Vehicle headlight

Abstract

An optical unit (1) of a vehicle headlight comprises at least one first optical unit (10) and at least one second optical unit (20). The optical unit (1) of the vehicle headlight includes: a plurality of light sources (11, 21) arranged in an arrangement direction; lens components (12, 22) into which light from each light source enters; a first optical component (13) that outputs light output from the lens component (12) forward; and a second optical component (23) having a shape different from that of the first optical component (13) that outputs light output from the lens component (22) forward. The first optical unit (10) is composed of the lens component (12) and the first optical component (13). The second optical unit (20) is composed of the lens component (22) and the second optical component (23). The first optical unit (10) and the second optical unit (20) emit mutually different light distribution patterns.

Description

Vehicle headlights

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle headlamp.

[0002] A vehicle headlight configured to form a low-beam light distribution pattern is known, as disclosed in Patent Document 1. A vehicle headlight configured to form a high-beam light distribution pattern is also known, as disclosed in Patent Document 2.

[0003] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-095481 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2013-242996

[0004] Meanwhile, a vehicle headlamp that forms both a low beam light distribution pattern and a high beam light distribution pattern has been proposed. If a plurality of optical units are provided for each light distribution pattern, costs tend to increase accordingly.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle headlamp that can be mass-produced, has a simple structure, and has a high luminous flux utilization rate.

[0006] A vehicle headlamp according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a vehicle headlamp comprising one or more first optical units and one or more second optical units, and including: a plurality of light sources arranged in an arrangement direction; a lens component into which light from each of the light sources is incident; a first optical component that emits light emitted from a part of the lens component forward; and a second optical component having a shape different from that of the first optical component that emits light emitted from another part of the lens component forward, wherein the first optical unit is composed of the lens component and the first optical component, and the second optical unit is composed of the lens component and the second optical component, and the first optical unit and the second optical unit emit light distribution patterns that are different from each other.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, since both the first optical unit and the second optical unit have a common component, namely a lens component, it is possible to reduce component procurement costs. Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, the lens component that receives light from the light source and the first optical component and the second optical component that receive light from the lens component are separate components. Therefore, compared to when the lens component, the first optical component, and the second optical component are combined into a single optical component, it is easier to reduce component procurement costs and facilitate optical design.

[0008] A vehicle headlamp according to another aspect of the present disclosure is a vehicle headlamp including one or more first optical units and one or more second optical units, and has: a plurality of light sources arranged in an arrangement direction; a first lens component onto which light from some of the plurality of light sources is incident; a second lens component onto which light from another portion of the plurality of light sources is incident and which has a shape different from that of the first lens component; and an optical component that emits light emitted from the first lens component and the second lens component forward, wherein the first optical unit constituted by the first lens component and the optical component and the second optical unit constituted by the second lens component and the optical component emit light distribution patterns that are different from each other.

[0009] According to the present disclosure, since both the first optical unit and the second optical unit have a common optical component, the procurement costs of the components can be reduced. Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, the first and second lens components that receive light from the light source and the optical components that receive light from the first and second lens components are separate components. Therefore, compared to when the first lens component, the second lens component, and the optical component are combined into a single optical component, the procurement costs of the components can be reduced and optical design can be simplified.

[0010] According to the present disclosure, a vehicle headlamp is provided that can be mass-produced, has a simple structure, and has a high luminous flux utilization rate.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an optical unit of a vehicle headlamp according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating how light emitted from a first light source is emitted from an emission surface of a first optical component. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating how light emitted from a second light source is emitted from an emission surface of a second optical component. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an optical unit of a vehicle headlamp according to a modified example.

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. For the sake of convenience, descriptions of components having the same reference numerals as those already described in the description of the embodiments will be omitted. Furthermore, for the sake of convenience, the dimensions of each component shown in the drawings may differ from the actual dimensions of each component.

[0013] Furthermore, in the description of this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the terms "left-right direction," "up-down direction," and "front-rear direction" may be referred to as appropriate. These directions are relative directions set for the optical unit 1 of the vehicle headlight illustrated in FIG. 1 . Here, the "left-right direction" includes the "left direction" and the "right direction," and is also the width direction of the vehicle on which the optical unit 1 of the vehicle headlight is mounted. The "up-down direction" includes the "upward direction" and the "downward direction." The "front-rear direction" includes the "forward direction" and the "rearward direction." The front-rear direction is a direction perpendicular to the left-right direction and the up-down direction. In this embodiment, the emission direction of the first light source 11 and the second light source 21, which will be described later, is defined as forward. Note that in each drawing, the symbol U indicates the upward direction. The symbol D indicates the downward direction. The symbol F indicates the forward direction. The symbol B indicates the rearward direction. The symbol L indicates the leftward direction. The symbol R indicates the rightward direction. The left-right direction is an example of the horizontal direction.

