Vehicle lighting fixture

Abstract

The present invention comprises: a lamp unit (1) including an irradiation lens (15) that emits light from a light source (12) in the forward direction, a lens holder (11) that supports the irradiation lens (15), and a heat dissipation part (16) that supports the light source (12) and the lens holder (11); and an aiming device (2) that tilts the lamp unit (1) to adjust the angle of the lamp optical axis. The aiming device (2) comprises: a fulcrum part (3) that is arranged between the light source (12) and the irradiation lens (15) and supports the lamp unit (1) in a tiltable manner; and a vertical angle adjustment part (5) that is disposed behind the light source (12) and tilts the lamp unit (1) in the vertical direction by using the fulcrum part (3) as the fulcrum.

Description

Vehicle lighting fixtures

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle lamp having an aiming device for adjusting the light irradiation direction of a lamp, i.e., the direction of the lamp optical axis.

[0002] In order to achieve suitable illumination without dazzling other vehicles, lighting lamps such as automobile headlamps are provided with an aiming device for adjusting the direction of the lamp optical axis, which is directed toward the center of the light distribution emitted by the lamp, in the left-right and up-down directions relative to the vehicle body.For example, an aiming device is known in which a fulcrum part serving as a tilting fulcrum is provided at one location on the lamp unit, and aiming adjustment parts are provided at different positions in the left-right and up-down directions relative to this fulcrum part, which adjust the angle of the lamp optical axis in the left-right and up-down directions, respectively.

[0003] In recent years, in response to design requirements for headlamps, thinner lamp units have been proposed, particularly lamp units with shorter vertical dimensions for the illumination lens that emits light. In such thin lamp units, if the fulcrum that serves as the tilting fulcrum for the lamp unit is located toward the rear of the lamp unit, the front end of the lamp unit, for example, the illumination lens built into the lamp unit, moves significantly in the vertical direction when the lamp unit is tilted vertically by the aiming device. This results in a larger gap between the front end of the lamp unit and decorative components such as extensions, degrading the design.

[0004] Patent Document 1 proposes an aiming device in which a fulcrum is provided on a movable frame that supports a lens holder. The movable frame tilts at an adjustment unit to adjust the aiming of the illumination lens that is integral with the lens holder. By providing a fulcrum on the lens holder in this way, the amount of vertical movement of the front end of the lamp unit, including the light source, and the illumination lens installed therein is reduced.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-164429

[0006] However, when the fulcrum is disposed on the lens holder as in the case of the cited document 1, the lamp unit may vibrate due to vibrations occurring in the vehicle due to its relationship with the center of gravity of the lamp unit, which may result in a loss of stability of the lamp optical axis. That is, in order to improve the stability of the lamp optical axis, it is preferable to dispose the fulcrum at a position that overlaps with the center of gravity of the lamp unit. However, in a lamp unit equipped with a heavy heat dissipation part (hereinafter referred to as a heat sink), the center of gravity is located toward the rear, making such a problem more likely to occur. In the cited document 1, the heat sink is configured as a separate unit, so such a problem is less likely to occur, but the problem becomes more pronounced in a lamp unit in which the lens holder and heat sink are integrally assembled.

[0007] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle lamp equipped with an aiming device that can improve the design of the lamp by reducing the amount of vertical movement of the irradiation lens and increase the stability of the lamp optical axis.

[0008] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle lighting fixture including a lamp unit that is housed in a lamp housing and includes an illumination lens that illuminates light from a light source forward, a lens holder that supports the illumination lens, and a heat dissipation unit that supports the light source and the lens holder, and an aiming device that tilts the lamp unit to adjust the angle of the lamp optical axis of the lamp unit. The aiming device also includes a fulcrum that is disposed between the light source and the illumination lens and that tiltably supports the lamp unit, and an up-down angle adjustment unit that is disposed behind the light source on the heat dissipation unit and that tilts the lamp unit up and down using the fulcrum.

[0009] According to the present disclosure, a vehicle lamp equipped with an aiming device can be provided that can improve the lamp's design by reducing the amount of vertical movement of the illumination lens and increase the stability of the lamp's optical axis. A fulcrum that tilts the lamp unit vertically is located between the lamp unit's light source and the illumination lens, and an up-down angle adjustment unit that tilts the lamp unit vertically is located behind the lamp unit, thereby reducing the amount of vertical movement of the illumination lens when the lamp unit's up-down angle is adjusted. This reduces the gap in the decorative member, improving the design. Furthermore, because the lamp unit is supported by the fulcrum and the up-down angle adjustment unit on both sides of its center of gravity in the fore-and-aft direction, the lamp's optical axis can be stably maintained even against vibration.

[0010] 1 is a schematic perspective view of an automobile in which a vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure is applied to a headlamp. FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the front lamp of FIG. 1 taken along line II-II. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lamp unit including an aiming device for the headlamp of FIG. 1, with a portion cut away. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the headlamp and aiming device of FIG. 3, with a portion cut away. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a vertical angle adjustment unit of embodiment A1, and is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the vertical angle adjustment unit of embodiment A1. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a modified embodiment of embodiment A1. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the vertical angle adjustment unit of first embodiment A1-1 of embodiment A2. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a vertical angle adjustment unit of second embodiment A2-2 of embodiment A2. FIG. 9 is an external view of a leveling actuator of a different form. FIG. 10 is an external view of a leveling actuator of a different form. FIG. 11 is an external view of a leveling actuator of a different form. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the vertical angle adjustment unit of first embodiment B1-1 of embodiment B1. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the vertical angle adjustment unit of second embodiment B1-2 of embodiment B1. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the vertical angle adjustment unit of first embodiment B2-1 of embodiment B2. 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views of the vertical angle adjustment portion of a second embodiment B2-2 of embodiment B2, and a third embodiment B2-3 of embodiment B2.

