Directional indicator lamp

Abstract

A directional indicator lamp (1) is provided with a light source unit (11), and a light emitting unit (12) that guides light from the light source unit (11) and emits the light in front of a vehicle, wherein: an area in the light emitting unit (12) from which light is emitted includes a main area (MA) that, in a front view, is provided in a position aligned on the lateral side of the vehicle with a low-beam emission area (92), which emits a low beam, of a headlamp (90), and a sub area (SA) that extends from the main area (MA) further toward the central side of the vehicle than the low-beam emission area (92); the brightness of the light emitted from the main area (MA) is greater than the brightness of the light emitted from the sub area (SA); and light is emitted diagonally forward toward the central side of the vehicle from a specific area (46a) in the sub area (SA) that is located closer to the central side of the vehicle than the low-beam emission area (92).

Description

Turn signal lamp

[0001] The present invention relates to a turn signal lamp.

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Some vehicle lamps include a light emitting portion that guides and emits light from a light source, and Patent Document 1 listed below discloses such a vehicle lamp.

[0003] The vehicle lamp of Patent Document 1 below includes a light source, a rod-shaped light guide extending in the left-right direction and guiding light from the light source, and a light emitting portion arranged to cover the rod-shaped light guide from the front side. Light from the light source is emitted from the front side of the outer peripheral surface of the rod-shaped light guide and enters the light emitting portion. Light entering the light emitting portion is guided to the front surface of the light emitting portion and emitted forward from that surface. The light emitting region of the light emitting portion extends in the left-right direction, and in a front view, that region and the headlamp are aligned in the up-down direction. The vehicle lamp of Patent Document 1 is used as a turn signal lamp for a vehicle.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-177451

[0005] In turn signals, the light output area is sometimes expanded to the sides of the headlight. However, increasing the light output increases energy consumption. There is also a demand for suppressing the decrease in visibility.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a turn lamp that can suppress an increase in energy consumption while suppressing a decrease in visibility.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the turn signal lamp of the present invention comprises a light source unit and a light emitting unit that guides light from the light source unit and emits it forward of the vehicle, and the light emitting area of ​​the light emitting unit includes, when viewed from the front, a main area that is located next to the side of the vehicle relative to the low beam emitting area of ​​the headlamp that emits the low beam, and a sub-area that extends from the main area to a position beyond the low beam emitting area toward the center of the vehicle, and the brightness of the light emitted from the main area is higher than the brightness of the light emitted from the sub-area, and light is emitted diagonally forward toward the center of the vehicle from a specific area in the sub-area that is located closer to the center of the vehicle than the low beam emitting area.

[0008] This turn signal lamp can suppress the brightness of light emitted from the sub-region relative to the brightness of light emitted from the main region, thereby suppressing an increase in overall energy consumption. Furthermore, this turn signal lamp is positioned so that the main region, which emits light with high brightness, is aligned with the low beam emission region on the side of the vehicle, thereby suppressing a decrease in visibility from the front and sides of the vehicle. Furthermore, light is emitted from a specific sub-region diagonally forward toward the center of the vehicle. Since the light emitted from this specific region is less likely to be blocked by components such as headlights, it can be directed diagonally forward toward the center of the vehicle, thereby suppressing a decrease in visibility.

[0009] The brightness of the light emitted from the primary region may be at least twice as high as the brightness of the light emitted from the secondary region.

[0010] With this configuration, the main area can be made more visually noticeable than the sub-area, and therefore a decrease in attention-grabbing power can be suppressed.

[0011] The distance between the main region and the low beam emission region may be greater than the distance between the sub region and the low beam emission region.

[0012] Compared to when the distance between the main area and the low beam emission area is shorter than the distance between the sub-area and the low beam emission area, this can prevent the light from the main area from becoming difficult to see due to the low beam. Therefore, compared to the above case, it can prevent the light from the main area from attracting attention even when a low beam is emitted from the headlight.

[0013] When viewed from the front, the brightness of light emitted from a connection region of the sub-region that is connected to the main region and is located to the side of the vehicle relative to the low beam emission region may be lower than the brightness of light emitted from the specific region in the sub-region and regions other than the connection region.

[0014] In a front view, the brightness of light emitted from an intermediate region of the sub-region sandwiched between the specific region and the connection region may be higher on the central side than on the specific region side and the connection region side.

