of the intermediate lens portion 17 is positioned forward of the front surface of the near lens portion 16.

[0028] The pair of mounting portions 27 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the projection lens 10 and are formed in the shape of plates facing in the front-to-rear direction.

[0029] A first light-shielding rib 28 and a second light-shielding rib 29 are provided on the rear side of the projection lens 10 (see FIG. 5). The first light-shielding rib 28 and the second light-shielding rib 29 are formed in the shape of plates that protrude rearward, with the first light-shielding rib 28 facing left and right and positioned between the near lens portion 16 and the intermediate lens portion 17, and the second light-shielding rib 29 facing up and down and positioned between the near lens portion 16, the intermediate lens portion 17 and the far lens portion 18. The first light-shielding rib 28 and the second light-shielding rib 29 are positioned with their tip surfaces in contact with or close to the front surface of the base plate portion 13 of the shade 9.

[0030] Light emitted from the three light sources 12 is incident separately on the near lens portion 16, the intermediate lens portion 17, and the distance lens portion 18, but the first light-shielding rib 28 and the second light-shielding rib 29 prevent the light from entering unnecessary areas. Specifically, when light is incident on the near lens portion 16 from the light source 12, the first light-shielding rib 28 and the second light-shielding rib 29 prevent the light from entering the intermediate lens portion 17 and the distance lens portion 18. Furthermore, when light is incident on the intermediate lens portion 17 from another light source 12, the first light-shielding rib 28 and the second light-shielding rib 29 prevent the light from entering the near lens portion 16 and the distance lens portion 18. Furthermore, when light is incident on the distance lens portion 18 from yet another light source 12, the second light-shielding rib 29 prevents the light from entering the near lens portion 16 and the intermediate lens portion 17.

[0031] The projection lens 10 is disposed in front of the shade 9, and is attached to the heat sink 7, for example, by fastening the attachment portion 27 together with the connecting plate portion 15 of the shade 9 and the base plate 8. When the projection lens 10 is attached to the heat sink 7, the centers of the near lens portion 16, the intermediate lens portion 17, and the far lens portion 18 are each positioned in front of the transmission hole 13a formed in the shade 9.

[0032] In the drawing lamp unit 6 configured as described above, when light is emitted from each of the light sources 12, the emitted light passes through the transmission hole 13a of the shade 9 and enters the near lens portion 16, the intermediate lens portion 17, and the far lens portion 18 of the projection lens 10 (see FIG. 6). At this time, light is emitted from the three light sources 12 simultaneously, for example.

[0033] Light A incident on the near-field lens section 16 is controlled by the near-field lens section 16, emitted diagonally downward and forward, transmitted through the cover 3, and drawn on the road surface 200 as a drawing pattern 30A at the position closest to the vehicle 100 (see Figures 6 and 7).

[0034] The light B incident on the intermediate lens section 17 is controlled by the intermediate lens section 17, and is emitted upward more than the light emitted from the near lens section 16, passes through the cover 3, and is irradiated and drawn on the road surface 200 as a drawing pattern 30B at the second closest position to the vehicle 100.

[0035] The light C incident on the distance lens section 18 is controlled by the distance lens section 18, emitted upwards above the light emitted from the intermediate lens section 17, transmitted through the cover 3, and irradiated, and drawn on the road surface 200 as a drawing pattern 30C at the position farthest from the vehicle 100.

[0036] The light A, the light B, and the light C are emitted as, for example, the light of a turn signal lamp. However, in the vehicle lamp 1, the light A, the light B, and the light C may be emitted as, for example, the light of a backup lamp.

[0037] As described above, light C is emitted from the distance lens section 18, which is positioned below the near lens section 16 and the intermediate lens section 17, above light A and light B emitted from the near lens section 16 and the intermediate lens section 17, respectively. Also, light A and light B are emitted from the near lens section 16 and the intermediate lens section 17, which are positioned above the far lens section 18, below light C emitted from the far lens section 18, and light B is emitted from the intermediate lens sections 17, which are aligned left and right with the near lens section 16, above light A emitted from the near lens section 16.

[0038] Therefore, compared to when the distance lens portion 18 is positioned above the near lens portion 16 and the intermediate lens portion 17, the illumination area R of the light A, light B, and light C emitted from the vehicle lamp 1 to the outside is smaller (see FIG. 6), and the space around the illumination area R in the vehicle lamp 1 is larger, making it possible to increase the arrangement space for various structures to be arranged in the lamp chamber 5. Furthermore, it is possible to effectively utilize the arrangement space for various structures, and therefore it is possible to make the vehicle lamp 1 more compact.

[0039] By reducing the illuminated area R, for example, when the cover 3 is formed of a transparent transmissive portion and a non-transmissive portion that is black or the like, it is possible to reduce the size of the transmissive portion that corresponds to the illuminated area R. By reducing the size of the transmissive portion of the cover 3, it is possible to reduce the size of the vehicle lamp 1 and also makes it difficult to see the internal structure when the vehicle lamp 1 is viewed from the outside.

