Vehicle lamp

Abstract

Provided is a projector-type vehicle lamp, wherein a light distribution pattern for a low beam and a light distribution pattern for a high beam can be formed selectively and in an appropriate manner by an inexpensive lamp configuration. A first light-emitting element (22A) and a first reflector (24A) are disposed more toward the rear side of the lamp than a second light-emitting element (22B) and a second reflector (24B). Then, the light distribution pattern for the low beam is formed by forming, as a first inverted projected image on a virtual vertical screen at the front of the lamp, a first light source image that is formed on a rear focal plane of a projection lens (12) by light that is emitted from the first light-emitting element (22A) and reflected by the first reflector (24A), and an additional light distribution pattern for the high beam is formed by forming, as a second inverted projected image on the virtual vertical screen, a second light source image that is formed on the rear focal plane by light that is emitted from the second light-emitting element (22B) and reflected by the second reflector (24B).

Description

Vehicle lighting fixtures

[0001] The present invention relates to a so-called projector-type vehicle lamp that is configured to irradiate light emitted from a light source toward the front of the lamp via a projection lens.

[0002] Generally, projector-type vehicle lamps are configured to form a required light distribution pattern by inverting and projecting the light source image formed on the rear focal plane of the projection lens by the light emitted from the light source onto a virtual vertical screen in front of the lamp.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a configuration of such a projector-type vehicle lamp in which a downward deflection portion that deflects direct light from a light source downward is formed in the upper region of the projection lens.

[0004] The vehicle lamp described in Patent Document 1 is configured to include first and second light-emitting elements mounted on the upper surface of a common substrate as light sources, a first reflector that reflects light emitted from the first light-emitting element toward a projection lens, and a second reflector that reflects light emitted from the second light-emitting element toward the projection lens. A portion of the light emitted from the first light-emitting element is blocked by a shade to form a low-beam light distribution pattern having a cutoff line at its upper end, and an additional high-beam light distribution pattern is formed by additionally lighting the second light-emitting element.

[0005] On the other hand, Patent Document 2 describes a projector-type vehicle lamp that is configured to form a cutoff line for a low beam light distribution pattern without using a shade or the like by modifying the shape of the reflective surface of the first reflector that reflects the light emitted from the first light-emitting element toward the projection lens.

[0006] The vehicle lamp described in Patent Document 2 is configured to form an additional light distribution pattern for high beams by reflecting the light emitted from the second light-emitting element toward a projection lens using a second reflector that is arranged upside down relative to the first reflector.

[0007] JP 2023-77596 A JP 2018-198168 A

[0008] By adopting the lamp configurations described in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2, it is possible to form an additional light distribution pattern for high beam as a light distribution pattern that extends above the low beam light distribution pattern and below its cutoff line. This makes it possible to prevent dark areas from being formed along the cutoff line in the high beam light distribution pattern. Therefore, it is possible to selectively and appropriately form a light distribution pattern for low beam and a light distribution pattern for high beam.

[0009] However, in order to achieve this, the vehicle lamp described in Patent Document 1 requires the projection lens to have a special surface shape, which increases the cost of the vehicle lamp.On the other hand, the vehicle lamp described in Patent Document 2 has a configuration in which the first and second light-emitting elements are mounted on separate substrates and are arranged upside down, which increases the cost of the vehicle lamp.

[0010] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a projector-type vehicle lamp that is capable of selectively and appropriately forming a low beam light distribution pattern and a high beam light distribution pattern using an inexpensive lamp configuration.

[0011] The present invention is intended to achieve the above object by devising an arrangement of the light source and the reflector.

[0012] That is, the vehicular lamp according to the present invention is a vehicular lamp configured to irradiate light emitted from a light source toward the front of the lamp via a projection lens, wherein the light source is composed of first and second light-emitting elements mounted on a substrate while facing in the same direction, and the lamp is provided with a first reflector that reflects the light emitted from the first light-emitting element toward the projection lens, and a second reflector that reflects the light emitted from the second light-emitting element toward the projection lens, and the first light-emitting element and the first reflector are arranged further rearward of the lamp than the second light-emitting element and the second reflector, The projection lens is configured to form a first light source image formed on the rear focal plane of the projection lens by the light emitted from the first light-emitting element reflected by the first reflector as a first inverted projection image on a virtual vertical screen in front of the lamp, and to form a second light source image formed on the rear focal plane by the light emitted from the second light-emitting element reflected by the second reflector as a second inverted projection image on the virtual vertical screen, wherein the first reflector is configured to form, as the first inverted projection image, a light distribution pattern for low beam having a cutoff line at its upper end, and the second reflector is configured to form, as the second inverted projection image, an additional light distribution pattern for high beam that extends above the light distribution pattern for low beam and below the cutoff line.