[0015] In a front view, the distance between the energy center of the light emitted from the main region and the low beam emission region may be 100 mm or more.

[0016] This configuration can prevent the light emitted from the main area from becoming difficult to see due to the low beam, and therefore, even if the headlight is emitting a low beam, the light from the main area can prevent a decrease in the ability to attract attention.

[0017] The sub-region may be elongated in the left-right direction, and the main region may be elongated in the up-down direction.

[0018] The width of the sub-region in the left-right direction may be three times or more the width of the region of the headlamp from which the low beam is emitted.

[0019] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a turn signal lamp that can suppress an increase in energy consumption while suppressing a decrease in visibility.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a lamp set including a turn signal lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the lamp set of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view along the longitudinal direction of the right side portion of the first light guide. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the lamp unit taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the lamp unit taken along line V-V in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the lamp unit taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 2. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the lamp unit taken along the longitudinal direction of the first light guide. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the light emission region of the light emitting portion and the low beam emission region of the headlamp. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the luminance distribution of light emitted from the light emitting portion in the forward direction of the vehicle.

[0021] Preferred embodiments of the turn signal lamp according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments illustrated below are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention can be modified and improved from the embodiments illustrated below within the scope of the claims. Note that in the drawings referred to below, the dimensions of each component may be changed to facilitate understanding.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a lamp set including a turn signal lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view showing the lamp set. The turn signal lamp 1 according to this embodiment is a turn signal lamp provided on each of the left and right sides of the front of a four-wheeled motor vehicle. The left and right turn signal lamps have the same configuration except that their shapes are roughly symmetrical in the left-right direction. Therefore, the following description will focus on the left turn signal lamp. In this specification, "right" means the right side in the forward direction of the vehicle, and "left" means the left side in the forward direction of the vehicle.

[0023] 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the lamp set LS mainly comprises a turn signal lamp 1 and a headlight 90, and the turn signal lamp 1 mainly comprises a housing 5 and a lamp unit 10. In Fig. 1, the left side is the left side of the vehicle, the right side is the center side of the vehicle, and the housing 5 is shown in horizontal cross section.

[0024] The housing 5 has a lamp housing 6 and a light-transmitting outer cover 7. The front of the lamp housing 6 is open, and the outer cover 7 is fixed to the lamp housing 6 so as to close the opening. A lamp unit 10 is housed in a space R formed by the lamp housing 6 and the outer cover 7. In this embodiment, a headlamp 90 is also housed in the space R. Note that the outer cover 7 is not shown in Figure 2.

[0025] The headlight 90 of this embodiment is configured to be able to switch between emitting a low beam and a high beam. The low beam and high beam are emitted from a projection lens 91 provided in the headlight 90. Therefore, the front surface of the projection lens 91 is a low beam emission area 92 that emits the low beam, and the high beam is also emitted from the low beam emission area 92. Note that the configuration of the headlight 90 is not limited as long as it is capable of emitting a low beam.

[0026] The lamp unit 10 of this embodiment mainly comprises a light source section 11 and a light-transmitting light-emitting section 12 .

[0027] The light source unit 11 of the present embodiment mainly includes a first light source unit 20 and a second light source unit 30. The first light source unit 20 of the present embodiment includes a first light source 21 and a first light guide 22. The first light source 21 emits amber light. In the present embodiment, the first light source 21 is an LED (Light Emitting Diode), but is not limited thereto.

[0028] The first light guide 22 of this embodiment is a translucent, cylindrical member and includes a left portion 23, a curved portion 24, and a right portion 25. The left portion 23 is a partial section of the cylindrical first light guide 22, and extends generally horizontally and linearly from the left side toward the front in the space R. An end face 23s on the rear side of the left portion 23 is one end face of the first light guide 22, and the end face 23s is a flat surface facing rearward. The first light source 21 is disposed opposite the end face 23s, and light from the first light source 21 enters the left portion 23 from the end face 23s.

[0029] The curved portion 24 is another section of the first light guide 22, and is a section that extends forward from the front end of the left side portion 23 and curves to the right.

[0030] The right side portion 25 is another section of the first light guide 22, and is a section that extends generally horizontally and linearly from the end opposite the left side portion 23 of the curved portion 24 toward the right side, and is generally parallel to the left-right direction.