[0011] Next, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an automobile (CAR) equipped with a vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure. Front lamps FL are provided on the left and right sides of the front of the automobile (CAR). FIG. 1 shows a perspective view with a portion of the left front lamp FL cut away. The left and right front lamps FL are symmetrical. The front lamp FL includes two lamp units CL and HL housed within a lamp housing 100 including a lamp body 101 with an opening at the front and a translucent cover 102 attached to the opening of the lamp body 101. The upper lamp unit CL is a clearance lamp using a light guide. The lower lamp unit HL is a headlamp. The lower lamp unit HL is equipped with an aiming device according to the present disclosure, allowing for aiming adjustment of the lamp optical axis.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the front lamp FL shown in FIG. 1 taken along line II-II. A light guide 105 constituting a clearance lamp CL is disposed in the upper portion of a lamp housing 100. This clearance lamp CL may be a sidelight, a daytime running lamp (DRL), a turn signal lamp, or other auxiliary lamp. A lamp unit 1 of a headlamp HL is also disposed in the lamp housing 100 below the clearance lamp CL. The lamp unit 1 emits light forward through an opening 104 formed in an extension 103. The lamp unit 1 is configured so that the angle of the lamp optical axis Lx can be adjusted in the left-right and up-down directions by an aiming device 2, as described below.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the lamp unit 1 and aiming device 2, which are a headlamp HL. FIG. 4 is a plan view with parts of the lamp unit 1 and aiming device 2 cut away. The lamp unit 1 includes a resin lens holder 11 that is nearly flat from top to bottom and a metal heat sink 16. The heat sink 16 is an example of a heat dissipation section. A light source section 12, a reflector 13, and a shade 14 are attached to the heat sink 16. An illumination lens 15 is attached to the lens holder 11. The lens holder 11 is attached to the heat sink 16 and integrated into the heat sink 16. Since the components included in the lamp unit 1 are already known, detailed description will be omitted. In this embodiment, the light source section 12 includes multiple LEDs (light-emitting diodes) 12a arranged in the left-right direction. The lamp unit 1 is configured so that light emitted from each LED 12a is reflected by the reflector 13, passes through the illumination lens 15, and is irradiated with a desired light distribution. The LED 12a having the shade 14 is a low beam lamp unit that emits light with a low beam distribution, whereas the LED 12a having no shade is a high beam lamp unit that emits light with a high beam distribution.

[0014] The irradiation lens 15 is a narrow lens whose vertical dimension is shorter than its horizontal dimension. As shown in FIG. 2 , the irradiation lens 15 is visible from the front side of the lamp through a narrow, horizontally elongated opening 104 in an extension 103 installed inside the lamp housing 100. A plurality of fins 16a are integrally formed on the rear portion of the heat sink 16. The fins 16a are configured to dissipate heat generated when the LEDs 12a of the light source section 12 emit light from the heat sink 16. The lamp unit 1 is supported on the lamp body 101 by an aiming device 2. The aiming device 2 adjusts the horizontal and vertical angles of the lamp optical axis Lx, which is directed toward the center of the light distribution pattern formed by the light emitted from the irradiation lens 15, relative to the lamp body 101.

[0015] In this disclosure, "aiming" refers to adjusting the lamp optical axis to a predetermined angle relative to the vehicle body, which is performed before shipping from the vehicle manufacturer and during vehicle inspection. Also, "leveling" refers to adjusting the lamp optical axis to a required angle in the vertical direction relative to the road surface in response to changes in the pitch angle of the vehicle body while the vehicle is moving or stopped. "Leveling" includes "static leveling," which is performed when the vehicle is stopped, and "dynamic leveling," which is performed in response to changes in the pitch angle as the vehicle moves.

[0016] The aiming device 2 will now be described. In FIGS. 3 and 4 , a fulcrum portion 3 is provided on the right side of the lamp unit 1. A left-right angle adjustment portion 4 is provided on the left side of the lamp unit 1, opposite the fulcrum portion 3. The right side of the lamp unit 1 corresponds to one lateral position of the lamp unit 1. The left side of the lamp unit 1 corresponds to the other lateral position of the lamp unit 1. A vertical angle adjustment portion 5 is provided in the rear region of the lamp unit 1. As will be described in detail later, by performing the required adjustment in the horizontal angle adjustment portion 4, the lamp unit 1 is tilted horizontally around the fulcrum portion 3 as a fulcrum SP, and the horizontal angle of the lamp optical axis Lx is adjusted. By performing the required adjustment in the vertical angle adjustment portion 5, the lamp unit 1 is tilted vertically around a virtual axis Ax connecting the fulcrum portion 3 and the horizontal angle adjustment portion 4 as a fulcrum, and the vertical angle of the lamp optical axis Lx is adjusted.

[0017] Various embodiments of the aiming device of the present disclosure will be described below, but in each embodiment, the same configuration is used for the fulcrum unit 3 and the left-right angle adjustment unit 4. Therefore, first, the fulcrum unit 3 and the left-right angle adjustment unit 4 will be described.

[0018] 3 and 4 , left and right flanges 161, 162 that protrude outward are integrally formed on the right and left sides of the heat sink 16, i.e., at positions that sandwich the lens holder 11 on either side. The fulcrum portion 3 is attached to the right flange 161. The left-right angle adjustment portion 4 is attached to the left flange 162. The flanges 161, 162 are located generally toward the front end of the lamp unit 1 in the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, the flanges 161, 162 are located between the light source portion 12 and the illumination lens 15.

[0019] The fulcrum portion 3 includes a ball stud 31 with a spherical ball at its tip, and a ball socket 32 ​​that fits onto the ball 311 of the ball stud 31 and functions as a ball joint. The ball stud 31 is rod-shaped, and the end without the ball 311 is supported by being embedded and fixed in a portion of the lamp body 101. The ball socket 32 ​​is fitted around the outer periphery of the ball 311. The ball socket 32 ​​is fitted into an opening in the right flange 161 of the heat sink 16 and supported. The lamp unit 1 can be tilted left and right and up and down relative to the lamp housing 100, using the ball joint, i.e., the ball 311, as a fulcrum SP. The fulcrum SP is located at the same position as the lamp optical axis Lx of the lamp unit 1. The fulcrum SP is located between the light source portion 12 and the irradiation lens 15 in the front-rear direction.