[0013] The above-mentioned "light source" is composed of first and second light-emitting elements mounted on a substrate while facing in the same direction, and these first and second light-emitting elements may be mounted on a common substrate or on separate substrates.

[0014] The specific direction of the above "same direction" is not particularly limited.

[0015] The specific shape of the reflecting surface of the above-mentioned "first reflector" is not particularly limited as long as it is configured to form a low beam light distribution pattern having a cutoff line at the upper end as a first inverted projection image.

[0016] The specific shape of the reflecting surface of the above-mentioned "second reflector" is not particularly limited, as long as it is configured to form an additional light distribution pattern for high beams that extends above the light distribution pattern for low beams and below the cut-off line as a second inverted projection image.

[0017] The vehicle lamp according to the present invention is configured such that the first light-emitting element and the first reflector are disposed rearward of the second light-emitting element and the second reflector, and a first light source image formed on the rear focal plane of the projection lens by the light emitted from the first light-emitting element reflected by the first reflector is formed as a first inverted projection image on a virtual vertical screen in front of the lamp, and a second light source image formed on the rear focal plane by the light emitted from the second light-emitting element reflected by the second reflector is formed as a second inverted projection image on the virtual vertical screen, and the first reflector is configured to form a low-beam light distribution pattern having a cutoff line at its upper end as the first inverted projection image, and the second reflector is configured to form an additional high-beam light distribution pattern that is above the low-beam light distribution pattern and extends below the cutoff line as the second inverted projection image, thereby achieving the following advantageous effects.

[0018] In other words, a cutoff line for a low beam light distribution pattern can be formed without using a shade or the like, and a light distribution pattern for a high beam can be formed that extends above and below the cutoff line for the low beam light distribution pattern.

[0019] Moreover, this can be realized by mounting the first and second light-emitting elements on a substrate with them facing in the same direction, and without using a special projection lens as in the above-mentioned conventional example, thereby making it possible to make the lighting fixture configuration inexpensive.

[0020] As described above, according to the present invention, in a projector-type vehicle lamp, a low beam distribution pattern and a high beam distribution pattern can be selectively and appropriately formed with an inexpensive lamp configuration.

[0021] Furthermore, in the vehicle lamp of the present invention, the first and second light-emitting elements are mounted on the substrate facing in the same direction, making it easy to use a common substrate, thereby making it possible to make the lamp configuration even more inexpensive.

[0022] Furthermore, in the vehicle lamp according to the present invention, since the second reflector is disposed in front of the first light-emitting element, it is possible to easily block direct light from the first light-emitting element directed toward the lower half region of the rear focal plane of the projection lens by the second reflector, thereby easily preventing direct light from the first light-emitting element from being inadvertently irradiated toward the space above the cut-off line.

[0023] In the above configuration, if the substrate is further arranged to extend at an angle upward toward the rear of the lamp, and the first and second light-emitting elements are mounted on the upper surface of the substrate, it is possible to prevent the emitted light from the first light-emitting element reflected by the first reflector and the direct light from the first light-emitting element from being blocked more than necessary by the second reflector.

[0024] In the above configuration, if the first and second reflectors are configured as an integrally molded product, the number of parts in the vehicle lamp can be reduced, thereby making the lamp configuration even more inexpensive.

[0025] In the above configuration, if two sets of first light-emitting elements and first reflectors are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, and two sets of second light-emitting elements and second reflectors are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, the brightness of each of the low beam light distribution patterns and the high beam light distribution patterns can be increased.On the other hand, if such an increase in brightness is not required, the output of each of the two sets of first and second light-emitting elements can be reduced to improve their heat dissipation performance.