[0031] 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the longitudinal direction of the right side portion 25. In FIG. 3, the upper side is the front side, the lower side is the rear side, the left side is the left lateral side of the vehicle, and the right side is the center side of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of steps 51 are provided on the rear side of the outer peripheral surface of the right side portion 25, aligned along the extension direction of the right side portion 25. Each step 51 includes a first inclined surface 51a that slopes rearward toward the curved portion 24 and a second inclined surface 51b that slopes forward toward the curved portion 24. The width of the first inclined surface 51a in the longitudinal direction of the right side portion 25 is greater than the width of the second inclined surface 51b in the same direction.

[0032] Although not shown in the drawings, a plurality of steps 51 are also provided on the rear side of the outer peripheral surface of the curved portion 24, aligned along the extension direction of the curved portion 24. Therefore, the plurality of steps 51 are provided across the curved portion 24 and the right side portion 25.

[0033] Although details will be described later, in the first light guide 22 configured as described above, light from the first light source 21 that is incident on the left side portion 23 propagates inside the left side portion 23 toward the curved portion 24, and then propagates to the right side portion 25 via the curved portion 24. The step 51 internally reflects the propagating light forward, and the light is emitted forward from the curved portion 24 and the right side portion 25.

[0034] Examples of materials that can be used to form the first light guide 22 include transparent resin and glass, and the first light guide 22 of this embodiment is made of a colorless, transparent resin.

[0035] The second light source unit 30 of this embodiment includes a second light source 31 and a second light guide 32. The second light source 31 emits amber light. In this embodiment, the second light source 31 is an LED array in which a plurality of LEDs are arranged in the vertical direction, and the amount of light emitted from the second light source 31 is greater than the amount of light emitted from the first light source 21. Note that the second light source 31 is not limited.

[0036] In this embodiment, the second light guide 32 is a translucent rectangular prism-shaped member extending in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the second light guide 32 is located to the left of and below the first light source 21 and includes a left side surface 33 and a right side surface 34 that face each other in the left-right direction, and a rear surface 35 and a front surface 36 that face each other in the front-rear direction. The left side surface 33 and the right side surface 34 are generally parallel to the front-rear direction and the vertical direction, and the front surface 36 is generally parallel to the left-rear direction and the vertical direction. The rear surface 35 is generally parallel to the vertical direction and tilts forward toward the left. The second light source 31 is disposed opposite the right side surface 34. Light from the second light source 31 enters the second light guide 32 from the right side surface 34, is internally reflected forward by the rear surface 35, and is emitted forward from the front surface 36.

[0037] Examples of materials that can be used to form the second light guide 32 include transparent resin and glass, and the second light guide 32 of this embodiment is made of a colorless, transparent resin.

[0038] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the lamp unit 10 taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 1 . As shown in FIGS. 1 , 2 , and 4 , the light emitting portion 12 of this embodiment includes a first member 40 and a second member 60. The first member 40 of this embodiment is a rectangular prism-shaped member located in front of the first light guide 22 at a predetermined distance and extending along the first light guide 22, and includes a left portion 43, a curved portion 44, and a right portion 45. The left portion 43 is a partial section of the first member 40 that extends along the left portion 23 of the first light guide 22. The curved portion 44 is another partial section of the first member 40 that extends along the curved portion 24 of the first light guide 22. The right portion 45 is yet another partial section of the first member 40 that extends along the right portion 25 of the first light guide 22. The section of the first member 40 consisting of the curved portion 44 and the right side portion 45 includes a front surface 46 and a rear surface 47 that face each other in the front-to-rear direction, and an upper surface 48 and a lower surface 49 that face each other in the up-down direction. The front surface 46 and the rear surface 47 are generally parallel to the vertical direction, and the upper surface 48 is generally parallel to the horizontal direction. The lower surface 49 slopes downward from the front to the rear. The entire lower surface 49 is provided with a plurality of diffusion steps (not shown) consisting of fine irregularities. As will be described in detail later, light from the first light source unit 20 enters the first member 40 from the rear surface 47 of the section consisting of the curved portion 44 and the right side portion 45, is guided to the front surface 46 and the lower surface 49, and is emitted forward from these front surface 46 and lower surface 49.