[0020] The left-right angle adjustment unit 4 includes a left-right aiming screw 41 and a driven nut 42 that is threaded into a thread groove formed in the left-right aiming screw 41. The left-right aiming screw 41 is disposed within the lamp housing 100 so as to extend in the front-to-rear direction of the lamp. The rear end of the left-right aiming screw 41 is an operating end 43, which is inserted through the rear wall of the lamp body 101 and exposed to the outside of the lamp housing 100. The operating end 43 may be configured to be rotatable using a jig such as a screwdriver. The operating end 43 may be formed with a + groove or - groove, for example, like those formed in the head of a screw. In this embodiment, the operating end 43 is in the shape of a crown gear.

[0021] The driven nut 42 is formed in a cylindrical bushing shape, and is formed so as to threadably engage with the thread groove 411 of the horizontal aiming screw 41 inside the driven nut 42. The outside of the driven nut 42 is formed so as to be insertable into an opening formed in the left flange 162 on the left side of the unit case. The driven nut 42 inserted into the opening formed in the left flange 162 is fixed to the left flange 162 so as not to rotate in the direction around the axis of the horizontal aiming screw 41.

[0022] With this configuration, in the left-right angle adjustment unit 4, when the operating end 43 is operated to rotate the left-right aiming screw 41, the driven nut 42 threaded into the thread groove 411 moves in the axial direction of the left-right aiming screw 41 relative to the lamp body 101, i.e., in the front-to-rear direction of the lamp. As a result, the left flange 162 of the heat sink 16 connected to the driven nut 42 also moves integrally in the front-to-rear direction, and the lamp unit 1 is tilted left-to-right about the fulcrum part 3 as the fulcrum SP. As a result, the angle of the lamp optical axis Lx of the lamp unit 1 relative to the lamp housing 100 is adjusted left-to-right.

[0023] As described above, in the present disclosure, there are various different embodiments of the vertical angle adjustment unit 5. These multiple embodiments are conveniently classified as follows: - Embodiment A: An embodiment in which only vertical aiming adjustment is possible, and is classified as follows: - Embodiment A1: An embodiment in which aiming adjustment is performed from the top or bottom of the lamp housing. - Embodiment A2: An embodiment in which aiming adjustment is performed from the back or side of the lamp housing.

[0024] Embodiment B is an embodiment that allows aiming adjustment and leveling adjustment in the vertical direction, and is classified as follows: Embodiment B1: An embodiment in which leveling adjustment is performed from outside the lamp housing. Embodiment B2: An embodiment in which leveling adjustment is performed inside the lamp housing. Therefore, the present disclosure includes an embodiment that is a combination of either Embodiment A1 or A2 and either Embodiment B1 or B2.

[0025] (Embodiment A1) Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the vertical angle adjustment unit 5 of embodiment A1, taken along line V-V in Figure 4. The vertical angle adjustment unit 5 of embodiment A1, as also shown in Figures 2 to 4, is configured to adjust the vertical angle of the lamp optical axis from the upper side of the lamp housing 100. The vertical angle adjustment unit 5 is connected to a rear flange 17 that protrudes approximately horizontally rearward from the rear surface of the heat sink 16 of the lamp unit 1. The vertical angle adjustment of the lamp unit 1 is performed by the vertical angle adjustment unit 5 as the flange 17 moves up and down.

[0026] Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the vertical angle adjustment unit 5. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the vertical angle adjustment unit 5 includes an upper and lower aiming screw 51, a support bracket 52, and a driven nut 53 that is threaded onto the upper and lower aiming screw 51. The driven nut 53 is a driven member in the present disclosure. The support bracket 52 is fixedly supported on the inner surface of the upper wall of the lamp unit 1. The support bracket 52 is formed with a guide groove 54 that is a concave groove that extends in the vertical direction.

[0027] The vertical aiming screw 51 is arranged to extend in the vertical direction. The vertical aiming screw 51 is inserted into axial holes opened in the support bracket 52 and the lamp body 101 and supported so as to be rotatable. The upper end of the vertical aiming screw 51 is exposed to the outside of the lamp housing 100 as an operating shaft portion 55. The vertical aiming screw 51 rotates when the operating shaft portion 55 is operated. The operating shaft portion 55 has a configuration similar to that of the operating end portion 43 of the horizontal aiming screw 41.

[0028] The driven nut 53 is formed in a cylindrical bushing shape. A connecting portion 56 and a guide piece portion 57 are integrally formed on a part of the driven nut 53. The driven nut 53 is formed so as to thread into the thread groove 511 of the upper and lower aiming screw 51 inside. The driven nut 53 moves in the axial direction due to the axial rotation of the upper and lower aiming screw 51. The guide piece portion 57 of the driven nut 53 is inserted into the guide groove 54 of the support bracket 52 and is formed to be slidable along the guide groove 54.

[0029] The connecting portion 56 of the driven nut 53 is inserted into an opening groove 18 formed in the rear flange 17 of the lamp unit 1. With the connecting portion 56 inserted into the opening groove 18, the driven nut 53 is connected to the rear flange 17 so as to be integral with it at least in the up-down direction. On the other hand, as can be seen from FIG. 4 , the shape of the opening groove 18 in a plan view is an arc groove of a required length centered on the fulcrum portion 3 (more precisely, the ball 311), or a linear shape close to this. Therefore, when the angle of the lamp unit 1 in the left-right direction changes, the connecting portion 56 moves relatively within the opening groove 18, allowing the lamp unit 1 to rotate and making it possible to adjust the lamp optical axis in the left-right direction.