[0026] In this case, if each of the pair of left and right first reflectors is configured to reflect the light emitted from each of the pair of left and right first light-emitting elements in a direction that brings them closer to each other in the left-right direction, and each of the pair of left and right second reflectors is configured to reflect the light emitted from each of the pair of left and right second light-emitting elements in a direction that brings them closer to each other in the left-right direction, the pair of left and right first and second reflectors can be arranged efficiently in a limited space.

[0027] 1A is a side cross-sectional view of a vehicle lamp according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1B is a view taken in the direction of an arrow II in FIG. 1; FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1; and FIG. 1D is a view showing a light distribution pattern formed by light emitted from the vehicle lamp, where (a) is a view showing a low beam light distribution pattern, and (b) is a view showing a high beam light distribution pattern. (a) is a view showing a plurality of inverted projection images constituting the low beam light distribution pattern, and (b) is a front view showing a reflector of the vehicle lamp together with a light-emitting element.

[0028] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0029] Fig. 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a vehicle lamp 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow II in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Fig. 1.

[0030] 1 to 3, the direction indicated by X is "in front of the lamp," the direction indicated by Y is "leftward" ("rightward" when viewed from the front of the lamp) perpendicular to "in front of the lamp," and the direction indicated by Z is "upward." This is the same in other figures.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a vehicle lamp 10 according to this embodiment is configured as a projector-type lamp unit that is used in a state where it is incorporated as part of a headlamp.

[0032] That is, this vehicle lamp 10 comprises a projection lens 12 and a light source unit 20 arranged rearward of the lamp from the rear focus F of the projection lens 12, and is configured to irradiate light emitted from the light source unit 20 toward the front of the lamp via the projection lens 12.

[0033] The projection lens 12 is a plano-convex aspherical lens with a convex front surface 12a and a flat rear surface 12b, and is disposed with its optical axis Ax extending in the front-to-rear direction of the lamp. The projection lens 12 projects a light source image formed on a rear focal plane, which is a focal plane including a rear focal point F, by light emitted from the light source unit 20 as an inverted projected image on a virtual vertical screen in front of the lamp. The projection lens 12 is supported at its outer peripheral flange portion 12c by a lens holder 14, and the lens holder 14 is supported by a base member 16.

[0034] The base member 16 is provided with a unit support portion 16a for supporting the light source unit 20. This unit support portion 16a is formed so as to extend obliquely upward toward the rear of the lamp.

[0035] The light source unit 20 includes first and second light-emitting elements 22A and 22B as light sources, a first reflector 24A that reflects the light emitted from the first light-emitting element 22A toward the projection lens 12, and a second reflector 24B that reflects the light emitted from the second light-emitting element 22B toward the projection lens 12.

[0036] The first light-emitting element 22A and the first reflector 24A are arranged on the rear side of the lamp relative to the second light-emitting element 22B and the second reflector 22B.

[0037] The first and second light-emitting elements 22A, 22B are both white light-emitting diodes and have light-emitting surfaces 22Aa, 22Ba that are elongated and rectangular in the front-to-back direction of the lamp (specifically, rectangles whose front-to-back width is approximately 2 to 4 times their left-to-right width).

[0038] The first and second light emitting elements 22A, 22B are mounted on the same surface of a common substrate 26, and this substrate 26 is supported by a unit support portion 16a of the base member 16.

[0039] Specifically, the substrate 26 is disposed below the optical axis Ax of the projection lens 12 and extends obliquely upward toward the rear of the lamp. The first and second light-emitting elements 22A, 22B are mounted on the upper surface of the substrate 26 at a distance in the front-to-rear direction of the lamp. As a result, the first and second light-emitting elements 22A, 22B are disposed with their light-emitting surfaces 22Aa, 22Ba facing in the same direction, inclined from directly above toward the front of the lamp.

[0040] The first reflector 24A is disposed so as to cover the first light-emitting element 22A from above, and its lower edge is supported via a support structure (not shown) on the unit support portion 16a of the base member 16. The first reflector 24A is configured as a relatively large reflector that is formed so as to extend from near the upper surface of the substrate 26 to above the optical axis Ax.