[0040] Furthermore, by reducing the illumination area R, it is possible to reduce the size of the opening, for example, even when the illumination area R corresponds to the opening of an extension or the like arranged in the lamp chamber 5. By reducing the size of the opening of the extension or the like, it is possible to reduce the size of the vehicle lamp 1 and also makes it difficult to see the internal structure when the vehicle lamp 1 is viewed from the outside.

[0041] As described above, in the vehicle lighting fixture 1, the far-distance lens section 18 of the lens sections of the projection lens 10 is positioned at the lowest, and the near-distance lens section 16 and the intermediate-distance lens section 17 are positioned side by side above the far-distance lens section 18.

[0042] Therefore, the far-distance lens section 18, which emits light furthest upward, is positioned at the lowest, and the near-distance lens section 16 and the intermediate lens section 17, which emit light downward from the far-distance lens section 18, are positioned side by side above the far-distance lens section 18, so that the projection lens 10 does not become excessively long in either the vertical or horizontal direction, and the vehicle lamp 1 can be made smaller while maintaining a good balance in the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0043] Furthermore, since the lower edge 16b of the near lens portion 16 is positioned above the lower edge 17b of the intermediate lens portion 17, the vertical distance between the near lens portion 16 and the far lens portion 18 is larger, so that the light emitted from the near lens portion 16 does not interfere with the far lens portion 18, allowing the light emitted from the near lens portion 16 to form an appropriate drawing pattern and preventing the generation of dazzling light due to the light emitted from the near lens portion 16.

[0044] Furthermore, the projection lens 10 is provided with a first light-shielding rib 28 and a second light-shielding rib 29 that protrude toward the light source 12 between the lens portions.

[0045] Therefore, the first light-shielding rib 28 and the second light-shielding rib 29 block the light emitted from the light source 12 toward between the lens sections, so that the light emitted from each lens section can form the appropriate drawing pattern and prevent the occurrence of dazzling light.

[0046] Furthermore, the projection lens 10 is provided with two mounting portions 27, and the two mounting portions 27 are provided at both the upper and lower ends of the projection lens 10.

[0047] Therefore, since the two mounting portions 27 that are attached to other members are positioned above and below the multiple lens portions, the projection lens 10 can be made smaller in the left-right direction without interfering with the incidence of light from the light source 12 onto the lens portions.

[0048] Since there is a possibility that light leaks from portions of the projection lens 10 other than the exit surfaces 19, 21, and 23 when light is emitted from the light source 12, a diffusion treatment such as embossing may be applied to portions of the projection lens 10 other than the exit surfaces 19, 21, and 23. Specifically, the diffusion treatment may be applied to the upper surface 20 of the near lens portion 16, the upper surface 22 of the intermediate lens portion 17, the upper surface 24 of the far lens portion 18, and the lower surface 25 of the far lens portion 18.

[0049] In this way, by applying a diffusion treatment to the upper surfaces 20, 22, 24 and the lower surface 25 that are continuous with the exit surfaces 19, 21, 23, the light emitted from the upper surfaces 20, 22, 24 and the lower surface 25 is diffused by the diffusion treatment, so that the light emitted from each lens portion can form each appropriate drawing pattern and prevent the occurrence of dazzling light.

[0050] The above example shows a projection lens 10 in which the near lens section 16 and the intermediate lens section 17 are arranged side by side and positioned directly above the far lens section 18, but the projection lens 10 may also be provided as a projection lens 10A having the following configuration (see Figure 8).

[0051] The projection lens 10A has a near lens portion 16, an intermediate lens portion 17, and a far lens portion 18, and the near lens portion 16 and the intermediate lens portion 17 are positioned side by side above the far lens portion 18. The near lens portion 16 and the intermediate lens portion 17 are positioned laterally offset from the far lens portion 18 with a portion of the intermediate lens portion 17 positioned directly above the far lens portion 18.

[0052] In this case, if the center line in the left-right direction of the intermediate lens portion 17 is M1 and the center line in the left-right direction of the distance lens portion 18 is M2, the center line M2 is positioned outside the center line M1 in the left-right direction of the vehicle 100.

[0053] The configuration including such a projection lens 10A is suitable for realizing a state in which the light sources 12 are turned on simultaneously, as well as a sequential emission state in which the light sources 12 are turned on in sequence. In the sequential emission state, light is first emitted from the light source 12 corresponding to the near lens portion 16, then light is emitted from the light source 12 corresponding to the intermediate lens portion 17 while light is being emitted from the light source 12 corresponding to the near lens portion 16, and subsequently light is emitted from the light source 12 corresponding to the far lens portion 18 while light is being emitted from the light sources 12 corresponding to the near lens portion 16 and the intermediate lens portion 17. Thus, the light sources are turned on sequentially at regular intervals from the inside to the outside in the left-right direction of the vehicle 100.