[0014] An optical unit 1 of a vehicle headlamp according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The optical unit 1 is configured to irradiate light emitted from a light source (described later) forward. The light irradiated forward can form a light distribution pattern in front of the vehicle on which the optical unit 1 is mounted. The light distribution pattern is, for example, a low-beam light distribution pattern.

[0015] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an optical unit 1 for a vehicle headlamp according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the optical unit 1 for a vehicle headlamp includes one or more first optical units 10 and one or more second optical units 20.

[0016] More specifically, the optical unit 1 of the vehicle headlamp has a first light source 11, a second light source 21, a first lens component 12, a second lens component 22, a first optical component 13, and a second optical component 23. The first optical unit 10 is made up of the first lens component 12 and the first optical component 13. The second optical unit 20 is made up of the second lens component 22 and the second optical component 23. Details of each component will be described below.

[0017] The first light source 11 and the second light source 21 are arranged in an arrangement direction D1. The first light source 11 and the second light source 21 may be arranged in a row along the arrangement direction D1, for example. In this embodiment, the arrangement direction D1 is the left-right direction. Both the first light source 11 and the second light source 21 are, for example, LED (Light Emitting Diode) elements or LD (Laser Diode) elements. In the illustrated example, the first light source 11 and the second light source 21 are arranged to irradiate light forward. The emission direction of the first light source 11 and the emission direction of the second light source 21 are both parallel.

[0018] The first lens component 12 is provided in front of the first light source 11. The first lens component 12 is configured to receive light from the first light source 11. An incident surface 121 of the first lens component 12 is provided to face the first light source 11. An exit surface 122 of the first lens component 12 is provided to face the first optical component 13.

[0019] The second lens component 22 is provided in front of the second light source 21. The second lens component 22 is configured to receive light from the second light source 21. An incident surface 221 of the second lens component 22 is provided to face the second light source 21. An exit surface 222 of the second lens component 22 is provided to face the second optical component 23.

[0020] The first lens component 12 and the second lens component 22 may be arranged in a line along the arrangement direction D1. The first lens component 12 and the second lens component 22 have the same shape. The first lens component 12 and the second lens component 22 are, for example, TIR (Total Internal Reflection) lenses.

[0021] The first optical component 13 is provided in front of the first lens component 12. The first optical component 13 is configured to emit light emitted from the first lens component 12 forward. An incident surface 131 of the first optical component 13 is provided to face the first lens component 12. The incident surface 131 of the first optical component 13 has, for example, a convex surface that is convex toward the first lens component 12. An exit surface 132 of the first optical component 13 is provided to face forward. The light emitted from the first lens component 12 is an example of light emitted from a part of a lens component.

[0022] The second optical component 23 is provided in front of the second lens component 22. The second optical component 23 is configured to emit light emitted from the second lens component 22 forward. An incident surface 231 of the second optical component 23 is provided to face the second lens component 22. The incident surface 231 of the second optical component 23 has, for example, a flat surface facing the second lens component 22. An exit surface 232 of the second optical component 23 is provided to face forward. The light emitted from the second lens component 22 is an example of light emitted from another part of a lens component.

[0023] The shape of the second optical component 23 is different from the shape of the first optical component 13 .

[0024] The exit surface 132 of the first optical component 13 is divided into a plurality of lens surfaces. More specifically, the exit surface 132 of the first optical component 13 has a plurality of cylindrical lens surfaces arranged in the left-right direction, with axes extending in the up-down direction. Each cylindrical lens surface is a convex lens surface that is divided into rectangular shapes and is convex toward the front. Although each of the plurality of cylindrical lens surfaces is too small to be shown in the figure, the plurality of cylindrical lens surfaces are arranged in a matrix on the exit surface 132.

[0025] The shape of the exit surface 232 of the second optical component 23 has a single lens surface. The exit surface 232 of the second optical component 23 has, for example, a convex surface that is convex toward the front. In this way, the shape of the exit surface 232 of the second optical component 23 and the shape of the exit surface 132 of the first optical component 13 are different.

