Vehicle lamp

Abstract

Provided is a vehicle lamp configured to form a light distribution pattern by using a condenser lens, and capable of suppressing brightening of a location different from that of the light distribution pattern. A vehicle lamp (10) comprises: a condenser lens (12) that collects light from a light source (21); and a projection lens (13) that projects the light collected by the condenser lens (12) and forms a light distribution pattern (HP) that illuminates an area to the front of the vehicle. A condensing emission surface (32) of the condenser lens (12) is composed of a first emission surface part (36) including a projection optical axis (Lp), and a second emission surface part (37) positioned above the first emission surface part (36). The first emission surface part (36) emits light from the light source (21) toward the projection lens (13), and the second emission surface part (37) emits light from the light source (21) to an area above the projection lens (13).

Description

Vehicle lighting fixtures

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

[0002] A vehicle lamp is considered to form a desired light distribution pattern by concentrating light from a light source using a concentrating lens, making the light incident on a projection lens, and projecting the light using the projection lens (see, for example, Patent Document 1). By using a concentrating lens and a projection lens, this vehicle lamp is made compact while increasing the utilization efficiency of light from the light source.

[0003] JP 2018-120834 A

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned vehicle lamps, there is a risk that part of the light from the light source passes through the condenser lens and travels in an unintended direction to enter the projection lens and be projected by the projection lens. Such light will brighten areas that are different from the light distribution pattern, which may cause a sense of discomfort to viewers.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a vehicle lamp that uses a focusing lens and a projection lens to form a light distribution pattern, and that can prevent areas that differ from the light distribution pattern from being brightened.

[0006] The vehicle lamp of the present disclosure comprises a collecting lens that collects light from a light source, and a projection lens that projects the light collected by the collecting lens to form a light distribution pattern that illuminates the area ahead of the vehicle, wherein the collecting and emitting surface of the collecting lens has a first emitting surface portion that includes a projection optical axis, and a second emitting surface portion that is located above the first emitting surface portion, and the first emitting surface portion emits light from the light source toward the projection lens, and the second emitting surface portion emits light from the light source toward above the projection lens.

[0007] According to the vehicle lamp of the present disclosure, a light distribution pattern is formed using a condenser lens and a projection lens, and it is possible to prevent areas that do not conform to the light distribution pattern from being brightened.

[0008] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle lamp according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a cross section taken along line II shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing how light from a light source passes through a condenser lens and is projected by a projection lens in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the setting of the condensing entrance surface of the condenser lens. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a driving light distribution pattern formed by a vehicle lamp on a screen where a horizontal line and a vertical line intersect at the center position on the projection optical axis. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the issues with a vehicle lamp as a comparative example.

[0009] A first embodiment of a vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] A vehicle lamp 10 according to a first embodiment of a vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 . The vehicle lamp 10 according to the first embodiment is used as a headlamp device for a vehicle such as an automobile. The vehicle lamp 10 is provided in a lamp chamber formed by a lamp housing, the open front end of which is covered by an outer lens, on both the left and right sides of the front of the vehicle. The vehicle lamp 10 is provided in the lamp chamber via an up-down optical axis adjustment mechanism and a left-right optical axis adjustment mechanism, and appropriately illuminates the area ahead of the vehicle. In the following description, in the vehicle lamp 10, the direction in which the vehicle travels is defined as the front-to-rear direction (referred to as Z in the drawings), the vertical direction when the front-to-rear direction is aligned with a horizontal plane is defined as the up-down direction (referred to as Y in the drawings), and the direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear and up-down directions (horizontal direction) is defined as the width direction (referred to as X in the drawings). These directions are defined as the front and rear in the front-to-rear direction, the top and bottom in the up-to-down direction, and the left and right in the width direction, as viewed from an occupant inside the vehicle. Here, the vehicle lamp 10 of Example 1 has basically the same configuration whether it is installed on the left side of the vehicle or the right side, but is inverted in the width direction, so the following explanation will be given using the vehicle lamp 10 installed on the right side.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the vehicle lamp 10 of the first embodiment includes a light source 11, a condenser lens 12, and a projection lens 13, constituting a lamp unit with a projection optical axis Lp extending along the longitudinal direction. The light source 11 is attached to a heat sink formed of, for example, a thermally conductive aluminum plate, aluminum die-cast, or resin. The heat sink may be provided with, for example, multiple heat dissipation fins, and may primarily dissipate heat generated by the light source 11 to the outside through the heat dissipation fins. The heat sink may also be configured as a mounting member to which the condenser lens 12 and the projection lens 13 are attached via a support member or the like.

