Vehicle lamp

The vehicle lamp forms a cutoff line with a simpler configuration by using a light distributing reflection surface with a deflection portion, addressing the complexity and cost issues of conventional designs.

WO2025229895A1PCT designated stage Publication Date: 2025-11-06ICHIKOH IND LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
PCT/JP2025/015501
Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2024-04-30
Filing Date
2025-04-22
Publication Date
2025-11-06

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Conventional vehicle lamps require a complex configuration to form a cutoff line with high precision by combining horizontal and inclined edges, which increases manufacturing complexity and costs.

Method used

The vehicle lamp incorporates a light distributing reflection surface with a cutoff edge and a deflection portion that partially protrudes or recesses to form the cutoff line, using a simpler configuration that includes a deflection section to reflect light to a different position, reducing the need for precise alignment of components.

Benefits of technology

This design allows for the formation of a cutoff line with desired brightness distribution using fewer parts and simpler manufacturing, while maintaining optical precision and reducing costs.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

Provided is a vehicle lamp capable of appropriately forming a cutoff line with a simpler configuration. A vehicle lamp (10) comprises: a light-distribution reflecting surface (56) that reflects light from a light source (45); and a projection lens (13) that projects light reflected by the light-distribution reflecting surface (56) toward a region forward of the vehicle, thereby irradiating the region with light having a low-beam light-distribution pattern (LP) with a cutoff line (CL). The light-distribution reflecting surface (56) has a cut-off edge portion (57) and a deflecting portion (70) that partially protrudes or is recessed along the cut-off edge portion (57), in order to form the cutoff line (CL). The deflecting portion (70) causes light from the light source (45) traveling toward the deflecting portion (70) to travel to a position different from the projection lens (13).
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Description

Vehicle lighting fixtures

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

[0002] A vehicle lamp that forms a low-vehicle light distribution pattern having a cutoff line has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The cutoff line is based on a horizontal line and is configured by combining inclined lines according to the desired brightness distribution. Conventional vehicle lamps form a cutoff line having a horizontal line and an inclined line by projecting the shape of the cutoff edge of a light guide lens that guides light from a light source.

[0003] International Publication No. 2018 / 043663

[0004] The above-mentioned vehicular lamp forms a light distribution pattern for passing vehicles having a cutoff line that combines inclined lines of a desired size at an appropriate position relative to the horizontal line by configuring the cutoff edge portion to have a horizontal edge portion corresponding to the horizontal line and an inclined edge portion corresponding to the inclined line. For this reason, the above-mentioned vehicular lamp needs to have a shape in which the horizontal edge portion and the inclined edge portion are provided with high precision in accordance with the positional relationship between the horizontal line and the inclined line required for the cutoff line.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a vehicle lamp that can appropriately form a cutoff line with a simpler configuration.

[0006] The vehicle lamp of the present disclosure comprises a light distributing reflection surface that reflects light from a light source, and a projection lens that projects the light reflected by the light distributing reflection surface forward of the vehicle to emit a light distribution pattern for passing vehicles having a cutoff line, wherein the light distributing reflection surface has a cutoff edge portion and a deflecting portion that partially protrudes or is recessed along the cutoff edge portion to form the cutoff line, and the deflecting portion causes light from the light source traveling toward it to travel to a position different from the projection lens.

[0007] According to the vehicle lamp of the present disclosure, it is possible to appropriately form a cutoff line with a simpler configuration.

[0008] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing 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 the configuration and positional relationship of a projection lens, a first light guiding lens, a second light guiding lens, each first passing-use light source, and each second passing-use light source in a state in which the vehicle lamp is configured; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the first light guiding lens and each first passing-use light source as viewed from the side of each first passing-use light source; FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing how light from each first passing-use light source is guided by the first light guiding lens and how light from each second passing-use light source is guided by the second light guiding lens, with the periphery thereof shown in a cross section similar to FIG. 2; and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the function of a deflection section provided on a light distributing reflection surface, with the periphery of the deflection section shown in a cross section similar to FIG. 5. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a light-concentrating pattern formed by light from each first low-passing light source passing through a first light-guiding lens on a screen where a horizontal line and a vertical line intersect at the center position on the projection optical axis. It is an explanatory diagram showing a diffusion pattern formed by light from each second low-passing light source passing through a second light-guiding lens on a screen similar to that of FIG. 7. It is an explanatory diagram showing a low-passing light distribution pattern and a driving light distribution pattern formed by a vehicle lamp on a screen similar to that of FIG. 7. It is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a cutoff edge portion and a deflection portion in a first light-guiding lens of another example. It is an explanatory diagram showing a light-concentrating pattern formed by light from each first low-passing light source passing through a first light-guiding lens of another example on a screen similar to that of FIG.

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, hatching indicating a cross section is omitted to facilitate understanding of the state of light propagation. In Fig. 9, the driving light distribution pattern HP is shown in color to facilitate understanding of the driving light distribution pattern HP.

[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 9 . 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-to-down direction (referred to as Y in the drawings), and the direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear and up-to-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] This vehicular lamp 10 forms a predetermined light distribution pattern on a projection optical axis Lp along the longitudinal direction. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the vehicular lamp 10 is configured by integrating a driving unit 11 that forms a driving light distribution pattern HP (see FIG. 9 ) and a passing unit 12 that forms a passing light distribution pattern LP (see FIG. 9 ). In this vehicular lamp 10, the driving unit 11 and the passing unit 12 share a projection lens 13 and a heat sink 14. The vehicular lamp 10 is configured such that the projection lens 13 is attached to the heat sink 14 via a lens holder 15, and the driving unit 11 and the passing unit 12 are mounted thereon. The heat sink 14 is formed, for example, from a thermally conductive aluminum plate, aluminum die-cast, or resin, and is capable of dissipating heat generated by the driving light source 21 and the passing light source 41 (described later) to the outside, mainly through the heat dissipation fins.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 2, the driving unit 11 is a lamp unit including a driving light source 21, a condenser lens 22, and a driving projection lens 23. The driving light source 21 has 12 driving light sources 24 (only one is shown in Fig. 2) and a driving board 25 on which the driving light sources 24 are mounted. Each driving light source 24 is composed of a light-emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode). The driving light sources 24 are arranged at approximately equal intervals in the width direction.