[0030] In the vertical angle adjustment unit 5 of embodiment A1, when the operating shaft portion 55 of the vertical aiming screw 51 exposed on the upper side of the lamp housing 100 rotates, the driven nut 53 moves in the axial direction of the vertical aiming screw 51, i.e., in the vertical direction of the lamp. The guide piece portion 57 moves within the guide groove 54, making it difficult for the driven nut 53 to rotate together with the vertical aiming screw 51. As a result, the rear flange 17 of the lamp unit 1 connected to the connecting portion 56 of the driven nut 53 moves vertically together with the driven nut 53, and the lamp unit 1 tilts vertically relative to the lamp housing 100, with the virtual axis Ax connecting the fulcrum portion 3 and the left-right angle adjustment unit 4 as the fulcrum. In other words, the lamp optical axis Lx of the lamp unit 1 is angle-adjusted vertically with the virtual axis Ax as the fulcrum.

[0031] The shape of the opening groove 18 in a plan view is an arcuate groove of a required length centered on the fulcrum portion 3, i.e., the fulcrum SP, or a linear shape close to this. This allows a margin in the opening groove 18 that allows the driven nut 53 to move in the groove direction. Therefore, when the angle of the lamp unit 1 is adjusted in the left-right direction by the left-right angle adjustment portion 4, the opening groove 18 of the rear flange 17 and the connecting portion 56 of the driven nut 53 move in the length direction of the opening groove 18 by the margin, allowing the lamp unit 1 to tilt smoothly in the left-right direction. Even if the angle of the lamp unit 1 in the left-right direction changes, the up-down angle adjustment portion 5 can smoothly adjust the up-down angle of the lamp unit 1.

[0032] As described above, in the aiming device 2 of embodiment A1, the fulcrum portion 3, which serves as the fulcrum SP when tilting the lamp unit 1 in the up-down direction, is disposed between the light source portion 12 and the irradiation lens 15 in the front-to-rear direction of the lamp unit 1. It is positioned closer to the front of the lamp unit 1 as a whole. As a result, the amount of vertical movement of the irradiation lens 15 is reduced when the lamp unit 1 is tilted in the up-down direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the vertical dimension of the irradiation lens 15 can be shortened, and the clearance with the extension 103 can be shortened. This makes it possible to prevent deterioration in appearance even in headlamps HL that are configured to irradiate light through the opening 104, and to easily control the light distribution of the light irradiated from the irradiation lens 15.

[0033] Furthermore, since the point of force when tilting the lamp unit 1 up and down, i.e., the vertical angle adjustment unit 5, is disposed on the rear side of the lamp unit 1, the distance from the virtual axis Ax, which serves as the fulcrum, can be made large. Therefore, the ratio of the amount of change in the tilt angle of the lamp unit 1 to the amount of vertical movement of the driven nut 53 in the vertical angle adjustment unit 5 is small, making it easy to make fine and highly accurate angle adjustments. Furthermore, since the tilting force required when tilting the lamp unit 1 up and down in the vertical angle adjustment unit 5 is small, operation during vertical aiming adjustment is made easier.

[0034] Furthermore, in embodiment A1, in a plan view, the aiming device 2 supports the lamp unit 1 in a triangular region defined by three vertices: the position of the fulcrum 3, the position of the left-right angle adjustment unit 4, and the position of the driven nut 53 of the up-down angle adjustment unit 5. Therefore, the lamp unit 1 is stably supported against external forces such as vibrations during driving. It is also desirable that the center of gravity be included within the triangular region defined by the three vertices, and it is further preferable that the center of gravity of the triangular region be set to be the same as or as close as possible to the center of gravity of the lamp unit 1. This results in a nearly equal balance of loads when supporting the lamp unit 1 at each of the three vertices of the triangular region, thereby improving the stability of the lamp optical axis Lx of the lamp unit 1.

[0035] In embodiment A1, although not shown in the drawings, the vertical aiming screw 51 and the support bracket 52 of the vertical angle adjustment unit 5 may be arranged upside down. That is, the operating shaft portion 55 of the vertical aiming screw 51 may be exposed on the underside of the lamp housing 100. As a result, the vertical aiming adjustment is performed by operating the vertical aiming screw 51 from the underside of the lamp housing.

[0036] In embodiment A1, the driven nut 53 is directly connected to the opening groove 18 of the rear flange 17 of the lamp unit 1 via the connecting portion 56. Therefore, when one of the left-right angle adjustment portion 4 and the up-down angle adjustment portion 5 is fixed and the lamp unit 1 tilts up-down or left-right at the other adjustment portion, excessive force (stress) may be generated between the opening groove 18 and the connecting portion 56, making it difficult to perform smooth angle adjustment. For this reason, for example, the driven nut 53 may be formed from two parts.

[0037] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a modified example of the driven nut 53. The driven nut 53 includes a ball nut 53A that threads onto the upper and lower aiming screws 51 and a ball socket 53B that fits onto the outside of the ball nut 53A. The ball nut 53A has a spherical outer surface, and the ball nut 53A is threaded onto the upper and lower aiming screws 51. A guide piece 57 is connected to the ball nut 53A. The ball socket 53B has multiple clamping pieces. The clamping pieces surround and clamp the outer periphery of the ball nut 53A, thereby fitting the ball nut 53A and the ball socket 53B together to form a ball joint. A connecting portion 56 is formed on a part of the ball socket 53B, and is inserted into an open groove 18 in the rear flange 17 of the lamp unit 1 to connect the ball socket 53B to the rear flange 17.

[0038] As a result, even if the lamp unit 1 is adjusted to a left-right angle while the angle of the lamp unit 1 is fixed in the up-down direction and stress is generated between the connecting portion 56 and the opening groove 18, the stress is absorbed by the relative spherical movement between the ball nut 53A and the ball socket 53B. This allows smooth adjustment of the up-down angle or the left-right angle.