[0026] Next, the way light travels will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the manner in which light emitted from first light source 11 is emitted from emission surface 132 of first optical component 13. For ease of explanation, a portion of the light emitted from first light source 11 that passes through first lens component 12 is referred to as light L1. Furthermore, Figure 2 illustrates a portion of the light that passes through first lens component 12, and does not illustrate all light rays.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2 , light L1 emitted from the first light source 11 is incident on the incident surface 121 of the first lens component 12. The light L1 is refracted at the incident surface 121 and passes through the inside of the first lens component 12. The light L1 may be guided directly from the incident surface 121 to the exit surface 122, or may be reflected from the incident surface 121 by a reflective surface provided on a side of the first lens component 12 and indirectly guided to the exit surface 122. In this manner, the light L1 is emitted from the exit surface 122 of the first lens component 12 to the first optical component 13. At this time, the light L1 is condensed by the exit surface 122 of the first lens component 12 to a first focal point F1, which is the focal point of the exit surface 122 of the first lens component 12 and the focal point of the incident surface 131 of the first optical component 13.

[0028] The light L1 condensed at the first focal point F1 is incident on the incident surface 131 of the first optical component 13. The light L1 is refracted at the incident surface 131, becomes parallel light, passes through the inside of the first optical component 13, and is guided to the exit surface 132.

[0029] The exit surface 132 of the first optical component 13 is divided into a plurality of cylindrical lens surfaces. Therefore, the light L1 is refracted by each of the plurality of cylindrical lens surfaces. In this way, the light L1 refracted by each lens surface is emitted forward from the exit surface 132 of the first optical component 13 so as to be diffused in the left-right direction.

[0030] 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the manner in which light emitted from the second light source 21 is emitted from the emission surface 232 of the second optical component 23. For ease of explanation, a portion of the light emitted from the second light source 21 that passes through the second lens component 22 is referred to as light L2. Furthermore, FIG. 3 illustrates a portion of the light that passes through the second lens component 22, and does not illustrate all of the light rays.

[0031] 3 , light L2 emitted from second light source 21 is incident on incident surface 221 of second lens component 22. That is, light L2 is refracted at incident surface 221 and passes through the interior of second lens component 22. Light L2 may be guided directly from incident surface 221 to exit surface 222, or may be reflected from incident surface 221 by a reflecting surface provided on a side of second lens component 22 and indirectly guided to exit surface 222.

[0032] In this way, since the first lens component 12 and the second lens component 22 have the same shape, the light L2 passes through the second lens component 22 in the same way as the light L1 passes through the first lens component 12.

[0033] In this way, the light L2 is emitted from the exit surface 222 of the second lens component 22 to the second optical component 23. At this time, the light L2 is condensed by the exit surface 222 of the second lens component 22 to a second focal point F2, which is the focal point of the exit surface 222 of the second lens component 22 and the focal point of the incident surface 231 of the second optical component 23.

[0034] The light L2 condensed at the second focal point F2 is incident on the incident surface 231 of the second optical component 23. The light L2 passes through the planar incident surface 231, inside the second optical component 23, and is guided to the exit surface 232.

[0035] Here, the exit surface 232 of the second optical component 23 has a single lens surface. Therefore, the light L2 is refracted by this single lens surface. The light L2 refracted by the single lens surface is emitted forward from the exit surface 232 of the second optical component 23. In this way, the light L2 emitted from the exit surface 232 of the second optical component 23 is emitted so as to form a light distribution pattern different from the light distribution pattern formed by the light L1 emitted from the exit surface 132 of the first optical component 13.

[0036] As described above, according to this embodiment, the optical unit 1 of a vehicle headlamp includes one or more first optical units 10 and one or more second optical units. The optical unit 1 includes a first light source 11, a second light source 21, a first lens component 12, a second lens component 22, a first optical component 13, and a second optical component 23. The first light source 11 and the second light source 21 are arranged in an arrangement direction D1. The first lens component 12 receives light L1 from the first light source 11. The second lens component 22 receives light L2 from the second light source 21. The first optical component 13 emits light L1 emitted from the first lens component 12 forward. The second optical component 23 emits light L2 emitted from the second lens component 22 forward. The shape of the second optical component 23 is different from the shape of the first optical component 13. The first optical unit 10 is composed of the first lens component 12 and the first optical component 13. The second optical unit 20 is composed of a second lens component 22 and a second optical component 23. The first optical unit 10 and the second optical unit 20 emit different light distribution patterns.