[0013] The running board 25 is a plate-like aluminum board and is attached to the running mounting portion 14a of the heat sink 14. The running board 25 may be made of a resin material such as a glass epoxy board, or may be made of other materials. The running board 25 is provided with a wiring pattern and connector terminals that electrically connect each of the running light sources 24. The running board 25 receives appropriate power from a lighting control circuit via the connector terminals to appropriately light up each of the running light sources 24.

[0014] The condenser lenses 22 are provided corresponding to the 12 driving light sources 24 of the driving light source unit 21, and are molded articles made of a transparent resin material. The condenser lenses 22 are optical lenses that condense light emitted from each driving light source 24 in the vertical direction while gently diffusing the light in the width direction, causing the light to travel toward the driving projection lens unit 23, and form a driving light distribution pattern HP (see FIG. 9 ) as a light distribution pattern in cooperation with the driving projection lens unit 23. The condenser lenses 22 are elongated in the width direction, and cause light emitted from each driving light source 24 to enter through a condensing incident surface 26 and exit through a condensing exit surface 27.

[0015] The light-collecting incident surface 26 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 incident surface 26 has an upper concave portion 31, a convex portion 32, and a lower concave portion 33. The upper concave portion 31 is curved to concave the light-collecting incident surface 26 and extends from the upper end of the light-collecting incident surface 26 to the convex portion 32. The convex portion 32 is curved and protrudes toward each of the driving light sources 24, and is positioned opposite each of the driving light sources 24 in the front-to-rear direction, connecting the upper concave portion 31 and the lower concave portion 33. The lower concave portion 33 is curved to concave the light-collecting incident surface 26 and extends from the convex portion 32 to the lower end of the light-collecting incident surface 26. The light-collecting incident surface 26 has the above-described configuration, allowing light emitted from each of the driving light sources 24 to efficiently enter the collecting lens 22. When viewed in the front-rear direction, the light-collecting incident surface 26 has the lower concave surface portion 33 positioned rearward of the upper concave surface portion 31, that is, closer to each of the driving light sources 24.

[0016] The light-collecting / emitting surface 27 is a convex surface based on a toroidal surface that protrudes toward the driving projection lens unit 23. The light-collecting / emitting surface 27 is curved in the width direction so that the approximate center protrudes most toward the front in the front-rear direction, and in the up-down direction so that the area slightly below the approximate center protrudes most toward the front in the front-rear direction. The light-collecting / emitting surface 27 has a larger curvature in the up-down direction than in the width direction. The light-collecting / emitting surface 27 mainly collects light in the up-down direction and also gently collects light in the width direction. The light-collecting / emitting surface 27 directs light from each driving light source 24, which is incident from the light-collecting incident surface 26, toward the driving projection lens unit 23. The light-collecting / emitting surface 27 is optically configured to change the degree of collection of light from the light-collecting incident surface 26 depending on the vertical position so as to form a desired intensity distribution of the driving light distribution pattern HP, and to input the light to the driving projection lens unit 23.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the driving projection lens unit 23 is provided in front of the condensing lens 22 in the longitudinal direction. The driving projection lens unit 23 projects light emitted from the condensing and emitting surface 27 of the condensing lens 22 forward of the vehicle to form a driving light distribution pattern HP (see FIG. 9 ). The driving projection lens unit 23 is a molded part made of a transparent resin material. The driving projection lens unit 23 is a convex lens that is inclined so that it slopes rearward in the longitudinal direction as it extends upward in the vertical direction. The driving projection lens unit 23 has a rear focal point set inside the condensing lens 22 when light passes through the condensing and emitting surface 27 of the condensing lens 22. The driving projection lens unit 23 irradiates light from the condensing lens 22, and projects an image formed on a focal plane (meridional image plane) including the rear focal point by inverting it vertically and horizontally onto a screen. The screen is set so 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 traveling unit 11) as the origin (see FIG. 7, etc.).

[0018] When the driving unit 11 turns on each driving light source 24, the light travels from the light-collecting entrance surface 26 into the collecting lens 22 and exits from the light-collecting exit surface 27. The light-collecting exit surface 27 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 driving light distribution pattern HP to be formed. The driving unit 11 then projects the light emitted from the light-collecting exit surface 27 of the collecting lens 22 using the driving projection lens 23. At this time, the driving projection lens 23 inverts the image formed on the focal plane by the light-collecting entrance surface 26 vertically and horizontally and projects it onto the screen. In this way, the driving unit 11 can form the driving light distribution pattern HP (see FIG. 9 ) on the screen by turning on each driving light source 24.

[0019] In the driving unit 11 of Example 1, each of the 12 driving light sources 24 arranged in the width direction forms a light distribution area, and the light distribution areas are arranged while partially overlapping in the direction along the horizontal line H to form a driving light distribution pattern HP. Therefore, the driving unit 11 can individually turn on and off the light distribution areas corresponding to each driving light source 24 by individually turning on and off each driving light source 24. This allows the driving unit 11 to perform partial light distribution control in any direction in the driving light distribution pattern HP, and can function as an ADB (Adaptive Driving Beam (variable light distribution headlamp)).

[0020] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the passing unit 12 is a lighting unit including a passing light source 41, a first light guide lens 42, a second light guide lens 43, and a passing projection lens 44. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the passing light source 41 includes two first passing light sources 45, three second passing light sources 46, and a passing board 47 on which they are mounted. Each of the first passing light sources 45 and each of the second passing light sources 46 is composed of a light-emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode). The first passing light sources 45 are aligned in the width direction, and three second passing light sources 46 are aligned at approximately equal intervals in the width direction.