[0039] In a front view, the first member 40 is located above a low beam emission region 92 that emits a low beam of the headlamp 90. In addition, in a front view, the left side portion 43 and the curved portion 44 are located to the left lateral side of the vehicle from the low beam emission region 92, the right side portion 45 is aligned vertically with the low beam emission region 92, and the right end of the right side portion 45 is located closer to the center of the vehicle than the low beam emission region 92.

[0040] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the lamp unit 10 taken along line V-V in FIG. 2 , showing a horizontal cross-section of the lamp unit 10 across a specific region 46a on the front surface 46 of the right side portion 45. In a front view, the specific region 46a is located closer to the center of the vehicle than the low beam emission region 92, and in this embodiment, connects to the end of the right side portion 45 that is closer to the center of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 5 , the specific region 46a is provided with a plurality of inner steps 52 aligned along the extension direction of the right side portion 45. Each inner step 52 includes a first inclined surface 52a that slopes forward toward the curved portion 44 and a second inclined surface 52b that slopes rearward toward the curved portion 44. The width of the first inclined surface 52a in the longitudinal direction of the right side portion 45 is greater than the width of the second inclined surface 52b in that direction.

[0041] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the lamp unit 10 taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 2. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, the second member 60 of this embodiment is a rectangular prism-shaped member extending downward from the left side portion 43 of the first member 40. The second member 60 includes a front surface 61 and a rear surface 62 that face each other in the front-rear direction, and a left side surface 63 and a right side surface 64 that face each other in the left-right direction. The front surface 61 and the rear surface 62 are generally parallel to the left-right direction and the vertical direction, and the rear surface 62 faces the front surface 36 of the second light guide 32 with a predetermined gap therebetween. The upper edge of the front surface 61 connects to the lower surface 49 of the curved portion 44 of the first member 40. The left side surface 63 and the right side surface 64 are generally parallel to the front-rear direction and the vertical direction. As will be described in detail later, light from the second light source unit 30 enters the second member 60 from the rear surface 62, is guided to the front surface 61, and is emitted forward from the front surface 61.

[0042] When viewed from the front, the second member 60 is located to the left of the low beam emission area 92 of the headlamp 90, which emits the low beam, and the second member 60 and the low beam emission area 92 are aligned in the left-right direction.

[0043] Examples of materials that form the light emitting unit 12 include transparent resin and glass. In this embodiment, the first member 40 and the second member 60 of the light emitting unit 12 are made of the same colorless transparent resin, and the first member 40 and the second member 60 are integrated together. In other words, there is no joint between the first member 40 and the second member 60.

[0044] Next, the operation of the turn lamp 1 of this embodiment will be described.

[0045] When a vehicle turn switch (not shown) is operated to turn on the left side, the first light source 21 and the second light source 31 synchronize with each other and alternately emit and stop emitting amber light at predetermined time intervals. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the lamp unit 10 taken along the longitudinal direction of the first light guide 22. Note that the step 51 and the inner step 52 are omitted from FIG. 7 . As shown in FIG. 7 , light from the first light source 21 enters the left side portion 23 of the first light guide 22 from the end surface 23 s of the left side portion 23. The light that enters the left side portion 23 propagates through the left side portion 23 toward the curved portion 24 and then propagates through the curved portion 24 to the right side portion 25. The light propagating through the curved portion 24 and the right side portion 25 is internally reflected forward by the first inclined surface 51 a of the step 51, as shown in FIG. 3 , and is then emitted forward from the curved portion 24 and the right side portion 25. Because the curved portion 24 is curved to the right as one faces forward, light is emitted from the curved portion 24 toward the front and diagonally left of the vehicle. Light emitted from the curved portion 24 and the right side portion 25 is incident on the curved portion 44 and the right side portion 45 from the rear surface 47 of the curved portion 44 and the right side portion 45 of the first member 40 of the light emitting portion 12. As shown in FIG. 4 , most of the light incident on the curved portion 44 and the right side portion 45 is guided to the front surface 46 and emitted forward from the front surface 46, and some of the light is guided to the lower surface 49 and emitted from the lower surface 49. Because the lower surface 49 has a plurality of diffusion steps (not shown), light incident on the diffusion steps on the lower surface 49 is diffused by the diffusion steps, and some of the diffused light is directed forward. Furthermore, because the curved portion 44 is curved to the right as one faces forward, light is emitted from the front surface 46 of the curved portion 44 toward the front and diagonally left of the vehicle. 5, since a plurality of inner steps 52 are provided in the specific region 46a of the front surface 46 of the right side portion 45, light incident on the first inclined surface 52a of each inner step 52 is refracted by the first inclined surface 52a and directed diagonally forward toward the center of the vehicle. In other words, light is emitted from the specific region 46a diagonally forward toward the center of the vehicle.