[0037] As described above, according to this embodiment, the first lens component 12 of the first optical unit 10 and the second lens component 22 of the second optical unit 20 are common components. Therefore, even when forming a plurality of light distribution patterns, it is sufficient to prepare a single type of lens component, thereby reducing the procurement cost of components.

[0038] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, first lens component 12 that receives light L1 from first light source 11 and first optical component 13 that receives light L1 from first lens component 12 are separate components. Therefore, compared to when first lens component 12 and first optical component 13 are combined into a single optical component, component procurement costs are easier to reduce and optical design is simplified. Similarly, second lens component 22 that receives light L2 from second light source 21 and second optical component 23 that receives light L2 from second lens component 22 are separate components. Therefore, compared to when second lens component 22 and second optical component 23 are combined into a single optical component, component procurement costs are easier to reduce and optical design is simplified.

[0039] The exit surface 132 of the first optical component 13 is divided into a plurality of lens surfaces. Since the light L1 is refracted by each of the plurality of lens surfaces, the light L1 is emitted from the exit surface 132 of the first optical component 13 in a diffusive manner forward, and a relatively wide light distribution pattern can be formed.

[0040] The exit surface 232 of the second optical component 23 has a single lens surface. The light L2 is refracted by this single lens surface, and the light L2 is emitted forward from the exit surface 232 of the second optical component 23 as parallel light, thereby forming a relatively bright light distribution pattern.

[0041] In the first optical unit 10, the focal point of the exit surface 122 of the first lens component 12 and the focal point of the entrance surface 131 of the first optical component 13 coincide (first focal point F1). On the other hand, in the second optical unit 20, the focal point of the exit surface 222 of the second lens component 22 coincides (second focal point) with the focal point of the entrance surface 231 of the second optical component 23. This configuration makes it easy to avoid so-called crosstalk, in which light from one optical unit affects the other optical system unit.

[0042] In this embodiment, the difference between the shapes of the first optical component 13 and the second optical component 23 is that the shapes of the incident surfaces of the optical components are different from each other and that the shapes of the exit surfaces of the optical components are different from each other, but this is not limited to this. Only the shapes of the exit surfaces of the optical components may be different from each other. Only the shapes of the incident surfaces of the optical components may be different from each other. The light distribution pattern formed by the first optical unit 10 and the optical pattern formed by the second optical unit 20 can also be made different by only the shape of the exit surface or the shape of the entrance surface.

[0043] The first optical components 13 and the second optical components 23 may be arranged alternately in the arrangement direction D1. For example, in the arrangement direction D1, a second optical component 23 may be provided to the right of a first optical component 13, and another first optical component 13 may be provided to the right of this second optical component 23. Alternatively, in the arrangement direction D1, a first optical component 13 may be provided to the right of the second optical component 23, and another second optical component 23 may be provided to the right of this first optical component 13.

[0044] By using such an arrangement, the design of the light emitting surface of the vehicle headlamp can be improved.

[0045] The second optical unit 20 may further include a cutoff line forming portion 24 (FIGS. 1 and 3). The cutoff line forming portion 24 is configured to form a cutoff line of the low beam light distribution pattern. The cutoff line forming portion 24 may be provided between the second lens component 22 and the second optical component 23, near the second focal point F2.

[0046] A portion of the light L2 condensed at the second focal point F2 is blocked by the cutoff line forming portion 24, and another portion of the light L2 is incident on the incident surface 231 of the second optical component 23 without being blocked by the cutoff line forming portion 24. In this way, the cutoff line forming portion 24 has an area that transmits the light L2 and an area that does not transmit the light L2, and therefore can form a cutoff line between the bright portion and the dark portion of the low beam distribution pattern.

[0047] The optical unit 1 of the vehicle headlamp may include a third optical unit 30 in addition to the first optical unit 10 and the second optical unit 20 (FIG. 1).

[0048] More specifically, the optical unit 1 for the vehicle headlamp further includes a third light source 31, a third lens component 32, and a third optical component 33. The third optical unit 30 is composed of the third lens component 32 and the third optical component 33. The configuration of the third light source 31 is similar to the configuration of the first light source 11 or the second light source 21, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. The configuration of the third lens component is similar to the configuration of the first lens component 12 or the second lens component 22, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0049] The third optical component 33 is configured to emit light emitted from the third lens component 32 forward. An incident surface 331 of the third optical component 33 is provided to face the third lens component 32. The incident surface 331 of the third optical component 33 has, for example, a convex surface that is convex toward the third lens component 32. An exit surface 332 of the third optical component 33 is provided to face forward. The light emitted from the third lens component 32 is an example of light emitted from a part of a lens component.