[0021] The passing board 47 is a plate-shaped aluminum board and is attached to the passing mounting portion 14b of the heat sink 14. The passing board 47 may be made of a resin material such as a glass epoxy board, or may be made of other materials. The passing board 47 is provided with a wiring pattern and connector terminals that electrically connect the first passing light sources 45 and the second passing light sources 46. This passing board 47 receives appropriate power from a lighting control circuit via the connector terminals to appropriately light up the first passing light sources 45 and the second passing light sources 46.

[0022] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the first light guide lenses 42 are provided corresponding to the two first passing light sources 45 of the passing light source unit 41 and are molded from a transparent resin material. The first light guide lenses 42 are optical lenses that guide light emitted from each first passing light source 45 inward and cooperate with the passing projection lens unit 44 to form a light-concentrating pattern portion Lc (see Figure 7) of the passing light distribution pattern LP (described later). The first light guide lens 42 is provided with two first light guide entrance portions 51 on the lower side in the vertical direction. Each first light guide entrance portion 51 is individually associated with a respective first passing light source 45 and has basically the same configuration as each other, but has optical characteristics (surface shape, etc.) according to the desired light distribution image for each.

[0023] Each first light-guiding entrance portion 51 has a portion facing the corresponding first passing-light source 45 that protrudes toward the first passing-light source 45, and a center that is recessed toward the opposite side from the first passing-light source 45. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 , the first light-guiding entrance portion 51 has an opposing entrance surface 52, an inclined entrance surface 53, and an annular reflecting surface 54. The opposing entrance surface 52 is curved convexly toward the first passing-light source 45, and the first passing-light source 45 is positioned near a focal point (rear focal point) on the rear side (first passing-light source 45 side). The opposing entrance surface 52 causes light emitted from the first passing-light source 45 to enter the first light-guiding lens 42 as parallel light traveling substantially parallel to the axis of the first light-guiding entrance portion 51, and the parallel light travels toward a first lower internal reflecting surface 55, which will be described later. The parallel light (parallel light) refers to light that has been collimated by passing through the opposing incident surface 52 .

[0024] The inclined incident surface 53 is provided in a truncated cone shape around the opposing incident surface 52, protruding from the opposing incident surface 52 toward the first passing light source 45. This inclined incident surface 53 allows light from the first passing light source 45 that does not travel to the opposing incident surface 52 to enter the first light-guiding lens 42. The annular reflective surface 54 is provided in a truncated cone shape around the inclined incident surface 53, and is positioned at a position where light that enters the first light-guiding lens 42 from the inclined incident surface 53 travels. The annular reflective surface 54 reflects the light that has entered the inclined incident surface 53, causing the light to travel as parallel light traveling approximately parallel to the axis of the first light-guiding incident portion 51 toward a first lower internal reflective surface 55, which will be described later. The annular reflective surface 54 may reflect light by total reflection, or may reflect light by adhering aluminum, silver, or the like to the annular reflective surface 54 by vapor deposition, coating, or the like.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 5 , the first lower internal reflective surface 55 is provided on the front side of each first light guiding entrance section 51 in the front-rear direction. This first lower internal reflective surface 55 reflects light incident from each first light guiding entrance section 51 toward the light distributing reflective surface 56 of the first light guiding lens 42. This first lower internal reflective surface 55 is configured by a free-form surface based on a paraboloid that collects light near the cutoff edge 57 of the light distributing reflective surface 56, and is provided corresponding to each of the two first light guiding entrance sections 51. The first lower internal reflective surface 55 reflects light incident from the first light guiding entrance section 51, causing the light to travel near the cutoff edge 57. Note that the first lower internal reflective surface 55 may be configured using total reflection, be subjected to a reflective treatment, or have another configuration as long as it reflects light as described above. Furthermore, the first lower internal reflective surface 55 may be a single surface and is not limited to the configuration of Example 1.

[0026] The first light guiding lens 42 has a columnar light guiding portion 58 extending in the vertical direction above the first lower internal reflective surface 55. The first light guiding lens 42 also has an inclined wall portion 59 connecting the light guiding portion 58 (its upper end) and a first light guiding output portion 61 (rear end) described below. The inner surface of the inclined wall portion 59 serves as a light distributing reflection surface 56. The light distributing reflection surface 56 is located above the first lower internal reflective surface 55 in the vertical direction and reflects light reflected by the first lower internal reflective surface 55 toward the first light guiding output portion 61 of the first light guiding lens 42 (see the dashed arrow in FIG. 6 ). The lower edge of the light distributing reflection surface 56, i.e., the boundary between the inclined wall portion 59 and the light guiding portion 58 (rear wall surface 58 a), serves as a cutoff edge 57.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 7 and other figures, the cutoff line CL of the first embodiment is a horizontal line portion Ch extending in the horizontal direction, which is required to partially reduce the amount of light at a position to the left of the center position O. The dimming point Cd is provided to partially recess the horizontal line portion Ch at that position. This cutoff line CL is designed to accommodate areas where vehicles drive on the right side of the road, and the dimming point Cd is set to a position to the left of the center position O. The cutoff edge 57 forms the horizontal line portion Ch in the cutoff line CL and is a horizontal edge that extends linearly in the width direction. This cutoff edge 57 is located near the focal point (rear focal point) of the passing projection lens unit 44 through the first light guide and output portion 61 (first output surface 62), which will be described later. This light distributing reflection surface 56 reflects the light reflected by the first lower internal reflection surface 55 toward the first light guide output portion 61, while the rear wall surface 58a below the cut-off edge portion 57 reflects the light reflected by the first lower internal reflection surface 55 toward a higher side than the light reflected by the light distributing reflection surface 56. Therefore, the light distributing reflection surface 56 can reflect the shape of the cut-off edge portion 57 in the light reflected toward the first light guide output portion 61.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 4 and other figures, the light distributing reflecting surface 56 is provided with a deflection portion 70. The deflection portion 70 partially protrudes outward from the inclined wall portion 59, causing the light distributing reflecting surface 56 to be partially recessed in comparison. The deflection portion 70 is formed on the inclined wall portion 59 in the shape of a triangular prism with one side overlapping the cutoff edge portion 57, and has a rising surface 71 and a ceiling surface 72. The rising surface 71 is a flat surface that rises upward in the up-down direction from the cutoff edge portion 57. The ceiling surface 72 is a flat surface that extends from the upper end of the rising surface 71 toward the front in the front-to-rear direction and intersects with the inclined wall portion 59 (the light distributing reflecting surface 56) at a predetermined position in the front-to-rear direction.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 5 , part of the light reflected by the first lower internal reflective surface 55 and heading toward the light distributing reflection surface 56 travels through the deflection unit 70. As shown in FIG. 6 , the deflection unit 70 of Example 1 totally reflects the light that travels toward the rising surface 71, causing the light to travel toward the ceiling surface 72. The ceiling surface 72 transmits light that travels directly toward it from the first lower internal reflective surface 55 and light that is reflected by the rising surface 71 and travels toward it, causing the light to travel upward in the vertical direction. Therefore, the deflection unit 70 does not reflect, toward the first light guide output unit 61, the light that travels toward it, among the light that travels toward the light distributing reflection surface 56. Note that the position and shape of the deflection unit 70 may be set as appropriate as long as the deflection unit 70 does not reflect the light that travels toward it toward the first light guide output unit 61 as described above, and are not limited to the configuration of Example 1.