[0046] 6 , light from the second light source 31 enters the second light guide 32 from the right side surface 34 of the second light guide 32, is internally reflected by the rear surface 35 so as to travel forward, and is emitted forward from the front surface 36. The light emitted from the front surface 36 enters the second member 60 of the light emitting unit 12 from the rear surface 62 of the second member 60, is guided to the front surface 61, and is emitted forward from the front surface 61.

[0047] In this way, light is emitted forward from the light emitting portion 12, and the light is irradiated toward the front of the vehicle through the outer cover 7.

[0048] FIG. 8 is a front view of the light emitting unit 12 and the headlamp 90, illustrating the relationship between the light emitting region of the light emitting unit 12 and the low beam emitting region 92 of the headlamp 90. As described above, the light emitting regions of the light emitting unit 12 are the front surface 46 and the lower surface 49 of the curved portion 44 and the right side portion 45 of the first member 40, and the front surface 61 of the second member 60. Light from the second light source unit 30 is mainly emitted from the front surface 61, and light from the first light source unit 20 is mainly emitted from the front surface 46 and the lower surface 49. The brightness of the light emitted from the front surface 61 is higher than the brightness of the light emitted from the front surface 46 and the lower surface 49, and in this embodiment, is at least twice the brightness of the light emitted from the front surface 46 and the lower surface 49. In the following description, the front surface 61, which has high brightness, is referred to as the main region MA, and the front surface 46 and the lower surface 49, which have low brightness, are referred to as the sub-region SA. In FIG. 8, the main area MA is hatched with a plurality of oblique lines, and the sub-area SA is hatched with oblique lines different from those of the main area MA.

[0049] 8 , in a front view, the main region MA is provided in a position aligned in the left-right direction on the side of the vehicle with respect to the low beam emission region 92 of the headlamp 90, and is elongated in the up-down direction. In addition, in a front view, the sub-region SA extends from the main region MA to a position closer to the center of the vehicle than the low beam emission region 92, is elongated in the left-right direction, and is located above the low beam emission region 92. In addition, the specific region 46a, from which light is emitted diagonally forward toward the center of the vehicle, is part of the sub-region SA and is located closer to the center of the vehicle than the low beam emission region 92.

[0050] Furthermore, the width SAW of the sub-area SA in the left-right direction is at least three times the width 92W of the low beam emission area 92 in the left-right direction, but may be less than three times the width 92W.

[0051] In addition, in a front view, the distance MAL between the main area MA and the low beam emission area 92 is greater than the distance SAL between the sub area SA and the low beam emission area 92. The distances SAL and MAL are the shortest distances.

[0052] In addition, when viewed from the front, the distance MACL between the energy center MAC of the light emitted from the main area MA and the low beam emission area 92 is 100 mm or more, and in this embodiment, is approximately 105 mm.

[0053] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the luminance distribution of light emitted from the light emitting portion 12 toward the front of the vehicle, and is a diagram showing the luminance distribution of light on line L in FIG. 8 . Note that line L is a line connecting the center line of the sub-region SA and the center line of the main region MA. In FIG. 9 , the vertical axis represents luminance, and the horizontal axis represents distance. The position of zero distance is the intersection of line L and the edge of the sub-region SA toward the center of the vehicle. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , in a front view, the luminance of light emitted from a connection region CA of the sub-region SA that connects to the main region MA and is located to the side of the vehicle relative to the low beam emission region 92 is lower than the luminance of light emitted from regions of the sub-region SA other than the specific region 46 a and the connection region CA. This connection region CA is at least a portion of the sub-region SA that connects to the main region MA and is located to the side of the vehicle relative to the low beam emission region 92. In this embodiment, the connection region CA is a part of this region. In this embodiment, the brightness of the light emitted from the connection area CA is ⅓ or less of the brightness of the light emitted from the specific area 46 a and the areas other than the connection area CA in the sub-area SA, but this is not limited to this. In addition, when viewed from the front, the brightness of the light emitted from the connection area CA may be the same as or higher than the brightness of the light emitted from the areas other than the specific area 46 a and the connection area CA in the sub-area SA.