[0041] The reflecting surface 24A of the first reflector 24A has a reflecting surface shape formed using an ellipsoidal reference surface with the light-emitting center of the light-emitting surface 22Aa of the first light-emitting element 22A as a first focus. Specifically, the ellipsoidal reference surface has an elliptical cross section including the optical axis Ax, and its eccentricity is set to gradually increase from the vertical cross section to the horizontal cross section, with the rear focus F of the projection lens 12 being the second focus in the vertical cross section. The first reflector 24A forms a low-beam light distribution pattern (described later) as a collection of inverted projected images of the light-emitting surface 22Aa formed on the virtual vertical screen by the light from the first light-emitting element 22A that is reflected by the reflecting surface 24Aa and then transmitted through the projection lens 12.

[0042] On the other hand, the second reflector 22B is disposed so as to cover the second light-emitting element 22B from above, and its lower edge is supported by the unit support portion 16a of the base member 16 via a support structure (not shown). This second reflector 22B is configured as a relatively small reflector that is formed so as not to extend from near the upper surface of the substrate 26 to above the optical axis Ax (i.e., is disposed in the space below the optical axis Ax) so as not to block the reflected light from the first reflector 24A.

[0043] The reflecting surface 24B of the second reflector 22B has a reflecting surface shape formed using an ellipsoidal reference surface with the light-emitting center of the light-emitting surface 22Ba of the second light-emitting element 22B as a first focus. Specifically, the ellipsoidal reference surface has an elliptical cross section including the optical axis Ax, and its eccentricity is set to gradually increase from the vertical cross section to the horizontal cross section. In the vertical cross section, the second focus is a point located significantly further forward of the lamp than the rear focal point F of the projection lens 12. The second reflector 22B forms an additional light distribution pattern for high beams (which will also be described later) as a collection of inverted projected images of the light-emitting surface 22Ba formed on the virtual vertical screen by the light from the second light-emitting element 22B that has been reflected by the reflecting surface 24Ba and transmitted through the projection lens 12.

[0044] 4A and 4B are perspective views showing light distribution patterns formed on a virtual vertical screen located 25 m ahead of the vehicle by forward-illuminated light from the vehicle lamp 10, in which (a) shows a low-beam light distribution pattern PL and (b) shows a high-beam light distribution pattern PH.

[0045] As shown in Figure 4(a), the low beam light distribution pattern PL formed by lighting the first light-emitting element 22A is a low beam light distribution pattern with left light distribution that spreads left and right around a line V-V that passes vertically through H-V, which is the vanishing point in the front direction of the lamp, and has horizontal and oblique cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 at its upper edge.

[0046] The horizontal cutoff line CL1 constitutes a cutoff line extending horizontally to the right of the V-V line (i.e., toward the oncoming lane), and the oblique cutoff line CL2 constitutes a cutoff line extending diagonally upward to the left of the V-V line (i.e., toward the own lane), with the elbow point E, which is the connecting point between them, being located about 0.5 to 0.6° below H-V. In this case, the oblique cutoff line CL2 extends at an inclination angle of about 10 to 30° (for example, about 15°) with respect to the horizontal cutoff line CL1.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 4B, the high beam light distribution pattern PH formed by additionally lighting the second light-emitting element 22B is formed as a light distribution pattern in which an additional light distribution pattern PA is added to the low beam light distribution pattern PL.

[0048] The additional light distribution pattern PA is formed above the low beam light distribution pattern PL so as to extend below the horizontal and oblique cutoff lines CL1, CL2 thereof.

[0049] Fig. 5A is a diagram showing a plurality of inverted projection images I1, I2, I3, and I4 constituting the low-beam light distribution pattern PL, and Fig. 5B is a front view showing the first reflector 24A together with the first light-emitting element 22A.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 5A, the low-beam light distribution pattern PL is formed as a composite light distribution pattern of the first to third light distribution patterns P1 to P3 and a fourth light distribution pattern P4.

[0051] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, the reflecting surface 24Aa of the first reflector 24A is made up of first to fourth reflecting areas Z1 to Z4.