[0030] The deflection unit 70 is provided to reduce the amount of light at a position in the cutoff line CL that takes into consideration the occupants of oncoming vehicles, etc. The positional relationship and dimensions of the deflection unit 70 at the cutoff edge 57 are set according to the positional relationship and dimensions of the dimming point Cd at the horizontal line portion Ch. As a result, when the horizontal line portion Ch is formed reflecting the shape of the light distributing reflection surface 56 including the cutoff edge 57, the deflection unit 70 can form a dimming point Cd (see FIG. 7 , etc.) that partially recesses an arbitrary position at the horizontal line portion Ch by preventing light from traveling to an arbitrary position in the vicinity of the horizontal line portion Ch.

[0031] Here, even when the vehicle lamp 10 is provided on the left side of the vehicle, the positional relationship of the deflector 70 at the cutoff edge 57 of the light distributing and reflecting surface 56 is not reversed in the width direction. That is, the vehicle lamp 10 is reversed in the width direction between the right and left sides of the vehicle, but the positional relationship of the deflector 70 at the cutoff edge 57 of the light distributing and reflecting surface 56 is the same. Note that, in the first embodiment, the cutoff line CL corresponds to an area where vehicles drive on the right side, but when the vehicle lamp 10 is provided to an area where vehicles drive on the left side, the positional relationship of the deflector 70 at the cutoff edge 57 is reversed between the left and right, and the cutoff line is reversed between the left and right.

[0032] As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the first light guiding and emitting section 61 is provided at the upper end of the first light guiding lens 42 in the up-down direction, and is provided on the front side of the light distributing and reflecting surface 56 (inclined wall portion 59) in the front-to-rear direction. The front surface of this first light guiding and emitting section 61 in the front-to-rear direction is the first emitting surface 62. The first emitting surface 62 is positioned opposite the light distributing and reflecting surface 56 in the front-to-rear direction and is a free-form surface based on a flat surface or a spherical surface that is set so that the focal point (rear focal point) of the passing projection lens section 44 is near the cutoff edge 57 of the light distributing and reflecting surface 56. The first emitting surface 62 emits light reflected by the light distributing and reflecting surface 56 to the front side in the front-to-rear direction.

[0033] The passing projection lens unit 44 is provided on the front-rear direction front side of the first emission surface 62 (first light guide emission portion 61) of the first light guide lens 42. This passing projection lens unit 44 projects light emitted from the first emission surface 62 forward of the vehicle to form the light collection pattern portion Lc (see FIG. 7 ) of the passing light distribution pattern LP. The passing projection lens unit 44 is a molded product made of a transparent resin material. The passing projection lens unit 44 is a convex lens that is inclined so that it slopes downward in the up-down direction and rearward in the up-down direction.

[0034] The passing projection lens unit 44 has a focal point (rear focal point) located near the cutoff edge 57 of the light distributing reflection surface 56 when the light passes through the first exit surface 62 (first light guiding exit portion 61) of the first light guiding lens 42. The passing projection lens unit 44 irradiates light from the first light guiding lens 42 (its first exit surface 62) to invert the shape of the light distributing reflection surface 56, including the cutoff edge 57 and the deflection portion 70, vertically and horizontally, and projects the inverted shape onto the screen. This allows the passing projection lens unit 44 to form the light-concentrating pattern portion Lc (see FIG. 7 ) of the passing light distribution pattern LP on the screen.

[0035] The second light guide lenses 43 are provided corresponding to the three second passing light sources 46 of the passing light source unit 41 and are molded articles made of a transparent resin material. The second light guide lenses 43 are optical lenses that condense light emitted from each second passing light source 46 and direct it toward the passing projection lens unit 44, forming the diffusion pattern portion Ld (see FIG. 8 ) of the passing light distribution pattern LP in cooperation with the passing projection lens unit 44. The second light guide lenses 43 are elongated in the width direction, and allow light emitted from each second passing light source 46 to enter through a second incident surface 74 and exit through a second exit surface 75. The second incident surface 74 serves as a second incident portion of the second light guide lens 43, and the second exit surface 75 serves as a second exit portion of the second light guide lens 43.

[0036] The second incident surface 74 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 second incident surface 74 is curved and protrudes toward each second passing light source 46, and is positioned opposite each second passing light source 46 in the front-to-rear direction. As shown in Figure 5, the second incident surface 74 can condense light emitted from each second passing light source 46 and cause it to enter the second light guiding lens 43.

[0037] The second light exit surface 75 is a convex surface based on a toroidal surface that protrudes toward the passing projection lens unit 44. This second light exit surface 75 is curved so that the approximate center in the width direction protrudes most toward the front-to-rear direction, and so that the area slightly below the approximate center in the up-to-down direction protrudes most toward the front-to-rear direction. The curvature of the second light exit surface 75 in the up-to-down direction is greater than the curvature in the width direction. This second light exit surface 75 mainly focuses light in the up-to-down direction, but also gently focuses light in the width direction.