[0012] The light source unit 11 includes twelve light sources 21 and a substrate 22 on which the light sources 21 are mounted. Each light source 21 is configured as a light-emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode). The light sources 21 are arranged at approximately equal intervals in the width direction. Since the vehicle lamp 10 of Example 1 is installed on the right side of the vehicle, the twelve light sources 21 are arranged by shifting them to the left. This makes it easy for the vehicle lamp 10 to form a driving light distribution pattern HP (see FIG. 5 ) by shifting it slightly to the right on the screen, as will be described later. Note that the number and arrangement of the light sources 21 may be set as appropriate and are not limited to the configuration of Example 1.

[0013] The substrate 22 is a plate-like aluminum substrate. The substrate 22 may be made of a resin material such as a glass epoxy substrate, or may be made of other materials. The substrate 22 is provided with a wiring pattern and connector terminals that electrically connect the twelve light sources 21. The substrate 22 receives an appropriate supply of power from a lighting control circuit via the connector terminals to appropriately light up each light source 21.

[0014] The condenser lenses 12 are provided corresponding to the 12 light sources 21 of the light source unit 11, and are molded articles made of a transparent resin material. The condenser lenses 12 are optical lenses that condense light emitted from each light source 21 and direct the light toward the projection lens 13, and cooperate with the projection lens 13 to form a driving light distribution pattern HP (see FIG. 5 ) as a light distribution pattern. The condenser lenses 12 are elongated in the width direction, and allow light emitted from each light source 21 to enter through a condensing incident surface 31 and exit through a condensing exit surface 32.

[0015] The light-collecting incidence surface 31 is a surface that extends in the same shape in the width direction, i.e., a surface that has the same shape at any position in the width direction. The light-collecting incidence surface 31 has an upper concave portion 33, a convex portion 34, and a lower concave portion 35. The upper concave portion 33 is curved to concave the light-collecting incidence surface 31 and extends from the upper end of the light-collecting incidence surface 31 to the convex portion 34. The convex portion 34 is curved and protrudes toward each light source 21, and is positioned opposite each light source 21 in the front-to-rear direction, connecting the upper concave portion 33 and the lower concave portion 35. The lower concave portion 35 is curved to concave the light-collecting incidence surface 31 and extends from the convex portion 34 to the lower end of the light-collecting incidence surface 31. The light-collecting incidence surface 31 has the above-mentioned configuration, allowing light emitted from each light source 21 to efficiently enter the condenser lens 12. When viewed in the front-rear direction, the light-collecting entrance surface 31 has the lower concave surface portion 35 positioned rearward, that is, closer to each light source 21, than the upper concave surface portion 33.

[0016] The light-collecting / emitting surface 32 is a convex surface that is based on a toroidal surface and protrudes toward the projection lens 13. The light-collecting / emitting surface 32 is curved so that the approximate center in the width direction protrudes most toward the front in the front-to-rear direction, and is curved so that the area slightly below the approximate center in the up-down direction protrudes most toward the front in the front-to-rear direction. The light-collecting / emitting surface 32 has a larger curvature in the up-down direction than in the width direction. The light-collecting / emitting surface 32 mainly collects light in the up-down direction, and also gently collects light in the width direction. The light-collecting / emitting surface 32 is composed of a first light-exiting surface portion 36 and a second light-exiting surface portion 37.

[0017] The first light exit surface 36 transmits light necessary for forming the driving light distribution pattern HP, among the light from each light source 21 incident through the light collecting incident surface 31, toward the projection lens 13. The first light exit surface 36 is optically configured to change the degree of light collection from the light collecting incident surface 31 depending on the position in the vertical direction so as to achieve a desired intensity distribution of the driving light distribution pattern HP to be formed, and to transmit the light to the projection lens 13. The first light exit surface 36 includes the projection optical axis Lp and has a large range from the lower end of the light collecting exit surface 32 to a position beyond the projection optical axis Lp, and in Example 1, this range is approximately two-thirds of the lower side. Note that the range of the first light exit surface 36 may be set as appropriate as long as it transmits light necessary for forming the driving light distribution pattern HP toward the projection lens 13, and is not limited to the configuration of Example 1.