[0052] The first light distribution pattern P1 is formed as a collection of inverted projection images I1 of the light-emitting surface 22Aa formed by reflected light from the first reflection area Z1 (i.e., images formed by inverting the light source image formed on the rear focal plane of the projection lens 12 onto a virtual vertical screen), the second light distribution pattern P2 is formed as a collection of inverted projection images I2 of the light-emitting surface 22Aa formed by reflected light from the second reflection area Z2, the third light distribution pattern P3 is formed as a collection of inverted projection images I3 of the light-emitting surface 22Aa formed by reflected light from the third reflection area Z3, and the fourth light distribution pattern P4 is formed as a collection of inverted projection images I4 of the light-emitting surface 22Aa formed by reflected light from the fourth reflection area Z4.

[0053] The first reflective area Z1 is located near the lower edge of the first reflector 24A on the left side of the optical axis Ax (the right side when viewed from the front of the lamp, and the same applies below). In this case, this first reflective area Z1 is set as an area extending in a strip shape from a position slightly to the left of the optical axis Ax to the front edge of the first reflector 24A.

[0054] The inverted projection image I1 of the light-emitting surface 22Aa formed by the reflected light from this first reflection area Z1 has an elongated rectangular shape extending approximately horizontally, since the light-emitting surface 22Aa of the first light-emitting element 22A has an elongated rectangular shape extending in the front-to-back direction.

[0055] Therefore, by setting the reflecting surface shape of the first reflecting area Z1 so that the upper edges of the inverted projection images I1 formed by reflected light from each position in this first reflecting area Z1 are aligned in the same horizontal direction, a first light distribution pattern P1 is formed as a collection of inverted projection images I1, whose upper edges extend horizontally, and a horizontal cutoff line CL1 is formed by this upper edge.

[0056] The second reflective area Z2 is located on the left side of the optical axis Ax and adjacent to and above the first reflective area Z1. The second reflective area Z2 is set as an area that extends in a trapezoidal shape to the left, adjacent to the upper side of the first reflective area Z1, up to the front edge of the first reflector 24A.

[0057] The inverted projection image I2 of the light-emitting surface 22Aa formed by the reflected light from this second reflection area Z2 has a rectangular outer shape extending diagonally, since the light-emitting surface 22Aa of the first light-emitting element 22A has a rectangular outer shape extending elongatedly in the front-to-back direction.

[0058] Therefore, by setting the reflecting surface shape of the second reflecting area Z2 so that the upper edges of the inverted projection images I2 formed by reflected light from each position in the second reflecting area Z2 are aligned in the same inclined line direction, a second light distribution pattern P2 is formed as a collection of the inverted projection images I2, whose upper edges extend in an oblique direction, and a diagonal cutoff line CL2 is formed by this upper edge.

[0059] In this case, since the second reflection area Z2 is located to the left of the optical axis Ax, the inverted projection image I2 would normally be formed below the inverted projection image I1 on the right side of the V-V line (i.e., if the reflection surface 24Aa remained the reference plane), but by appropriately deforming the surface shape of the second reflection area Z2, the inverted projection image I2 is formed in a state displaced to the left of the V-V line. Because the surface shape of the second reflection area Z2 is thus significantly deformed from the reference plane, steps are formed at the positions of the boundaries between the second reflection area Z2 and the first and fourth reflection areas Z1 and Z4.

[0060] The third reflection area Z3 is located near the lower edge of the first reflector 24A on the right side of the optical axis Ax, and is set as a belt-like area extending rightward from a position slightly away from the optical axis Ax to the front edge of the first reflector 24A.

[0061] The inverted projection image I3 of the light emitting surface 22Aa formed by the reflected light from the third reflection area Z3 also has an outer shape of a horizontally elongated rectangle that extends substantially horizontally.

[0062] Therefore, the shape of the reflecting surface of the third reflecting region Z3 is set so that the upper edge of the inverted projection image I3 formed by the reflected light from each position of the third reflecting region Z3 is located to the left of the oblique cutoff line CL2 and above the horizontal cutoff line CL1. As a result, the collection of the inverted projection images I3 forms a third light distribution pattern P3 that reinforces the brightness of the region located to the left of the oblique cutoff line CL2.