[0039] (Embodiment A2-1) Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the vertical angle adjustment unit 5A of the first embodiment A2-1 of embodiment A2. The fulcrum unit 3 and left / right angle adjustment unit 4 provided in the aiming device 2 have the same configuration as in embodiment A1, so their description will be omitted. In the vertical angle adjustment unit 5A, parts equivalent to those in embodiment A1 are given the same reference numerals, and their description will be simplified. As described above, the vertical angle adjustment unit 5A is configured so that vertical angle adjustment is performed from the rear side of the lamp housing 100. In other words, the vertical angle adjustment operation is performed from the rear side of the lamp housing 100, and the direction of the operating force is converted by the force direction conversion mechanism 6A, thereby adjusting the vertical angle of the lamp unit 1.

[0040] The vertical angle adjustment unit 5A includes an upper and lower aiming screw 51, a support bracket 52, and a driven nut 53. The driven nut 53 is a driven member in the present disclosure. The configurations of the upper and lower aiming screws 51 and the driven nut 53 are substantially the same as those in embodiment A1, except that their orientations in the vertical direction are reversed. The support bracket 52 is fixed to the inner surface of the bottom wall of the lamp housing 100. A guide groove 54 extending in the vertical direction is formed in the support bracket 52. The lower end of the upper and lower aiming screw 51 is rotatably supported by the support bracket 52 and is connected to the force direction conversion mechanism 6.

[0041] The force direction conversion mechanism 6A converts the direction of force transmission to an orthogonal direction, i.e., at an angle of 90 degrees. The force direction conversion mechanism 6A includes a pair of bevel gears 61, 62 that mesh with each other at right angles. The bevel gears 61, 62 are each rotatably supported on the support bracket 52. One bevel gear 61 is supported on the support bracket 52 so that its drive shaft 63 faces in the front-to-rear direction of the lamp. One end of the drive shaft 63 penetrates the rear wall of the lamp housing 100 and functions as an operating shaft 64 for adjusting the vertical angle. The other bevel gear 62 is disposed so that its rotation axis faces in the vertical direction. The rotation axis of the bevel gear 62 is formed as part of the vertical aiming screw 51 or is connected to the vertical aiming screw 51.

[0042] In embodiment A2-1, when the operating shaft portion 64 is operated from the rear side of the lamp housing 100 to rotate the drive shaft 63, the rotation force is transmitted to the bevel gear 61. Furthermore, the rotation force is converted into rotation of the bevel gear 62 meshed with the bevel gear 61, causing the vertical aiming screw 51 to rotate. That is, by operating the operating shaft portion 64 from the rear side of the lamp housing 100, the vertical aiming screw 51, which is oriented in the vertical direction perpendicular to the operating shaft portion 64, rotates. As a result, the driven nut 53 moves in the vertical direction, as in embodiment A1, and the vertical angle of the lamp unit 1 is adjusted via the rear flange 17.

[0043] In embodiment A2-1, the vertical angle is adjusted from the rear side of the lamp housing 100, thereby reducing the space required in the upper region of the lamp unit 1 and enabling a thinner headlamp. Also, by appropriately setting the gear ratio of the bevel gears 61, 62 of the force direction conversion mechanism 6, the rotation ratio between the operating shaft rotation angle of the operating shaft portion 64 and the shaft rotation angle of the vertical aiming screw 51 can be reduced. This reduces the required operating force, improving operability and enabling fine and highly accurate angle adjustment.

[0044] In addition, as in embodiment A1, in order to enable the upper and lower aiming screws 51 to be operated from above, the force direction conversion mechanism 6 may be arranged in an upper portion within the lamp housing 100, and the operating shaft portion 64 may be arranged in a position near the upper rear side of the lamp housing 100.

[0045] (Embodiment A2-2) Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the vertical angle adjustment unit 5B of a second embodiment A2-2 of embodiment A2. The configurations of the fulcrum unit 3 and left-right angle adjustment unit 4 provided in the aiming device 2 are the same as those of embodiment A1. In the vertical angle adjustment unit 5B, parts equivalent to those of embodiment A1 are given the same reference numerals, and their description will be simplified. As in embodiment A2-1, the vertical angle adjustment unit 5B is configured to adjust the vertical angle of the lamp unit 1 by converting the direction of the operating force applied when operated on the rear side of the lamp housing 100, but the configuration of the force direction conversion mechanism 6B differs from that of embodiment A2-1.

[0046] In the vertical angle adjustment section 5B, the support bracket 52 and the vertical aiming screw 51 are arranged to extend in the front-to-rear direction of the lamp along the inner surface of the bottom wall of the lamp housing 100. That is, the support bracket 52 is arranged horizontally so as to face in the front-to-rear direction. The vertical aiming screw 51 is also arranged horizontally so as to face in the front-to-rear direction, and an operating shaft portion 55 facing rearward is exposed as it penetrates the rear wall of the lamp housing 100. A driven nut 53X threaded onto the vertical aiming screw 51 moves in the front-to-rear direction as the vertical aiming screw 51 rotates. A guide piece portion 57 is provided integrally with the driven nut 53X, and by inserting it into a guide groove 54 of the support bracket 52, rotation of the axis is prevented when the driven nut 53X moves in the front-to-rear direction.

[0047] The force direction conversion mechanism 6B is a force transmission direction conversion mechanism with a double-slide structure that converts the direction of force by 90 degrees. Here, the support bracket 52 is formed with a guided groove 58 extending vertically, perpendicular to the guide groove 54, in addition to the guide groove 54. A driven body (slider) 65 that can slide in the groove direction is installed within the guided groove 58. The driven body 65 is connected to the driven nut 53X by a linear link 66. In this embodiment, the driven body 65 is the driven member of the present disclosure. That is, one end of the linear link 66 is pivotally supported on a portion of the driven body 65, and the other end is pivotally supported on a portion of the driven nut 53X. Therefore, forward / backward movement of the driven nut 53X is converted into vertical movement of the driven body 65. Furthermore, the driven body 65 is integrally formed with a connecting portion 56 that is bent upward and has a cylindrical bushing shape. The connecting portion 56 is inserted into an open groove 18 formed in the rear flange 17 of the lamp unit 1 .