[0038] Furthermore, the second light guiding lens 43 has a second lower internal reflective surface 73 provided on the lower side in the up-down direction between the second incident surface 74 and the second exit surface 75. This second lower internal reflective surface 73 is a plane connecting the lower end of the second incident surface 74 and the lower end of the second exit surface 75, and is inclined upward from the second incident surface 74 toward the second exit surface 75. The second lower internal reflective surface 73 reflects, among the light incident from the second incident surface 74 and emitted from each second passing light source 46, light traveling downward toward the second exit surface 75. This allows the second light guiding lens 43 to efficiently emit the light emitted from each second passing light source 46 from the second exit surface 75 while preventing the light from entering the first light guiding lens 42.

[0039] The second exit surface 75 allows light that is incident from the second incident surface 74 and travels directly, as well as light that is reflected by the second lower internal reflective surface 73 and travels toward the second exit surface 75, toward the low-beam projection lens unit 44. As will be described later, the second exit surface 75 cooperates with the low-beam projection lens unit 44 to form the diffusion pattern portion Ld (see FIG. 8 ) of the low-beam projection light distribution pattern LP, and is optically configured to change the degree of concentration of light from the second incident surface 74 depending on the vertical position so as to achieve a desired intensity distribution of the diffusion pattern portion Ld, and to allow the light to enter the low-beam projection lens unit 44. Here, the low-beam projection lens unit 44 is configured to form the light concentration pattern portion Lc with light from the first light-guiding lens 42, as described above. For this reason, the optical characteristics of the second exit surface 75 are set in conjunction with the optical characteristics of the second entrance surface 74 so as to form a diffusion pattern section Ld with light from each second passing light source 46 while taking into account the optical characteristics of the passing projection lens section 44.

[0040] In the second light guiding lens 43, a lower end 75a (front end of the second lower internal reflective surface 73) of a second emission surface 75, which serves as the second emission portion, is positioned vertically lower than an upper end 62a of the first emission surface 62 (first light guiding emission portion 61) of the first light guiding lens 42. This allows the second emission surface 75 to overlap the upper end of the diffusion pattern Ld formed by the emitted light with the lower end of the light concentrating pattern Lc formed by the light emitted from the first emission surface 62 of the first light guiding lens 42 (see FIG. 9 ).

[0041] 2 and 3, the passing projection lens unit 44 is located in front of the second light-guiding lens 43 in the front-rear direction. The passing projection lens unit 44 projects the light emitted from the second emission surface 75 of the second light-guiding lens 43 toward the front of the vehicle, and forms the diffusion pattern portion Ld (see FIG. 8) of the passing light distribution pattern LP.

[0042] When the first passing light sources 45 of the passing unit 12 are turned on, the vehicle lamp 10 causes the light to travel from the corresponding first light guide entrance portions 51 into the first light guide lenses 42, reflect off the first lower internal reflection surface 55 and the light distributing reflection surface 56, and then exit from the first exit surface 62 of the first light guide exit portion 61. By being reflected off the light distributing reflection surface 56, the shape of the cutoff edge portion 57 and the shape of the deflector 70 provided thereon are reflected. The vehicle lamp 10 then projects the light through the passing projection lens portion 44. As a result, the vehicle lamp 10 forms, on the screen, a cutoff line CL on the projection optical axis Lp, and a light-concentrating pattern Lc that brightens the area near the projection optical axis Lp and brightens the area below the cutoff line CL, as shown in FIG. 7 . In this light-collecting pattern Lc, the shapes of the cutoff edge 57 and the deflection unit 70 are reflected, so that a dimming point Cd is formed in the cutoff line CL, which partially recesses a position on the left side of the center position O of the horizontal line unit Ch. In detail, the cutoff edge 57 basically forms the horizontal line unit Ch, and the deflection unit 70 partially prevents light from being irradiated at the position, thereby forming a dimming point Cd that partially recesses the horizontal line unit Ch.

[0043] Furthermore, when the vehicle lamp 10 turns on each second passing light source 46 of the passing unit 12, the light travels from the corresponding second incident surface 74 into the second light guiding lens 43 and is emitted from the second exit surface 75 either directly or after being reflected by the light distributing reflection surface 56. The vehicle lamp 10 then projects the light using the passing projection lens 44. As a result, the vehicle lamp 10 forms a diffusion pattern Ld on the screen, which partially overlaps with the lower part of the light-concentrating pattern Lc and brightens a large area in the width direction below the light-concentrating pattern Lc, as shown in Figures 8 and 9 .

[0044] Therefore, by turning on each of the first low-passing light sources 45 and each of the second low-passing light sources 46, the vehicle lamp 10 can form a light-concentrating pattern Lc having a cutoff line CL and a diffusion pattern Ld that partially overlaps the light-concentrating pattern Lc and widely expands in the width direction, as shown in Fig. 9. The light-concentrating pattern Lc and the diffusion pattern Ld form a low-passing light distribution pattern LP that has the cutoff line CL and brightens a wide area in the width direction. The low-passing light distribution pattern LP becomes a projected light distribution pattern that illuminates the area ahead of the vehicle, and can illuminate a wide area in the width direction, ensuring a wide field of view.

[0045] Furthermore, when the vehicle lamp 10 turns on each of the driving light sources 24 of the driving unit portion 11, the light travels from the corresponding light collecting entrance surface 26 into the collecting lens 22 and is emitted from the second emission surface 75. The vehicle lamp 10 then projects the light using the driving projection lens portion 23. As a result, the vehicle lamp 10 forms a driving light distribution pattern HP on the screen above the low-vehicle light distribution pattern LP, which brightens an area extending in the width direction.