[0018] The second light exit surface 37 causes light that is not necessary for forming the driving light distribution pattern HP, among the light from each light source 21 that is incident through the light collecting entrance surface 31, to travel above the projection lens 13. This second light exit surface 37 is located above the first light exit surface 36, i.e., in a range from the first light exit surface 36 to the upper end of the light collecting exit surface 32. Note that the range of the second light exit surface 37 may be set appropriately as long as it causes light that is not necessary for forming the driving light distribution pattern HP to travel above the projection lens 13, and is not limited to the configuration of Example 1.

[0019] In the first embodiment, the second light exit surface 37 is a convex surface that protrudes toward the projection lens 13 while being displaced rearward in the front-to-rear direction as it moves upward in the up-down direction. The curvature of the second light exit surface 37 is set within a range that refracts light incident from the light-collecting incident surface 31 but does not allow the light to proceed toward the projection lens 13. This is because, if the curvature of the second light exit surface 37 is increased, there is a possibility that light that is emitted from the light-collecting incident surface 31 and proceeds toward the second light exit surface 37 will be refracted toward the projection lens 13. As a result, the second light exit surface 37 can prevent light that is not necessary for forming the driving light distribution pattern HP from proceeding toward the projection lens 13 while reducing the dimensions of the collecting lens 12.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the projection lens 13 is provided in front of the condensing lens 12 in the front-rear direction. The projection lens 13 projects light emitted from the first emission surface portion 36 of the light-collecting and emitting surface 32 of the condensing lens 12 toward the front of the vehicle to form a desired light distribution pattern (a driving light distribution pattern HP (see FIG. 5 ) in the first embodiment). The projection lens 13 is a molded part made of a transparent resin material. The projection lens 13 is a convex lens centered near the projection optical axis Lp. A rear focal point 13f (see FIG. 2 ) of the projection lens 13 is set inside the condensing lens 12 when the light passes through the light-collecting and emitting surface 32 of the condensing lens 12. The projection lens 13 irradiates light from the condensing lens 12 (its first emission surface portion 36) to form an image on a focal plane Fp (meridional image plane) including the rear focal point 13f, and projects the image upside down onto a screen (see FIG. 5 ). The screen is formed such that a horizontal line H and a vertical line V intersect with the center position O of irradiation (the projection optical axis Lp of the vehicle lamp 10) as the origin.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 3 , when each light source 21 is turned on, the vehicle lamp 10 causes the light to travel from the light-collecting entrance surface 31 into the collecting lens 12 and exit from the light-collecting exit surface 32. Here, as shown in FIG. 4 , the optical characteristics of the collecting entrance surface 31 of the collecting lens 12 are set so that when the traveling direction of light incident inward from the collecting entrance surface 31 is extended rearward in the fore-and-aft direction, the traveling direction passes through a single point (Sv). Therefore, the collecting entrance surface 31 (collecting lens 12) is optically set to form a virtual light source Sv. The collecting entrance surface 31 is configured so that the lower concave portion 35 is located rearward of the upper concave portion 33, thereby positioning the virtual light source Sv above the actual light sources 21 in the vertical direction. As a result, the focusing entrance surface 31 can allow light from each light source 21 to enter the focusing lens 12 so that it travels downward rather than forward and backward, and can cause the light to travel to the first exit surface portion 36 on the focusing exit surface 32.

[0022] 3, the first light exit surface 36 emits light incident from the light-collecting incident surface 31, causing the light to travel toward substantially the entire projection incident surface 13a of the projection lens 13. At this time, the first light exit surface 36 changes the degree of light collection in the vertical direction depending on the position in the vertical direction, thereby forming a desired intensity distribution in the light distribution pattern HP for driving.

[0023] Furthermore, the condensing lens 12 allows light incident from the condensing incident surface 31, but traveling upward, to exit from the second exit surface 37. This second exit surface 37 allows the light incident from the condensing incident surface 31 to travel upward toward the projection lens 13 (projection incident surface 13a). In other words, the second exit surface 37 prevents light that enters the condensing lens 12 but does not travel to the first exit surface 36 from entering the projection lens 13 (projection incident surface 13a). As described above, this light that does not travel to the first exit surface 36 is not necessary for forming the driving light distribution pattern HP. This light reaches the retainer or frame that supports the condensing lens 12 and the projection lens 13, and is prevented from being reflected toward the projection lens 13 or from being emitted to the outside of the vehicle lamp 10.