[0054] As described above, by positioning the center line M2 of the distance lens unit 18 in the left-right direction further outward in the left-right direction of the vehicle 100 than the center line M1 of the intermediate lens unit 17 in the left-right direction, the center lines of the near lens unit 16, the intermediate lens unit 17, and the distance lens unit 18 in the left-right direction are positioned in that order from the inside to the outside of the vehicle 100. Therefore, a sequential emission state in which light is emitted in that order from the near lens unit 16, the intermediate lens unit 17, and the distance lens unit 18 can be properly achieved.

[0055] Furthermore, although the above example shows projection lenses 10 and 10A each having three lens sections, namely, a near lens section 16, an intermediate lens section 17, and a far lens section 18, the present invention can also be applied to a configuration having a projection lens having four or more lens sections (see Figure 9).

[0056] For example, it is possible to configure a projection lens 10B that is provided with four lens sections: a near lens section 16, a first intermediate lens section 17X, a second intermediate lens section 17Y, and a far lens section 18. In the projection lens 10B, the near lens section 16, the first intermediate lens section 17X, and the second intermediate lens section 17Y are positioned side by side in this order, and the far lens section 18 is positioned below the near lens section 16, the first intermediate lens section 17X, and the second intermediate lens section 17Y. In the projection lens 10B, light is emitted toward a position closer to the vehicle 100 in the order of the near lens section 16, the first intermediate lens section 17X, the second intermediate lens section 17Y, and the far lens section 18.

[0057] Even in a configuration using a projection lens 10B having such four lens portions, the projection lens 10B does not become excessively long in either the vertical or horizontal direction, and the vehicle lamp 1 can be made smaller while maintaining a good balance between the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0058] In addition, in the projection lens 10B, the combined width of the near lens section 16, the first intermediate lens section 17X, and the second intermediate lens section 17Y may be the same as or different from the width of the far lens section 18.

[0059] In addition, the projection lens 10B may be configured such that the first intermediate lens portion 17X and the second intermediate lens portion 17Y are aligned horizontally above the distance lens portion 18, and the near lens portion 16 is positioned above the first intermediate lens portion 17X and the second intermediate lens portion 17Y. Alternatively, the projection lens 10B may be configured such that the second intermediate lens portion 17Y is positioned above the distance lens portion 18, and the first intermediate lens portion 17X and the near lens portion 16 are aligned horizontally above the second intermediate lens portion 17Y.

[0060] Furthermore, even when a projection lens having five or more lens sections is used, the present invention can be applied by configuring the lens section for distance to be positioned at the bottom and at least two lens sections other than the lens section for distance to be positioned side by side.

[0061] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle lamp 9 Shade 10 Projection lens 12 Light source 13a Transmission hole 16 Near lens portion 16b Lower edge 17 Intermediate lens portion 17b Lower edge 18 Far lens portion 19 Exit surface 20 Upper surface 21 Exit surface 22 Upper surface 23 Exit surface 24 Upper surface 25 Lower surface 27 Mounting portion 28 First light-shielding rib 29 Second light-shielding rib 30A Drawing pattern 30B Drawing pattern 30C Drawing pattern 10A Projection lens M1 Center line M2 Center line 10B Projection lens

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp comprising: a plurality of light sources each emitting light; a shade having a plurality of transmission holes through which the light emitted from the plurality of light sources passes; and a projection lens having a plurality of lens sections into which the light transmitted through the transmission holes is incident, and emitting light for drawing toward a road surface, wherein at least three of the lens sections are provided, and the plurality of lens sections include a near-field lens section that emits light toward a position closest to the vehicle and a far-field lens section that emits light toward a position farthest from the vehicle, and among the plurality of lens sections, the far-field lens section is positioned at the bottom, and at least two of the lens sections other than the far-field lens section are positioned side by side above the far-field lens section.

2. A vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lens section includes an intermediate lens section whose light emission direction is between the direction of light emitted from the near field lens section and the direction of light emitted from the far field lens section, the near field lens section and the intermediate lens section are positioned side by side on the left and right, and the lower edge of the near field lens section is positioned above the lower edge of the intermediate lens section.

3. A vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lens section includes an intermediate lens section whose light emission direction is between the direction of light emitted from the near field lens section and the direction of light emitted from the far field lens section, the near field lens section and the intermediate lens section are positioned side by side on the left and right, the intermediate lens section is positioned outboard of the near field lens section in the left and right direction of the vehicle, and the centre line of the far field lens section in the left and right direction is positioned outboard of the centre line of the intermediate lens section in the left and right direction of the vehicle.

4. A vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said projection lens is provided with a light-shielding rib protruding towards said light source side between said lens portions.

5. A vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the lens portion is formed with an exit surface for emitting light to project a drawing pattern onto the road surface, and at least one of the upper and lower surfaces continuous with the exit surface is subjected to a diffusion treatment.

6. A vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the projection lens is provided with two mounting portions for mounting to another member, the two mounting portions being provided at both upper and lower ends of the projection lens.

Images