[0048] In embodiment A2-2, when the operating shaft portion 55 of the vertical aiming screw 51 rotates from the rear side of the lamp housing 100, the threaded driven nut 53X moves in the axial direction of the vertical aiming screw 51, i.e., in the front-to-rear direction. The front-to-rear movement of the driven nut 53X is converted into an orthogonal direction by the force direction conversion mechanism 6B including the link 66. As a result, the driven body 65 moves in the vertical direction. As a result, the rear flange 17 of the lamp unit 1 connected to the connecting portion 56 of the driven body 65 moves in the vertical direction, and the vertical angle of the lamp unit 1 is adjusted.

[0049] In embodiment A2-2, as shown in FIG. 9 , the vertical angle of the lamp unit 1 depends on the vertical position of the driven body 65, i.e., on the inclination angle θ of the link 66 relative to the axial position of the vertical aiming screw 51. That is, there is a relationship of L2 = L1 tan θ. Here, L1 and L2 correspond to the lengths of the two sides of a right triangle with the driven nut 53X and the driven body 65 as the two vertices and the link 66 as the hypotenuse. Based on this relationship, the vertical position change of the driven body 65 can be calculated from the change in the forward / backward position of the driven nut 53X, and the vertical angle change of the lamp unit 1 can also be calculated. Alternatively, when the length of the link 66 is L0, Pythagoras' theorem, which is based on L0, L1, and L2, can be used. Therefore, by appropriately setting the reference angle position of the lamp unit 1 in the vertical direction and the initial inclination angle of the link 66 (initial position of the driven nut 53X), the desired characteristics can be obtained for the vertical angle change characteristics of the lamp unit 1 relative to the rotation angle of the operating shaft portion 55, making it possible to perform high-precision adjustments.

[0050] In embodiments A2-1 and A2-2, the operating shafts 55, 64 are disposed on the rear side of the lamp housing 100, and the up / down angle is adjusted from the rear side of the lamp housing 100, but the operating shafts 55, 64 may also be disposed on the left or right side surface of the lamp housing 100. The positions at which the operating shafts 55, 64 are provided are set arbitrarily depending on the positional relationship between the lamp and the vehicle body. Furthermore, the operating shafts 55, 64 may also be configured to be operated from above.

[0051] (Embodiment B) As described above, the aiming device 2 of the present disclosure includes embodiment B, which is capable of leveling adjustment in addition to aiming adjustment. Leveling adjustment is performed by the aiming device and a leveling actuator. There are three types of leveling actuators used in the present disclosure, as shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C. FIG. 10A illustrates a rotary-type (hereinafter, R-type) leveling actuator 7R in which the drive shaft 71 rotates. FIG. 10B illustrates a push-push-type (hereinafter, P-type) leveling actuator 7P in which the drive shaft 72 extends and retracts. FIG. 10C illustrates a slide-type (hereinafter, S-type) leveling actuator 7S in which the drive shaft 73 moves linearly.

[0052] Each of the leveling actuators 7R, 7P, and 7S includes a drive source such as a motor in a case, and a drive mechanism 70 including a mechanism for reducing the speed or changing the direction of the rotational output of the drive source, such as a rack and pinion mechanism or a worm wheel mechanism. Drive shafts 71, 72, and 73 protrude from the case by the drive mechanism 70 and are configured to rotate, extend and retract, and move linearly, respectively. These leveling actuators have already known configurations, so detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0053] As shown in Fig. 10A, the R-type leveling actuator 7R is provided with a crown gear 74 that can be rotated manually. Rotating the crown gear 74 rotates the drive shaft 71 integrally. Any of the leveling actuators 7R, 7P, and 7S is incorporated into the aiming device of the above-described embodiment A. The leveling actuator is driven in response to changes in the pitch angle of the automobile, and leveling adjustment is performed by adjustments made by the up-down angle adjustment units 5, 5A, and 5B of the aiming device 2.

[0054] (Embodiment B1 (A1)) Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the vertical angle adjustment unit 5C of the first embodiment B1 (A1) of embodiment B1. This embodiment is obtained by applying embodiment B1 to embodiment A1 shown in Fig. 5. An R-type leveling actuator 7R is disposed on the upper wall of the lamp body 101 of embodiment A1. The drive shaft 71 is connected to the vertical aiming screw 51. Of the components of the vertical angle adjustment unit 5C, parts that are the same as or equivalent to those of embodiment A1 are given the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0055] In the vertical angle adjustment unit 5C, when the crown gear 74 of the R-type leveling actuator 7R is rotated by hand, the drive shaft 71 rotates integrally, which in turn rotates the vertical aiming screw 51, moving the driven nut 53 in the vertical direction. Therefore, as described in embodiment A1, the vertical angle of the lamp unit 1 can be adjusted, and aiming adjustment of the aiming device 2, i.e., the vertical angle of the lamp unit 1 relative to the vehicle body, can be performed.

[0056] Although not shown in the drawings or described in detail, the vehicle is equipped with an angle sensor that detects the pitch angle of the vehicle body and a control device that controls the R-type leveling actuator 7R based on the pitch angle detected by this angle sensor. The R-type leveling actuator 7R is feedback-controlled based on changes in the pitch angle of the vehicle body, causing the drive shaft 71 to rotate. This allows static leveling control, in which the vertical angle adjuster 5C controls the lamp axis of the lamp unit 1 to a required angle with respect to the road surface. Furthermore, dynamic leveling control is performed by performing similar control while the vehicle is traveling.