[0024] The vehicular lamp 10 projects light emitted from the first exit surface 36 of the condensing lens 12 using the projection lens 13. At this time, the projection lens 13 inverts the image formed on the focal plane Fp by the condensing entrance surface 31 and projects it onto the screen. Because the rear focal point 13f of the projection lens 13 is set within the condensing lens 12, the focal plane Fp can be positioned at a location where the light from each light source 21 is magnified by the condensing entrance surface 31. Thus, the vehicular lamp 10 can form a driving light distribution pattern HP (see FIG. 5 ) on the screen by turning on each light source 21. The driving light distribution pattern HP shown in FIG. 5 is slightly shifted to the right on the screen because the vehicular lamp 10 is installed on the right side. The vehicular lamp 10 installed on the right side is configured to be inverted in the width direction, so that the driving light distribution pattern HP is slightly shifted to the left on the screen.

[0025] In the vehicle lamp 10 of Example 1, each of the 12 light sources 21 arranged in the width direction forms a light distribution area, and these light distribution areas are arranged while partially overlapping in the direction along the horizontal line H to form a light distribution pattern HP for driving. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 can individually turn on and off the light distribution areas corresponding to each light source 21 by individually turning on and off each light source 21. This enables partial light distribution control in any direction in the light distribution pattern HP for driving, and can function as an ADB (Adaptive Driving Beam (variable light distribution type headlamp)).

[0026] Here, we will explain the technical problems of conventional vehicle lamps. Conventional vehicle lamps focus light from a light source using a condensing lens, which then projects the light into a projection lens to form a desired light distribution pattern. However, with this conventional vehicle lamp, there is a risk that some of the light from the light source will travel in an unintended direction through the condensing lens and be projected by the projection lens. Vehicle lamps form a light distribution pattern according to a desired intensity distribution and range. However, if such unintended light is generated, it may brighten areas that are different from the desired light distribution pattern, causing a sense of discomfort to viewers. An example of this problem will be explained using a vehicle lamp 1 as a comparative example shown in FIG. 6.

[0027] The vehicular lamp 1 shown in Fig. 6 is basically the same as the vehicular lamp 10 of the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are used to designate components with the same configuration. This vehicular lamp 1 differs from the vehicular lamp 10 in the configuration of the condensing lens 2. First, like the vehicular lamp 10, the vehicular lamp 1 forms a driving light distribution pattern with an intensity distribution required within a desired range without using light emitted from the upper part (the part indicated by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 6 ) of the condensing and emitting surface 3 of the condensing lens 2. In this vehicular lamp 1, if light not used to form the driving light distribution pattern is emitted from the upper part of the condensing and emitting surface 3 and enters the projection lens 13, it may brighten unintended areas within or around the driving light distribution pattern, causing a sense of discomfort to the viewer.

[0028] For this reason, in the vehicular lamp 1, it is conceivable to prevent light from entering the projection lens 13 by removing the portion of the condenser lens 2 through which light not used to form the driving light distribution pattern travels (the portion indicated by the two-dot chain line). However, in the condenser lens 2, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6 , light reflected from the upper end surface 4 formed by removing the portion enters the projection lens 13. Since such light is located above the focal plane of the projection lens 13, it brightens the illuminated area Ai below the driving light distribution pattern HP, as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 5 . This illuminated area Ai brightens a position different from the driving light distribution pattern HP, which may cause a sense of incongruity to the viewer. Furthermore, if a passing light distribution pattern is formed together with the driving light distribution pattern HP, this illuminated area Ai may not satisfy the legal intensity distribution requirements for both.

[0029] In contrast, the vehicle lamp 10 of the present disclosure is optically configured such that the light-collecting and emitting surface 32 of the collecting lens 12 is provided with a first emitting surface 36 and a second emitting surface 37, and the first emitting surface 36 directs light to enter the projection lens 13, while the second emitting surface 37 directs light above the projection lens 13. In other words, the vehicle lamp 10 is provided with the second emitting surface 37 on the light-collecting and emitting surface 32 of the collecting lens 12, which intentionally directs light above the projection lens 13. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 can reliably direct light from each light source 21 that is incident on the collecting lens 12 toward the projection lens 13 and above it. In other words, the vehicle lamp 10 can direct only light necessary for forming the driving light distribution pattern HP toward the projection lens 13, and can prevent light that is not necessary for forming the driving light distribution pattern HP from proceeding to the projection lens 13. As a result, the vehicle lamp 10 can appropriately form the driving light distribution pattern HP using the condenser lens 12 and the projection lens 13 while preventing areas other than the driving light distribution pattern HP from being brightened.