[0046] For these reasons, the vehicular lamp 10 can provide a light distribution pattern for passing by forming a passing light distribution pattern LP (a light-collecting pattern portion Lc and a diffusion pattern portion Ld) having a cutoff line CL using the passing unit portion 12. The vehicular lamp 10 can also provide a light distribution pattern for driving by forming a running light distribution pattern HP overlaid on the passing light distribution pattern LP using the driving unit portion 11 and the passing unit portion 12. Furthermore, when providing light distribution for driving, the vehicular lamp 10 can individually control any direction in the running light distribution pattern HP by individually turning on and off each of the driving light sources 24, thereby achieving the ADB function. Furthermore, when providing light distribution for driving and the formation of a cutoff line CL is not required, the vehicular lamp 10 can turn off each of the first passing light sources 45 of the passing unit portion 12 to provide only the diffusion pattern portion Ld without providing the light-collecting pattern portion Lc.

[0047] Here, we will explain the technical problems of conventional vehicle lamps. First, in a cutoff line, it is necessary to reduce the amount of light at a position relative to a basic horizontal line, taking into consideration occupants of oncoming vehicles, etc., and the required brightness distribution is achieved by providing an inclined line corresponding to the position where the amount of light is to be reduced. For this reason, conventional vehicle lamps have been designed to have a cutoff edge that has a horizontal edge portion corresponding to the horizontal line and an inclined edge portion corresponding to the inclined line. As a result, conventional vehicle lamps must form the cutoff edge as a configuration that combines the horizontal edge portion and the inclined edge portion with high precision according to the required brightness distribution.

[0048] In contrast, the vehicular lamp 10 of the present disclosure includes a deflector 70 in the first light guide lens 42 of the passing unit 12, which forms the cutoff line CL, that overlaps one side with the cutoff edge 57 and partially recesses the light distributing / reflecting surface 56. The vehicular lamp 10 reflects the light from the light distributing / reflecting surface 56, thereby forming a light-condensing pattern Lc having the cutoff line CL on a screen, reflecting the shape of the deflector 70 in addition to the shape of the cutoff edge 57. That is, the vehicular lamp 10 can form the cutoff line CL by adding the shape of the deflector 70 to the basic shape of the cutoff edge 57. Therefore, by setting the position and size of the deflector 70, the vehicular lamp 10 can form a cutoff line CL that is based on a horizontal line Ch and combines the dimming point Cd with the desired brightness distribution, with a simple configuration that simply includes the deflector 70 on the cutoff edge 57.

[0049] Furthermore, the vehicle lamp 10 is provided with a driving projection lens portion 23 and a passing projection lens portion 44 in the projection lens 13, and the driving light source portion 21 and the passing light source portion 41 are attached to the heat sink 14 to provide a driving unit portion 11 and a passing unit portion 12. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 can integrate the driving unit portion 11 and the passing unit portion 12 with a simple configuration, and the optical positional relationship between the driving unit portion 11 and the passing unit portion 12 can be made appropriate without the need for positioning adjustment work.

[0050] Furthermore, the vehicle lamp 10 allows light from each of the first passing light sources 45 to enter through each of the first light-guiding entrance portions 51, so that the light from each of the first passing light sources 45, which has a wide spread, can be efficiently incident on the first light-guiding lens 42. In the vehicle lamp 10, the first light-guiding lens 42 forms the cutoff line CL while totally reflecting the incident light at the first lower internal reflection surface 55 and the light-distributing reflection surface 56, so that the light can be efficiently used to form the light-concentrating pattern portion Lc of the passing light distribution pattern.

[0051] The vehicular lamp 10 can form a passing light distribution pattern LP having a cutoff line CL while illuminating a wide range of positions using the first light guide lens 42, the second light guide lens 43, and the passing projection lens portion 44, all of which are made of a transparent resin material, thereby achieving a simple configuration and reducing manufacturing costs. This is due to the following reasons. To form the passing light distribution pattern LP in a vehicular lamp, it is possible to use a reflector member that reflects light from a light source and a shade member that forms a cutoff line, which increases the number of parts and requires the preparation of materials tailored to each component. However, the vehicular lamp 10 only has three optical components: the first light guide lens 42, the second light guide lens 43, and the passing projection lens portion 44, all of which are made of a transparent resin material. The vehicular lamp 10 forms the cutoff line CL by utilizing the shape of the edge of the light distribution / reflection surface 56 of the first light guide lens 42 (the cutoff edge portion 57 and the deflection portion 70). Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 can form a passing light distribution pattern LP that illuminates a wide range of positions, while having a simple configuration and reducing manufacturing costs.

[0052] The vehicle lamp 10, which is one example of a vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure, can achieve the following effects.

[0053] The vehicle lamp 10 includes a light distributing reflection surface 56 that reflects light from a first low-passing light source 45, and a projection lens 13 that projects the light reflected therefrom forward of the vehicle to irradiate a low-passing light distribution pattern LP having a cutoff line CL. The light distributing reflection surface 56 has a cutoff edge 57 and a deflection portion 70 that partially protrudes or recesses along the cutoff edge 57 to form the cutoff line CL. The deflection portion 70 directs light from the first low-passing light source 45 traveling toward it to a position different from that of the projection lens 13. Therefore, by reflecting the light from the first low-passing light source 45 with the light distributing reflection surface 56, the vehicle lamp 10 can form a light-condensing pattern Lc having a cutoff line CL on a screen by reflecting the shape of the deflection portion 70 in addition to the shape of the cutoff edge 57. As a result, the vehicle lamp 10 has a simple configuration in which a deflection section 70 is provided at the cutoff edge section 57, and can appropriately form a cutoff line CL that is based on a horizontal line section Ch and combines a dimming point section Cd according to the required brightness distribution.

[0054] The vehicle lamp 10 also includes a first light guide lens 42 that receives light from a light source, reflects it off a light distributing reflection surface 56, and then guides the light to the projection lens 13. The deflection section 70 is provided partially on the inclined wall portion 59 of the first light guide lens 42 that forms the light distributing reflection surface 56. In a mold for a molded product, it is easier to provide a recess than a protrusion on the molding surface that forms the light distributing reflection surface 56. This is because a recess can be formed by simply grinding the molding surface, whereas a protrusion requires either grinding the entire molding surface to leave the protrusion or installing a nest on the molding surface. Grinding the entire molding surface to form a molding surface with a protrusion increases the manufacturing costs of the mold. Furthermore, installing a nest increases the number of parts and may cause burrs or other problems in the molded product at the boundary between the molding surface and the nest. In contrast, the vehicle lamp 10 only requires that a recess for forming the deflection section 70 be provided on the molding surface that forms the light distribution reflection surface 56 of the inclined wall section 59 in the mold, so the mold can be easily formed and the light distribution reflection surface 56 and the deflection section 70 can be formed appropriately.