[0063] The inverted projection image I4 of the light-emitting surface 22Aa formed by reflected light from the fourth reflection area Z4 (i.e., the reflection area on the reflection surface 24Aa other than the first to third reflection areas Z1 to Z3) is configured to collectively form a fourth light distribution pattern P4 that extends in the left-right direction below the first to third light distribution patterns P1 to P3.

[0064] In addition, in this fourth reflection area Z4, the inverted projection image I4 of the light-emitting surface 22Aa formed by reflected light from a reflection area that is positioned symmetrically to the second reflection area Z2 with respect to the optical axis Ax is formed in a position that reinforces the brightness of the central area of ​​the low-beam light distribution pattern PL.

[0065] Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0066] In the vehicle lamp 10 according to this embodiment, the first light-emitting element 22A and the first reflector 24A are disposed rearward of the second light-emitting element 22B and the second reflector 24B, and a first light source image formed on the rear focal plane of the projection lens 12 by the light emitted from the first light-emitting element 22A reflected by the first reflector 24A is formed as a first inverted projection image (i.e., a collection of inverted projection images I1 to I4) on a virtual vertical screen in front of the lamp, and a second light source image formed on the rear focal plane by the light emitted from the second light-emitting element 22B reflected by the second reflector 24B is formed as a first inverted projection image (i.e., a collection of inverted projection images I1 to I4) on a virtual vertical screen in front of the lamp. The first reflector 24A is configured to form a second inverted projection image on the virtual vertical screen, and the first reflector 24A is configured to form a low-beam distribution pattern PL having horizontal and oblique cutoff lines CL1, CL2 at its upper end as the first inverted projection image, and the second reflector 24B is configured to form an additional high-beam distribution pattern PA that extends above the low-beam distribution pattern PL and below the cutoff lines CL1, CL2 as the second inverted projection image, so that the following effects can be obtained.

[0067] In other words, the cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 of the low beam light distribution pattern PL can be formed without using a shade or the like, and the high beam light distribution pattern PH can be a light distribution pattern that extends so as to straddle the cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 of the low beam light distribution pattern PL vertically.

[0068] Moreover, this can be achieved by mounting the first and second light-emitting elements 22A, 22B on a common substrate 26 with their light-emitting surfaces 22Aa, 22Ba facing in the same direction, without using a special projection lens as in the conventional example, thereby making it possible to reduce the cost of the lighting fixture configuration.

[0069] As described above, according to this embodiment, in the projector-type vehicle lamp 10, the low beam distribution pattern PL and the high beam distribution pattern PH can be selectively and appropriately formed with an inexpensive lamp configuration.

[0070] Moreover, in the vehicle lamp 10 according to this embodiment, the second reflector 24B is disposed on the front side of the first light-emitting element 22A, so that the second reflector 24B can easily block direct light from the first light-emitting element 22A directed toward the lower half region (i.e., the region located below the optical axis Ax) of the rear focal plane of the projection lens 12. This makes it easy to prevent direct light from the first light-emitting element 22A from being inadvertently irradiated toward the space above the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2.

[0071] In particular, in the vehicle lamp 10 of this embodiment, the first and second light-emitting elements 22A, 22B are mounted on the upper surface of the substrate 26, which is arranged to extend at an angle obliquely upward toward the rear of the lamp, so that the emitted light from the first light-emitting element 22A reflected by the first reflector 24A and the direct light from the first light-emitting element 22A are not blocked more than necessary by the second reflector 24B.

[0072] In the above embodiment, the first and second light-emitting elements 22A, 22B are described as being mounted on the upper surface of a common substrate 26, but it is also possible to configure them to be mounted on the upper surfaces of separate substrates.

[0073] In the above embodiment, the first and second light-emitting elements 22A, 22B are described as being arranged facing upward, but a configuration in which they are arranged facing in a direction other than this is also possible.

[0074] In the above embodiment, the projection lens 12 is described as being composed of a plano-convex aspherical lens having a circular outer shape when viewed from the front of the lamp, but it is also possible for it to be composed of a biconvex lens or a convex meniscus lens, etc., and it is also possible for it to be configured with an outer shape other than circular.

[0075] In the above embodiment, the vehicle lamp 10 has been described as being configured to form a low beam light distribution pattern PL with left light distribution, but even when it is configured to form a low beam light distribution pattern with right light distribution, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained by reversing the shape of the reflective surface 24Aa of the first reflector 24A left to right.