[0054] Furthermore, in a front view, the luminance of light emitted from the intermediate region MDA sandwiched between the specific region 46a and the connection region CA of the sub-region SA is higher toward the center than toward the specific region 46a and the connection region CA. In this embodiment, the intermediate region MDA includes a portion of the low beam emission region 92 that is laterally adjacent to the vehicle and a portion of the low beam emission region 92 that is laterally adjacent to the vehicle, and the high-luminance region MDAh is located laterally adjacent to the low beam emission region 92. Note that the region MDAh may be aligned vertically with the low beam emission region 92. Furthermore, the luminance of light emitted from the intermediate region MDA may be lower toward the center than toward the specific region 46a and the connection region CA, or may be generally constant throughout the entire intermediate region MDA. In this embodiment, in a front view, the luminance of light emitted from the specific region 46a may be the same as or higher than the luminance of light emitted from the intermediate region MDA. In FIG. 8, the intermediate area MDA and the area MDAh are surrounded by dotted lines.

[0055] As described above, the turn signal lamp 1 of this embodiment includes a light source unit 11 and a light emitting unit 12. The light emitting unit 12 includes a main region MA and a sub-region SA. The main region MA is located adjacent to the low beam emitting region 92 of the headlamp 90 on the side of the vehicle when viewed from the front. The sub-region SA extends from the main region MA to the center of the vehicle beyond the low beam emitting region 92. The luminance of the light emitted from the main region MA is higher than the luminance of the light emitted from the sub-region SA. Therefore, the turn signal lamp 1 of this embodiment can reduce the luminance of the light emitted from the sub-region SA relative to the luminance of the light emitted from the main region MA, thereby suppressing an increase in overall energy consumption. Furthermore, as described above, the main region MA, which emits light with a high luminance, is located adjacent to the low beam emitting region 92 on the side of the vehicle, thereby suppressing a decrease in visibility from the front and sides of the vehicle. Furthermore, light is emitted diagonally forward toward the center of the vehicle from a specific region 46a located closer to the center of the vehicle than the low-beam emission region 92 in the sub-region SA. The light emitted from the specific region 46a is less likely to be blocked by components such as the headlight 90. Therefore, the turn signal lamp 1 of this embodiment can irradiate light diagonally forward toward the center of the vehicle, thereby preventing a decrease in visibility. Therefore, the turn signal lamp 1 of this embodiment can prevent a decrease in visibility while preventing an increase in energy consumption.

[0056] In the turn signal lamp 1 of this embodiment, the brightness of the light emitted from the main area MA is at least twice the brightness of the light emitted from the sub-area SA. Therefore, according to the turn signal lamp 1 of this embodiment, the main area MA can be made more visually noticeable than the sub-area SA, thereby suppressing a decrease in the ability to attract attention. Note that the brightness of the light emitted from the main area MA may be less than twice the brightness of the light emitted from the sub-area SA.

[0057] In the turn signal lamp 1 of this embodiment, the distance SAL between the sub-area SA and the low beam emission area 92 is smaller than the distance MAL between the main area MA and the low beam emission area 92. Therefore, the turn signal lamp 1 of this embodiment can prevent the light from the main area MA from becoming difficult to see due to the low beam, compared to when the distance MAL is smaller than the distance SAL. Therefore, compared to the above case, even if a low beam is emitted from the headlamp 90, the light from the main area MA can prevent a decrease in attention-attracting power. Note that the distance SAL may be equal to or greater than the distance MAL.

[0058] In the turn signal lamp 1 of this embodiment, when viewed from the front, the distance MACL between the energy center MAC of the light emitted from the main region MA and the low beam emission region 92 is 100 mm or more. Therefore, the turn signal lamp 1 of this embodiment can prevent the light emitted from the main region MA from becoming difficult to see due to the low beam emitted from the headlight 90. Therefore, even if a low beam is emitted from the headlight 90, a decrease in the attention-attracting effect of the light from the main region MA can be prevented. Note that the distance MACL may be less than 100 mm.