[0057] (Embodiment B1 (A2-1)) FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a vertical angle adjustment unit 5D of a second embodiment B1 (A2-1) of embodiment B1. This embodiment is obtained by applying embodiment B1 to embodiment A2-1 shown in FIG. 8. An R-type leveling actuator 7R is disposed on the rear wall of the lamp body 101 of embodiment A2-1. The drive shaft 71 is connected to the drive shaft 63 of the force direction conversion mechanism 6A. As a result, by rotating the crown gear 74 of the R-type leveling actuator 7R, the drive shaft 63 rotates, and the vertical aiming screw 51 rotates via the force direction conversion mechanism 6A, and the driven nut 53 moves in the vertical direction, allowing the vertical angle of the lamp unit 1 to be adjusted as described in embodiment A2-1.

[0058] In this embodiment B1 (A2-1), the R-type leveling actuator 7R is also controlled based on the pitch angle of the vehicle, thereby performing static leveling control and dynamic leveling control.

[0059] Although not shown in the drawings or explained, it is also possible to adopt an embodiment B1 (A2-2) in which embodiment B1 is applied to embodiment A2-2 equipped with a force-direction converting mechanism 6B having a link structure, similar to embodiment B1 (A2-1). In this case, referring to Fig. 9, when the R-type leveling actuator 7R is driven, the vertical aiming screw 51 rotates on its axis, the driven nut 53 moves in the front-rear direction, and the driven body 65 moves in the vertical direction by the force-direction converting mechanism 6B, making it possible to adjust the angle of the lamp unit 1 in the vertical direction.

[0060] (Embodiment B2-1(A1)) Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the up / down angle adjustment unit 5E of the first embodiment B2-1(A1) of embodiment B2. This embodiment B2-1(A1) is obtained by applying embodiment B2-1 to embodiment A1 shown in Figure 5. The leveling actuator is assembled as part of the internal configuration of the aiming device 2.

[0061] In the vertical angle adjustment unit 5E, a P-type leveling actuator 7P is supported by the driven nut 53 of the vertical angle adjustment unit 5 of embodiment A1. The P-type leveling actuator 7P moves up and down integrally with the driven nut 53 due to the axial rotation of the vertical aiming screw 51. The P-type leveling actuator 7P is supported with its drive shaft 72 facing upward. When the P-type leveling actuator 7P is driven, the upper end of the drive shaft 72 advances (protrudes) upward and retreats (retracts) downward.

[0062] A ball with a spherical outer surface is formed at the tip of the drive shaft 72. A ball socket 53B is fitted into the ball. The ball socket shown in FIG. 7 may be used as the ball socket 53B. That is, the ball of the drive shaft 72 is fitted into the inside of the ball socket 53B to form a ball joint. A connecting portion 56 is formed around the periphery of the ball socket 53B. The connecting portion 56 is fitted into an open groove 18 formed in the rear flange 17 of the lamp unit 1.

[0063] According to embodiment B2-1 (A1), when the operating shaft 55 is rotated from outside the lamp housing 100, the vertical aiming screw 51 rotates, and the driven nut 53 moves up and down. Furthermore, the P-type leveling actuator 7P integrated with the driven nut 53 also moves up and down. This causes the drive shaft 72 and the ball socket 53B fitted thereto to move up and down, and further causes the rear flange 17 to move up and down, thereby enabling the vertical angle of the lamp unit 1 to be adjusted. Note that in this embodiment, an S-type leveling actuator 7S may be used instead of the P-type leveling actuator 7P.

[0064] After the aiming adjustment is performed, the P-type leveling actuator 7P is feedback-controlled based on changes in the pitch angle of the vehicle body, displacing the drive shaft 72 in the vertical direction while keeping the vertical position of the P-type leveling actuator 7P fixed. This causes the ball socket 53B fitted to the drive shaft 72 to move in the vertical direction, which in turn causes the rear flange 17 connected to the ball socket 53B to move in the vertical direction, controlling the lamp optical axis of the lamp unit to a required angle with respect to the road surface. In other words, static leveling control and dynamic leveling control are possible.

[0065] (Embodiment B2-2 (A2-1)) Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the up / down angle adjustment unit 5F of a second embodiment B2-2 (A2-1) of embodiment B2. This embodiment B2-2 (A2-1) is obtained by applying embodiment B2-2 to embodiment A2-1 shown in Figure 8. As with embodiment B2-1 (A1), the leveling actuator is assembled as part of the internal configuration of the aiming device 2.

[0066] A P-type leveling actuator 7P is supported on the driven nut 53 of the vertical angle adjustment unit 5D of embodiment A2-1. In the vertical angle adjustment unit 5F, the P-type leveling actuator 7P moves up and down integrally with the driven nut 53 due to the axial rotation of the vertical aiming screw 51. The configuration of the P-type leveling actuator 7P and the ball socket 53B fitted to the drive shaft 72 of the P-type leveling actuator 7P are the same as the configuration shown in Figure 13. The fact that the ball socket 53 is fitted into the opening groove 18 formed in the rear flange 17 of the lamp unit 1 is also the same as the example shown in Figure 13.

[0067] According to embodiment B2-1 (A2-1), by rotating the operating shaft 55 from outside the lamp housing 100, the vertical aiming screw 51 rotates and the driven nut 53 moves up and down. In addition, the P-type leveling actuator 7P connected to the driven nut 53 also moves up and down. As a result, the drive shaft 72 and the ball socket 53B fitted to the drive shaft 72 move up and down, and further the rear flange 17 moves up and down, making it possible to adjust the angle of the lamp unit 1 in the up and down direction.

[0068] After the aiming adjustment is performed, the P-type leveling actuator 7P is feedback-controlled based on changes in the pitch angle of the vehicle body, displacing the drive shaft 72 in the vertical direction while keeping the vertical position of the P-type leveling actuator 7P fixed. This causes the ball socket 53B fitted to the drive shaft 72 to move in the vertical direction, which in turn causes the rear flange 17 connected to the ball socket 53B to move in the vertical direction, controlling the lamp optical axis of the lamp unit to a required angle with respect to the road surface. In other words, static leveling control and dynamic leveling control are possible.