[0076] Next, a modification of the above embodiment will be described.

[0077] First, a first modification of the above embodiment will be described.

[0078] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing a vehicle lamp 110 according to this modified example.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 6, the basic configuration of this modified example is the same as that of the above embodiment, but the configuration of the light source unit 120 is partially different from that of the above embodiment.

[0080] That is, the light source unit 120 of this modified example differs from the above embodiment in that the first reflector 124A and the second reflector 124B are configured as an integrally molded product.

[0081] Specifically, in this modification, the first reflector 124A and the second reflector 124B are connected via a pair of left and right connecting ribs 124C. These left and right connecting ribs 124C are formed to extend in a flat plate shape from the lower end position of the front end region of the reflecting surface 124Aa of the first reflector 124A to the lower end position of the reflecting surface 124Ba of the second reflector 124B.

[0082] In this modification, the arrangement of the first and second reflectors 124A and 124B and the shapes of their reflecting surfaces 124Aa and 124Ba are the same as in the above embodiment.

[0083] Even when the configuration of this modified example is adopted, the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0084] Furthermore, by adopting the configuration of this modified example, it is possible to reduce the number of parts in the vehicle lamp 110. Therefore, with a more inexpensive lamp configuration, it is possible to selectively and appropriately form the low beam distribution pattern PL and the high beam distribution pattern PH.

[0085] Next, a second modification of the above embodiment will be described.

[0086] FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing a vehicle lamp 210 according to this modified example.

[0087] As shown in Figure 7, the basic configuration of this modified example is the same as that of the above embodiment, but the configuration of the light source unit 220 is partially different from that of the above embodiment, and therefore the configuration of the base member 216 is also partially different from that of the above embodiment.

[0088] That is, the light source unit 220 of this modified example differs from the above embodiment in that two sets of first light-emitting elements 22A and first reflectors 224A are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, and two sets of second light-emitting elements 22B and second reflectors 224B are arranged side by side in the left-right direction.

[0089] Specifically, the left and right pair of first light-emitting element 22A and first reflector 224A and the left and right pair of second light-emitting element 22B and second reflector 224B are arranged in a symmetrical positional relationship with respect to optical axis Ax.

[0090] In this case, the pair of left and right first light-emitting elements 22A and the pair of left and right second light-emitting elements 22B are mounted on the substrate 226 with their light-emitting surfaces 22Aa, 22Ba, which are elongated in the front-to-rear direction of the lamp, tilted in directions approaching each other toward the front of the lamp (i.e., directions closer to the optical axis Ax). The substrate 226 is supported by a unit support portion 216a of the base member 216.

[0091] The pair of left and right first reflectors 224A and the pair of left and right second reflectors 224B are each integrally formed, and are supported at their lower edge portions by a unit support portion 216a of the base member 216 via a support structure (not shown). Each of the pair of left and right first reflectors 224A is configured to reflect light emitted from each of the pair of left and right first light-emitting elements 22A in a direction closer to the optical axis Ax, and each of the pair of left and right second reflectors 224B is configured to reflect light emitted from each of the pair of left and right second light-emitting elements 22B in a direction closer to the optical axis Ax.

[0092] In this modified example, the entire reflective surface 224Aa of the pair of left and right first reflectors 224A is configured to perform approximately the same optical function as the reflective surface 24Aa of the first reflector 24A in the above embodiment, and the entire reflective surface 224Ba of the pair of left and right second reflectors 224B is configured to perform the same optical function as the reflective surface 24Ba of the second reflector 24B in the above embodiment.

[0093] Even when the configuration of this modified example is adopted, the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0094] Furthermore, by adopting the configuration of this modification, it is possible to increase the brightness of each of the low-beam light distribution pattern PL and the high-beam light distribution pattern PH. On the other hand, if such an increase in brightness is not required, it is possible to reduce the output of each of the two sets of first and second light-emitting elements 22A and 22B to improve their heat dissipation performance.