[0030] Furthermore, the vehicle lamp 10 directs light emitted from the second light exit surface 37 toward a retainer or frame that supports the condenser lens 12 and the projection lens 13. Here, the retainer or frame of the vehicle lamp 10 is subjected to anti-reflection or diffusion processing, which prevents light that reaches them from being reflected toward the projection lens 13 or from being emitted to the outside of the vehicle lamp 10. This allows the vehicle lamp 10 to more appropriately prevent the light emitted from the second light exit surface 37 from being projected by the projection lens 13 or leaking from areas other than the projection lens 13 from brightening areas other than the driving light distribution pattern HP. Note that the retainer or frame may be provided with a light-shielding wall to more reliably block light from the second light exit surface 37.

[0031] Furthermore, the vehicle lamp 10 has a first exit surface portion 36 and a second exit surface portion 37 with different optical settings on the light-collecting / exiting surface 32 of the collecting lens 12, thereby preventing light that is not necessary for forming the driving light distribution pattern HP from proceeding to the projection lens 13. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 can appropriately form the driving light distribution pattern HP while suppressing the illumination of different areas, with a simple configuration that does not increase the number of parts or complicate the assembly structure. This is because the vehicle lamp 10 could prevent light that is not necessary for forming the driving light distribution pattern HP from proceeding to the projection lens 13 by providing a new member such as a shielding member between the collecting lens 12 and the projection lens 13, but this would increase the number of parts and complicate the assembly structure.

[0032] The vehicle lamp 10 as an example according to the present disclosure can achieve the following effects.

[0033] The vehicle lamp 10 includes a condensing lens 12 that condenses light from a light source 21, and a projection lens 13 that projects the condensed light to form a light distribution pattern (driving light distribution pattern HP) that illuminates the area ahead of the vehicle. The condensing lens 12 has a condensing / emitting surface 32 that includes a first emitting surface 36 that includes a projection optical axis Lp, and a second emitting surface 37 that is located above the first emitting surface 36. The first emitting surface 36 emits light from the light source 21 toward the projection lens 13, and the second emitting surface 37 emits light from the light source 21 toward an area above the projection lens 13. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 can configure the light emitted from the condensing / emitting surface 32 to either travel toward the projection lens 13 or travel above the projection lens 13. That is, the vehicle lamp 10 controls the direction of travel of light emitted from all positions on the light-collecting / emitting surface 32, and can effectively prevent unintended light from entering the projection lens 13. As a result, the vehicle lamp 10 can appropriately form the driving light distribution pattern HP using the condensing lens 12 and the projection lens 13, while preventing areas different from the driving light distribution pattern HP from being brightened.

[0034] Furthermore, in the vehicle lamp 10, the light collecting entrance surface 31 of the collecting lens 12 has a convex surface portion 34 facing the light source 21, an upper concave surface portion 33 above the convex surface portion 34, and a lower concave surface portion 35 below the convex surface portion 34, with the lower concave surface portion 35 being positioned closer to the light source 21 than the upper concave surface portion 33. Therefore, in the vehicle lamp 10, the position of the virtual light source Sv of light from each light source 21 that is incident into the collecting lens 12 from the light collecting entrance surface 31 can be set higher in the vertical direction than each actual light source 21. As a result, in the vehicle lamp 10, the light from each light source 21 can be incident into the collecting lens 12 from the light collecting entrance surface 31 so as to travel downward rather than in the front-to-rear direction, and can be made to travel to the first exit surface portion 36 that is facing downward in the light collecting exit surface 32. This vehicle lamp 10 forms the driving light distribution pattern HP with light from the first light exit surface portion 36, so that the light from each light source 21 can be used efficiently to form the driving light distribution pattern HP.

[0035] Furthermore, the vehicle lamp 10 sets the rear focal point 13f of the projection lens 13 inside the condensing lens 12. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 can position the focal plane Fp at a location where the light from each light source 21 is enlarged by the condensing incidence surface 31, and forms the driving light distribution pattern HP by projecting the image formed on the focal plane Fp, making it easy to make the driving light distribution pattern HP a predetermined size on the screen. This is because it is easier to optically set the projection lens 13 by enlarging an area with a predetermined size than by enlarging a narrow area.