[0059] Although the present invention has been described above using the above-mentioned embodiments as examples, the present invention is not limited to these.

[0060] For example, in the above embodiment, an example was described in which the main region MA is elongated in the vertical direction and the sub-region SA is elongated in the horizontal direction. However, it is sufficient that the main region MA is provided in a position aligned with the low beam emission region 92 of the headlamp 90 on the side of the vehicle in a front view, and the sub-region SA extends from the main region MA to a position beyond the low beam emission region 92 toward the center of the vehicle. Note that, in a front view, the main region MA and the low beam emission region 92 may be aligned with a space between them or may be aligned with them in contact.

[0061] In the above embodiment, the specific region 46a includes the end of the sub-region SA closer to the center of the vehicle. However, the specific region 46a may be at least a portion of the sub-region SA that is closer to the center of the vehicle than the low beam emission region 92. For example, the specific region 46a does not have to include the end of the sub-region SA closer to the center of the vehicle.

[0062] In the above embodiment, the light source unit 11 includes the first light source unit 20 including the first light source 21 and the first light guide 22, and the second light source unit 30 including the second light source 31 and the second light guide 32. However, the configuration of the light source unit 11 is not limited. For example, the first light source 21 and the second light source 31 may emit white light, in which case the light emitting unit 12 is transparent amber, for example.

[0063] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the light emitting unit 12 including the first member 40 and the second member 60 has been described as an example. However, the configuration of the light emitting unit 12 is not limited as long as the light emitting unit 12 guides light from the light source unit 11 and emits it forward of the vehicle. For example, in the above embodiment, the light emitting unit 12 guides light from the light source unit 11 located rearward of the light emitting unit 12 forward and emits it forward of the vehicle. However, the positional relationship between the light emitting unit 12 and the light source unit 11 is not limited. For example, the light emitting unit 12 may guide light from the light source unit 11 located closer to the center of the vehicle than the light emitting unit 12 to the side of the vehicle and emit the light forward of the vehicle.

[0064] In the above embodiment, the headlight 90 is housed in the space R in the housing 5 of the turn signal lamp 1. However, the headlight 90 may be housed in a space in a housing separate from the housing 5.

[0065] According to the present invention, a turn signal lamp is provided that can suppress an increase in energy consumption while suppressing a decrease in visibility, and can be used in fields such as turn signal lamps for automobiles, etc.

Claims

1. A turn lamp comprising: a light source unit; and a light emitting unit that guides light from the light source unit and emits it forward of a vehicle, wherein the light emitting area of ​​the light emitting unit includes, in a front view, a main area that is provided in a position aligned on the side of the vehicle with a low beam emitting area of ​​the headlamp that emits a low beam, and a sub-area that extends from the main area to a center of the vehicle beyond the low beam emitting area, wherein the brightness of the light emitted from the main area is higher than the brightness of the light emitted from the sub-area, and light is emitted diagonally forward toward the center of the vehicle from a specific area in the sub-area that is located closer to the center of the vehicle than the low beam emitting area.

2. The turn signal lamp according to claim 1, wherein the brightness of the light emitted from the main region is at least twice as high as the brightness of the light emitted from the sub-region.

3. The turn signal lamp according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the main area and the low beam emission area is greater than the distance between the sub area and the low beam emission area.

4. A turn lamp as described in claim 1, characterized in that, when viewed from the front, the brightness of the light emitted from a connection area of ​​the sub-area that is connected to the main area and located to the side of the vehicle relative to the low beam emission area is lower than the brightness of the light emitted from areas of the sub-area other than the specific area and the connection area.

5. A turn signal lamp as described in claim 4, characterized in that, when viewed from the front, the brightness of the light emitted from the intermediate region of the sub-region sandwiched between the specific region and the connection region is higher on the central side than on the specific region side and the connection region side.

6. The turn signal lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, when viewed from the front, the distance between the energy center of the light emitted from the main area and the low beam emission area is 100 mm or more.

7. The turn lamp according to claim 1, wherein the sub-region is elongated in the left-right direction, and the main region is elongated in the up-down direction.

8. The turn signal lamp according to claim 1, wherein the width of the sub-area in the left-right direction is at least three times the width of the low beam emission area in the left-right direction.

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