[0069] (Embodiment B2-3 (A2-1)) Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of a vertical angle adjustment unit 5G of a third embodiment B2-3 (A2-1) of embodiment B2. In this embodiment B2-3 (A2-1), the P-type leveling actuator 7P of embodiment B2-2 (A2-1) shown in Figure 14 is replaced with an S-type leveling actuator 7S. That is, the S-type leveling actuator 7S is supported by the driven nut 53 so that when the S-type leveling actuator 7S is driven and the drive shaft 73 slides, the drive shaft 73 moves up and down.

[0070] In the S-type leveling actuator 7S, a ball with a spherical outer surface is formed at the tip of the drive shaft 73. A ball socket 53C is fitted into the ball. The ball socket 53C is partially different from the ball socket 53B shown in Figure 14, but the basic configuration and function are the same. A connecting portion 56 formed on the ball socket 53C is inserted into an open groove 18 in the rear flange 17 of the lamp unit 1 and is connected to the rear flange 17.

[0071] According to embodiment B2-3 (A2-1), by rotating the operating shaft 64 from outside the lamp housing 100, the vertical aiming screw 51 rotates via the force direction conversion mechanism 6A, as in embodiment A2-1, and the driven nut 53 moves up and down. Furthermore, the S-type leveling actuator 7S connected to the driven nut 53 moves up and down. As a result, the ball socket 53C also moves up and down integrally, and the connected rear flange 17 moves up and down, making it possible to adjust the angle of the lamp unit 1 in the up and down direction.

[0072] Furthermore, after the aiming adjustment has been performed, when the S-type leveling actuator 7S is feedback controlled based on the change in the pitch angle of the vehicle body, the drive shaft 73 slides up and down, and the ball socket 53C fitted to it moves up and down. This causes the rear flange 17 connected to the ball socket 53C to move up and down, and the lamp optical axis of the lamp unit 1 is controlled to be at a required angle with respect to the road surface. In other words, static leveling control and dynamic leveling control are possible.

[0073] In the vertical angle adjustment unit of the present disclosure, the configurations of the above-described embodiments may be combined as appropriate. For example, embodiment A2-2 may be combined with embodiment B1, or embodiment A2-2 may be combined with embodiment B2. In embodiment B2, the leveling actuator may be replaced with an S-type or P-type leveling actuator by changing the mounting direction of the P-type or S-type leveling actuator.

[0074] In each of the embodiments described above, the lamp unit 1 is provided with a rear flange 17, and the up-down angle adjustment unit 5 is connected through an opening groove 18 formed in the flange 17. However, if the mechanical strength of the lamp unit 1, particularly the mechanical strength of the unit case, becomes an issue, a frame or the like may be provided separately to reinforce the lens holder 11 and the heat sink 16. By connecting the up-down angle adjustment unit 5 to a part of this frame, the mechanical strength of the lamp unit 1 including the lens holder 11 and the heat sink 16 is increased, and vibration resistance characteristics are likely to be improved.

[0075] The application of the aiming device according to the present disclosure is not limited to the thin lamp unit described in the embodiment. Furthermore, the vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure can also be applied to a fog lamp as a vehicle lamp equipped with an aiming device.

[0076] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-042961 filed on March 19, 2024, and incorporates all of the contents of said application by reference.

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp comprising: a lamp unit that is housed in a lamp housing and that emits light from a light source forward; a lens holder that supports the illumination lens; and a heat dissipation section that supports the light source and the lens holder; and an aiming device that tilts the lamp unit to adjust the angle of the lamp optical axis of the lamp unit, wherein the aiming device comprises: a fulcrum section that is disposed between the light source and the illumination lens and that supports the lamp unit so that it can tilt; and an up / down angle adjustment section that is disposed behind the light source on the heat dissipation section and that tilts the lamp unit up and down using the fulcrum section as a fulcrum.

2. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the fulcrum portion is disposed at one side position of the lamp unit.

3. A vehicle lamp according to claim 2, wherein a left-right angle adjustment section is provided at the other side position of the lamp unit, for tilting the lamp unit in the left-right direction with the fulcrum section as a fulcrum.

4. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the vertical angle adjustment section comprises a driven member that moves vertically when operated, and the driven member is connected to a rear portion of the lamp unit.

5. A vehicle lamp as described in claim 4, wherein the vertical angle adjustment portion comprises an aiming screw extending in the vertical direction, the driven member includes a driven nut threaded onto the aiming screw, and the driven nut moves in the vertical direction due to the axial rotation of the aiming screw.

6. A vehicle lamp as described in claim 5, wherein the up / down angle adjustment unit is provided with an operating shaft that is operated to rotate and a force direction conversion mechanism that converts the force transmission direction of the rotation force of the operating shaft, and the aiming screw rotates by the rotation force converted by the force direction conversion mechanism.

7. A vehicle lamp as described in claim 4, wherein the vertical angle adjustment section comprises an aiming screw extending in the fore-and-aft direction, and a driven nut that is threaded onto the aiming screw and moves in the fore-and-aft direction due to the axial rotation of the aiming screw, and the driven member is connected to the driven nut via a force direction conversion mechanism and moves in the up-and-down direction due to the fore-and-aft movement of the driven nut.

8. A vehicle lamp according to claim 5, wherein the vertical angle adjustment section includes a leveling actuator for tilting the lamp unit in the vertical direction, and the leveling actuator rotates the aiming screw when driven.

9. A vehicle lamp according to claim 6, wherein the vertical angle adjustment section includes a leveling actuator for tilting the lamp unit in the vertical direction, and the leveling actuator rotates the operating shaft section when driven.

10. A vehicle lamp as described in claim 4, wherein the vertical angle adjustment section includes a leveling actuator for tilting the lamp unit in the vertical direction, the leveling actuator being integrally mounted on the driven member and moving the rear of the lamp unit in the vertical direction when driven.

11. A vehicle lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 10, configured as a headlamp of a vehicle.

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