[0036] The vehicular lamp 10 has a condensing lens 12 in which the condensing entrance surface 31 is a surface that extends in the same shape in the width direction and the condensing exit surface 32 is a convex surface that protrudes toward the projection lens 13, and a plurality of light sources 21 are provided side by side in the width direction and opposed to the condensing entrance surface 31. Therefore, the vehicular lamp 10 can be an ADB that enables partial light distribution control in any direction while suppressing the brightness of areas that differ from the driving light distribution pattern HP.

[0037] The second light exit surface 37 of the vehicle lamp 10 is a convex surface that displaces rearward in the front-to-rear direction as it moves upward in the vertical direction. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 can prevent light that is not necessary for forming the driving light distribution pattern HP from traveling from the second light exit surface 37 to the projection lens 13 while reducing the size of the condenser lens 12.

[0038] The vehicular lamp 10 forms a driving light distribution pattern HP above the projection optical axis Lp. Here, the vehicular lamp 10 forms the driving light distribution pattern HP by inverting an image formed by the condenser lens 12 up and down using the projection lens 13 and projecting it. Therefore, in the vehicular lamp 10, if light emitted from above the first emission surface 36 from which light forming the driving light distribution pattern HP is emitted is projected by the projection lens 13, there is a risk that the area below the driving light distribution pattern HP will be brightly illuminated. Because the area below this driving light distribution pattern HP is located near the center of the occupant's field of vision in many situations, it will be conspicuous and may cause discomfort to the viewer. In contrast, the vehicle lamp 10 has optical properties such that the second emission surface 37 above the first emission surface 36 emits light from the light source 21 toward above the projection lens 13, and therefore the light-collecting emission surface 32 can prevent light from above the first emission surface 36 from entering the projection lens 13. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 can appropriately form the driving light distribution pattern HP without causing a sense of incongruity to the viewer.

[0039] Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 of Example 1 as a vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure is configured to form a light distribution pattern (a driving light distribution pattern HP in Example 1) using a condensing lens 12 and a projection lens 13, and can prevent areas that differ from the light distribution pattern from being brightened.

[0040] The vehicle lamp of the present disclosure has been described above based on Example 1, but the specific configuration is not limited to Example 1, and design changes and additions are permitted as long as they do not deviate from the gist of the invention according to each claim in the scope of the claims.

[0041] In the above-described first embodiment, a driving light distribution pattern HP is formed, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment as long as a light distribution pattern that illuminates the area ahead of the vehicle is formed.

[0042] Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, twelve light sources 21 are used. However, as long as the light from the light sources 21 is collected by the condenser lens 12 and then projected by the projection lens 13, the number of light sources can be appropriately set according to the size and brightness of the light distribution pattern to be formed, and is not limited to the configuration of the above-described first embodiment.

[0043] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the second light exit surface 37 is a convex surface that protrudes toward the projection lens 13 while being displaced rearward in the front-to-rear direction as it moves upward in the up-down direction. However, the shape of the second light exit surface 37 can be set appropriately as long as it is provided above the first light exit surface 36 and directs light that is not necessary for forming a light distribution pattern toward above the projection lens 13, and is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment described above. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0044] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-012270, filed with the Japan Patent Office on January 30, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp comprising: a collecting lens that collects light from a light source; and a projection lens that projects the light collected by said collecting lens to form a light distribution pattern that illuminates the area ahead of the vehicle, wherein the collecting and emitting surface of said collecting lens is composed of a first emitting surface portion that includes the projection optical axis and a second emitting surface portion that is located above said first emitting surface portion, wherein said first emitting surface portion emits light from said light source toward said projection lens, and said second emitting surface portion emits light from said light source toward above said projection lens.

2. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the light-collecting entrance surface of the collecting lens has a convex portion facing the light source, an upper concave portion above the convex portion, and a lower concave portion below the convex portion, and the lower concave portion is positioned closer to the light source than the upper concave portion.

3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the rear focal point of the projection lens is set inside the condenser lens.

4. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the focusing lens has a focusing entrance surface that extends in the same shape in the width direction, and the focusing exit surface is a convex surface that protrudes toward the projection lens, and the light source is provided in plurality, facing the focusing entrance surface and aligned in the width direction.

5. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the second light exit surface portion is a convex surface that displaces rearward in the longitudinal direction as it moves upward in the vertical direction.

6. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the light distribution pattern is a driving light distribution pattern formed above the projection optical axis.

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