[0050] The exit surface 332 of the third optical component 33 is divided into a plurality of lens surfaces. More specifically, the exit surface 332 of the third optical component 33 has a plurality of cylindrical lens surfaces arranged in the left-right direction, with axes extending in the up-down direction. Each cylindrical lens surface is a convex lens surface that is divided into rectangular shapes and is convex toward the front. Although each of the plurality of cylindrical lens surfaces is too small to be shown in the figure, the plurality of cylindrical lens surfaces are arranged in a matrix on the exit surface 332.

[0051] The way in which light emitted from the third light source 31 through the exit surface 332 of the third optical component 33 travels is similar to the way in which light emitted from the first light source 11 through the exit surface 132 of the first optical component 13 travels, so explanation is omitted.

[0052] The light exit surface 332 of the third optical component 33 is divided into a plurality of lens surfaces. Therefore, the light emitted from the third light source 31 is refracted by each of the plurality of lens surfaces and is emitted forward from the light exit surface 332 of the third optical component 33 so as to be diffused in the left-right direction.

[0053] In this way, since the third optical unit 30 is provided, it is possible to form another light distribution pattern in addition to the light distribution pattern formed by the first optical unit 10 and the second optical unit 20. For example, the first optical unit 10 and the second optical unit 20 can form a low-beam light distribution pattern, and the third optical unit 30 can form a high-beam light distribution pattern.

[0054] (Modification) An optical unit 1A for a vehicle headlamp according to a modification will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an optical unit 1A for a vehicle headlamp according to a modification. In the configuration shown in Fig. 4, the same components as those shown in Fig. 1 are assigned the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted.

[0055] In the optical unit 1 for a vehicle headlamp shown in Fig. 1, the first lens component 12 of the first optical unit 10 and the second lens component 22 of the second optical unit 20 are common components. On the other hand, in the optical unit 1A for a vehicle headlamp shown in Fig. 4, the first optical component 13A of the first optical unit 10A and the second optical component 23A of the second optical unit 20A are common components. Details will be described below.

[0056] 4, an optical unit 1A according to a modified example includes one or more first optical units 10A and one or more second optical units 20A. The optical unit 1A may further include a third optical unit 30A. The configurations of the first optical component 13A of the first optical unit 10A and the third optical component 33A of the third optical unit 30A are similar to the configuration of the second optical component 23A of the second optical unit 20A. The first optical component 13A, the second optical component 23A, and the third optical component 33A may be integrally molded optical components.

[0057] The second lens component 22A of the second optical unit 20A is configured to receive light L2 from the second light source 21 and emit light L2 toward the second optical component 23A. The shape of the second lens component 22A is different from the shape of the first lens component 12 or the shape of the third lens component 32. The second lens component 22A is, for example, a lens having a bullet shape that is convex forward.

[0058] Light L2 emitted from second light source 21 is incident on incident surface 221 of second lens component 22A and passes through the interior of second lens component 22A. Light L2 is then refracted at exit surface 222, focused at second focal point F2, and emitted forward from exit surface 232 of second optical component 23A.

[0059] As described above, according to this modification, the optical unit 1A of the vehicle headlamp includes one or more first optical units 10A and one or more second optical units 20A. The optical unit 1A includes a first light source 11, a second light source 21, a first lens component 12, a second lens component 22A, a first optical component 13A, and a second optical component 23A. The first light source 11 and the second light source 21 are arranged in an arrangement direction D1. Light L1 from the first light source 11 is incident on the first lens component 12. Light L2 from the second light source 21 is incident on the second lens component 22A. The shape of the second lens component 22A is different from the shape of the first lens component 12. The first optical component 13A emits light L1 emitted from the first lens component 12 forward. The second optical component 23A emits light L2 emitted from the second lens component 22A forward. The first optical unit 10A is composed of a first lens component 12 and a first optical component 13A. The second optical unit 20A is composed of a second lens component 22A and a second optical component 23A. The first optical unit 10A and the second optical unit 20A emit light with different light distribution patterns.