[0095] Furthermore, in the light source unit 220 of this modified example, each of the pair of left and right first reflectors 224A is configured to reflect the light emitted from each of the pair of left and right first light-emitting elements 22A in a direction toward each other in the left-right direction, and each of the pair of left and right second reflectors 224B is configured to reflect the light emitted from each of the pair of left and right second light-emitting elements 22B in a direction toward each other in the left-right direction, so that the two sets of first and second reflectors 224A, 224B can be arranged efficiently in a limited space.

[0096] In the above second modified example, the configuration of the light source unit 220 has been described as including two sets of the first light-emitting element 22A and the first reflector 224A arranged side by side in the left-right direction, and two sets of the second light-emitting element 22B and the second reflector 224B arranged side by side in the left-right direction, but it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which three or more sets of these are arranged.

[0097] Furthermore, in the second modified example, the light source unit 220 may also be configured such that a pair of left and right first reflectors 224A and a pair of left and right second reflectors 224B are integrally molded.

[0098] It should be noted that the numerical values ​​shown as the specifications in the above embodiment and its modified examples are merely examples, and it goes without saying that these may be set to different values ​​as appropriate.

[0099] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the configurations described in the above embodiment and its modifications, and various other modified configurations can be adopted.

[0100] This international application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-113128, filed on July 16, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0101] The above descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms described. Numerous modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above description.

[0102] 10, 110, 210 Vehicle lamp 12 Projection lens 12a Front surface 12b Rear surface 12c Peripheral flange portion 14 Lens holder 16, 216 Base member 16a, 216a Unit support portion 20, 120, 220 Light source unit 22A First light-emitting element 22Aa, 22Ba Light-emitting surface 22B Second light-emitting element 24A, 124A, 224A First reflector 24Aa, 24Ba, 124Aa, 124Ba, 224Aa, 224Ba Reflecting surface 24B, 124B, 224B Second reflector 26, 226 Base plate 124C Connecting rib Ax Optical axis CL1 Horizontal cutoff line CL2 Oblique cutoff line E Elbow point F Rear focal point I1, I2, I3, I4 Inverted projection image PA Additional light distribution pattern (second inverted projection image) PH High beam light distribution pattern PL Low beam light distribution pattern (first inverted projection image) P1 First light distribution pattern P2 Second light distribution pattern P3 Third light distribution pattern P4 Fourth light distribution pattern Z1 First reflection area Z2 Second reflection area Z3 Third reflection area Z4 Fourth reflection area

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp configured to irradiate light emitted from a light source toward the front of the lamp through a projection lens, the light source being composed of first and second light-emitting elements mounted on a substrate while facing the same direction, the light source being provided with a first reflector that reflects the light emitted from the first light-emitting element toward the projection lens, and a second reflector that reflects the light emitted from the second light-emitting element toward the projection lens, the first light-emitting element and the first reflector being arranged rearward of the second light-emitting element and the second reflector, the projection lens being configured to form a first light source image formed on a rear focal plane of the projection lens by the light emitted from the first light-emitting element reflected by the first reflector as a first inverted projection image on a virtual vertical screen in front of the lamp, and to form a second light source image formed on the rear focal plane by the light emitted from the second light-emitting element reflected by the second reflector as a second inverted projection image on the virtual vertical screen, The first reflector is configured to form, as the first inverted projection image, a light distribution pattern for low beam having a cutoff line at an upper end, and the second reflector is configured to form, as the second inverted projection image, an additional light distribution pattern for high beam that is above the light distribution pattern for low beam and extends below the cutoff line.

2. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the substrate is arranged to extend obliquely upward toward the rear of the lamp, and the first and second light-emitting elements are mounted on the upper surface of the substrate.

3. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second reflectors are formed as an integrally molded product.

4. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first light-emitting element and the first reflector are arranged in two sets, aligned in the left-right direction, and the second light-emitting element and the second reflector are arranged in two sets, aligned in the left-right direction.

5. A vehicle lamp as described in claim 4, characterized in that each of the pair of left and right first reflectors is configured to reflect the light emitted from each of the pair of left and right first light-emitting elements in a direction that brings them closer to each other in the left-right direction, and each of the pair of left and right second reflectors is configured to reflect the light emitted from each of the pair of left and right second light-emitting elements in a direction that brings them closer to each other in the left-right direction.

Images