[0055] The vehicle lamp 10 further includes a second light guide lens 43 that is provided above the first light guide lens 42 and guides light from the second low-beam light source 46. The first light guide lens 42 has a first light guide / output portion 61 that outputs light from the first low-beam light source 45 that has been reflected by the light distribution reflection surface 56. The second light guide lens 43 has a second output surface 75 that serves as a second output portion that outputs light from the second low-beam light source 46. An upper end 62a of the first output surface 62 of the first light guide / output portion 61 is positioned higher than a lower end 75a of the second output surface 75. Therefore, in the vehicle lamp 10, the upper end of the diffusion pattern portion Ld formed by the light output from the second output surface 75 can be overlapped with the lower end of the light concentration pattern portion Lc formed by the light output from the first output surface 62 of the first light guide lens 42.

[0056] In the vehicle lamp 10, the second light-guiding lens 43 has a second incident surface 74 that receives light from the second passing light sources 46 and a second lower internal reflective surface 73 that reflects the light that is incident from the second incident surface 74 and travels downward toward the second exit surface 75. The second lower internal reflective surface 73 is inclined upward from the second incident surface 74 toward the second exit surface 75. Therefore, in the vehicle lamp 10, of the light that is incident from the second incident surface 74 and is emitted from each second passing light source 46, the light that travels downward can be reflected by the second lower internal reflective surface 73 toward the second exit surface 75. This allows the vehicle lamp 10 to efficiently emit the light emitted from each second passing light source 46 from the second exit surface 75 and prevent the light from entering the first light-guiding lens 42.

[0057] In the vehicle lamp 10, the first light guide lens 42 has a first light guide entrance portion 51 that receives light from the first passing light source 45, and a first lower internal reflective surface 55 that reflects the light that has entered from the first light guide entrance portion 51 toward a light distributing reflective surface 56. The light distributing reflective surface 56 is located above the first lower internal reflective surface 55. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 can appropriately form a cutoff line CL that reflects the shapes of the cutoff edge portion 57 and the deflector 70, while suppressing an increase in the longitudinal dimension of the passing unit 12.

[0058] In the vehicle lamp 10, the first light-guiding lens 42 has a light-guiding portion 58 that guides light reflected by the first lower internal reflective surface 55 to the light distributing reflective surface 56. The cutoff edge 57 is formed at the boundary between the rear wall surface 58a of the light-guiding portion 58 and the light distributing reflective surface 56. Therefore, in the vehicle lamp 10, the light distributing reflective surface 56 reflects light from the first lower internal reflective surface 55 toward the first light-guiding output portion 61, and the rear wall surface 58a reflects light from the first lower internal reflective surface 55 toward a position higher than the light reflected by the light distributing reflective surface 56, so that the shape of the cutoff edge 57 can be reflected in the light traveling toward the first light-guiding output portion 61. This allows the vehicle lamp 10 to have the cutoff edge 57 that forms the cutoff line CL with a simple configuration.

[0059] Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 of the first embodiment as the vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure can appropriately form the cutoff line CL with a simpler configuration.

[0060] 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.

[0061] In the first embodiment described above, the cutoff line CL shown in FIG. 7 and other figures is formed by providing the cutoff edge 57 and the deflection unit 70 in accordance with the shape of the cutoff line. However, the cutoff line is set in accordance with a desired aspect, and the cutoff edge and the deflection unit may be provided in accordance with the desired aspect of the cutoff line. In other words, the shape of the cutoff edge and the shape and dimensions of the deflection unit may be changed as appropriate in accordance with the desired aspect of the cutoff line, and are not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment. Examples are shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

[0062] The example shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 has the same basic configuration as in Example 1, but differs from Example 1 in the configurations of the cutoff edge 57A and deflection unit 70A provided on the first light guiding lens 42. The cutoff edge 57A and deflection unit 70A in FIG. 10 are aligned with the cutoff line CLA of the light-condensing pattern LcA shown in FIG. 11. As shown in FIG. 11, the cutoff line CLA is required to partially reduce the amount of light at a position to the left of the center position O in a horizontal line portion Ch extending horizontally, and the irradiation range to the left of the partially reduced position is lowered. For this reason, the cutoff line CLA has a horizontal line portion Ch1 provided at a high position on the right side, an inclined line portion Cs1 provided so as to be recessed from the left side of the horizontal line portion Ch1, and a horizontal line portion Ch2 provided at a lower position via an inclined line portion Cs2 to the left of the horizontal line portion Ch1. The area between the horizontal line portion Ch1 and the inclined line portion Cs2 is defined as the dimming point Cd.

[0063] Accordingly, the cutoff edge portion 57A in FIG. 10 has a shape in which two horizontal portions 57a and 57b extending horizontally at different heights are joined by an inclined portion 57c. The deflection portion 70A in FIG. 10 is provided along the horizontal portion 57a ​​on the left side of the inclined portion 57c and partially protrudes outward from the inclined wall portion 59A, thereby partially recessing the light distributing / reflecting surface 56A. The deflection portion 70A has a generally triangular prism shape with one side overlapping the horizontal portion 57a ​​on the inclined wall portion 59A, and includes a rising surface 71A and a ceiling surface 72A. The rising surface 71A is a flat surface rising upward from the horizontal portion 57a ​​in the vertical direction, and includes an inclined portion 71Aa connected to the horizontal portion 57a ​​and an inclined portion 71Ab connected to the inclined portion 57c. The ceiling surface 72A is a plane extending forward from the upper end of the rising surface 71A in the front-to-rear direction and intersects with the inclined wall portion 59A (light distributing / reflecting surface 56A) at a predetermined position in the front-to-rear direction. The cutoff edge portion 57A and the deflection portion 70A are projected onto the screen in an inverted manner, forming a cutoff line CLA at a high position on the left side, which is composed of a horizontal line portion Ch1, an inclined line portion Cs1, a dimming point portion Cd, an inclined line portion Cs2, and a horizontal line portion Ch2. Specifically, the horizontal portion 57a ​​forms the horizontal line portion Ch1, the inclined portion 71Aa forms the inclined line portion Cs1, the deflection portion 70A forms the dimming point portion Cd, the inclined portion 71Ab and the inclined portion 57c form the inclined line portion Cs2, and the horizontal portion 57b forms the horizontal line portion Ch2.