[0060] According to this modification, the first optical component 13A of the first optical unit 10A and the second optical component 23A of the second optical unit 20A are common components, so that even when forming multiple light distribution patterns, it is sufficient to prepare a single type of optical component, thereby reducing the procurement cost of components.

[0061] Furthermore, according to this modification, the first lens component 12 and the first optical component 13A are separate components. Therefore, compared to combining the first lens component 12 and the first optical component 13A into a single optical component, component procurement costs can be reduced and optical design can be simplified. Similarly, the second lens component 22A and the second optical component 23A are separate components. Therefore, compared to combining the second lens component 22A and the second optical component 23A into a single optical component, component procurement costs can be reduced and optical design can be simplified.

[0062] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it goes without saying that the technical scope of the present disclosure should not be interpreted as being limited by the description of the present embodiments. The present embodiments are merely examples, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications of the embodiments are possible within the scope of the disclosure described in the claims. The technical scope of the present disclosure should be determined based on the scope of the disclosure described in the claims and its equivalents.

[0063] The configurations described in the following items also constitute part of the present disclosure. Item 1: A vehicle headlamp including one or more first optical units and one or more second optical units, the vehicle headlamp having a plurality of light sources arranged in an arrangement direction; a lens component into which light from each of the light sources is incident; a first optical component that outputs light emitted from a portion of the lens component forward; and a second optical component that outputs light emitted from another portion of the lens component forward and has a shape different from that of the first optical component, wherein the first optical unit is composed of the lens component and the first optical component, and the second optical unit is composed of the lens component and the second optical component, and the first optical unit and the second optical unit emit light distribution patterns that are different from each other. Item 2: The vehicle headlamp according to Item 1, wherein the first optical components and the second optical components are arranged alternately in the arrangement direction. Item 3: The vehicle headlamp according to Item 1 or 2, wherein an exit surface of the first optical component is divided into a plurality of lens surfaces. Item 4: The vehicle headlamp according to any one of Items 1 to 3, wherein the exit surface of the second optical component has a single lens surface. Item 5: The vehicle headlamp according to any one of Items 1 to 4, further comprising a third optical unit, and a third optical component that causes light emitted from another portion of the lens component to exit forward, the third optical component being different from the first optical component and the second optical component, and the third optical unit being composed of the lens component and the third optical component. Item 6: A vehicle headlamp including one or more first optical units and one or more second optical units, the vehicle headlamp having: a plurality of light sources arranged in an arrangement direction; a first lens component onto which light from some of the plurality of light sources is incident; a second lens component onto which light from another portion of the plurality of light sources is incident and which has a shape different from that of the first lens component; and an optical component that emits light emitted from the first lens component and the second lens component forward, wherein the first optical unit constituted by the first lens component and the optical component, and the second optical unit constituted by the second lens component and the optical component, emit light distribution patterns different from each other.

[0064] This application claims priority based on Japanese Application No. 2024-014642 filed on February 2, 2024, and incorporates by reference all of the contents of the aforementioned Japanese application.

Claims

1. A vehicle headlamp comprising one or more first optical units and one or more second optical units, the vehicle headlamp having: a plurality of light sources arranged in an arrangement direction; a lens component into which light from each of the light sources is incident; a first optical component that emits light emitted from a part of the lens component forward; and a second optical component that emits light emitted from another part of the lens component forward and has a different shape from the first optical component, wherein the first optical unit is composed of the lens component and the first optical component, and the second optical unit is composed of the lens component and the second optical component, and the first optical unit and the second optical unit emit light distribution patterns that are different from each other.

2. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the first optical components and the second optical components are arranged alternately in the arrangement direction.

3. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the light exit surface of the first optical component is divided into a plurality of lens surfaces.

4. A vehicle headlamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the exit surface of the second optical component has a single lens surface.

5. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, further comprising a third optical unit, and a third optical component different from the first optical component and the second optical component, which causes light emitted from another part of the lens component to be emitted forward, the third optical unit being composed of the lens component and the third optical component.

6. A vehicle headlamp including one or more first optical units and one or more second optical units, comprising: a plurality of light sources arranged in an arrangement direction; a first lens component onto which light from some of the plurality of light sources is incident; a second lens component onto which light from another portion of the plurality of light sources is incident and which has a shape different from that of the first lens component; and an optical component that emits light emitted from the first lens component and the second lens component forward, wherein the first optical unit constituted by the first lens component and the optical component, and the second optical unit constituted by the second lens component and the optical component, emit light distribution patterns which are different from each other.

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