[0064] Here, the cutoff line CLA requires the most accurate brightness distribution when reducing the brightness at the dimming point Cd. In the examples of Figures 10 and 11, the dimming point Cd is formed by the deflection unit 70A, so the deflection unit 70A is provided at the location where the most accuracy is required. Therefore, the examples of Figures 10 and 11 have a simple configuration in which the deflection unit 70A is provided at the cutoff edge 57A, and can appropriately form a cutoff line CLA having the inclined line Cs1, the inclined line Cs2, and the horizontal line Ch2 by combining the dimming point Cd according to the required brightness distribution while using the horizontal line Ch1 as a base.

[0065] Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, the deflection section 70 is provided by partially protruding outward from the inclined wall portion 59 of the first light guiding lens 42, thereby partially recessing the light distributing reflection surface 56. However, as long as the deflection section 70 does not reflect light traveling toward itself toward the first light guiding and emitting section 61, the deflection section 70 may partially protrude from the light distributing reflection surface 56, that is, the inclined wall portion 59 may be partially recessed, and is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment.

[0066] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the light distributing reflection surface 56 is configured by the inner surface of the first light guiding lens 42, which guides light incident thereon. However, the light distributing reflection surface 56 may have other configurations as long as it has a cutoff edge 57 that forms a cutoff line CL and forms a passing light distribution pattern LP having the cutoff line CL with reflected light, and is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment. As another configuration, for example, the light distributing reflection surface may be configured by a reflective surface of a reflector member that at least partially surrounds the target light source (the first passing light source 45 in the first embodiment), and the edge of the light distributing reflection surface may be a cutoff edge that reflects light traveling toward the light distributing reflection surface toward the corresponding projection lens. Even in this case, the deflecting unit may be configured to partially protrude or recess the light distributing reflection surface of the reflector member as long as it does not reflect light traveling toward the deflecting unit toward the corresponding projection lens. Furthermore, when molding a reflector member using a mold, by making the light distributing reflective surface a deflecting section that partially protrudes, the deflecting section can be formed by providing a recess on the molding surface that forms the light distributing reflective surface, so that the mold can be easily formed and the light distributing reflective surface and deflecting section can be formed appropriately.

[0067] In the above-described first embodiment, the twelve driving light sources 24 are arranged as described above to form the driving light distribution pattern HP, and the two first passing light sources 45 and the three second passing light sources 46 are arranged as described above to form the passing light distribution pattern LP. However, the number and arrangement positions of the light sources used may be set appropriately and are not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment.

[0068] In the above-described first embodiment, the passing light distribution pattern LP is formed by the light concentrating pattern portion Lc formed using each of the first passing light sources 45 and the first light guiding lens 42, and the diffusion pattern portion Ld formed using each of the second passing light sources 46 and the second light guiding lens 43. However, the passing light distribution pattern LP having the cutoff line CL may be formed only by each of the first passing light sources 45 and the first light guiding lens 42, and is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0069] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-074028, filed with the Japan Patent Office on April 30, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp comprising: a light distributing reflective surface that reflects light from a light source; and a projection lens that projects the light reflected by said light distributing reflective surface forward of the vehicle to project a light distribution pattern for passing vehicles having a cutoff line, wherein said light distributing reflective surface has a cutoff edge and a deflecting portion that partially protrudes or is recessed along said cutoff edge to form said cutoff line, and wherein said deflecting portion causes light from the light source traveling toward said deflecting portion to travel to a position different from that of the projection lens.

2. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, further comprising a light guide lens that receives light from the light source, reflects it off the light distribution reflection surface, and then emits it and guides it to the projection lens, and the deflection section is partially provided on a sloped wall portion of the light guide lens that forms the light distribution reflection surface.

3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 2, wherein the light source is a first light source and the light guide lens is a first light guide lens, and further comprising a second light guide lens provided above the first light guide lens and guiding light from a second light source, the first light guide lens having a first emission portion that emits light from the first light source reflected by the light distributing reflection surface, and the second light guide lens having a second emission portion that emits light from the second light source, and the upper end of the first emission portion is positioned higher than the lower end of the second emission portion.

4. The vehicle lamp described in claim 3, characterized in that the second light-guiding lens has a second incident portion that allows light from the second light source to enter, and a second lower internal reflective surface that reflects light that enters from the second incident portion and travels downward toward the second exit portion, and the second lower internal reflective surface is inclined upward from the second incident portion toward the second exit portion.

5. A vehicle lamp as described in claim 3 or claim 4, characterized in that the first light-guiding lens has a first incident portion that allows light from the first light source to enter, and a first lower internal reflective surface that reflects the light entered from the first incident portion toward the light distributing reflective surface, and the light distributing reflective surface is located above the first lower internal reflective surface.

6. A vehicle lamp as described in claim 5, characterized in that the first light-guiding lens has a light-guiding portion that guides light reflected by the first lower internal reflective surface to the light-distributing reflective surface, and the cut-off edge portion is formed at the boundary between the rear wall surface of the light-guiding portion and the light-distributing reflective surface.

7. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, further comprising a reflector member that receives light from the light source, reflects it off the light distribution reflection surface, and then emits the light and guides it to the projection lens, and the deflection portion of the reflector member partially protrudes from the light distribution reflection surface.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Vehicle light guide body and vehicle lamp unit

    JP2023176526A