Vehicle lamp

Abstract

The present invention provides a vehicle lamp capable of appropriately forming a low-beam light distribution pattern and a high-beam light distribution pattern.　A vehicle lamp (10) comprises: an upper lens member (14) that causes light from an upper light source (11) to be emitted from an upper emission surface (25) to form a low-beam light distribution pattern (LP); a lower lens member (15) that causes light from a lower light source (12) to be emitted from a lower emission surface (35) to form a high-beam light distribution pattern (HP); and a projection lens (16) that projects light which has passed through the upper lens member (14) and the lower lens member (15). The lower lens member (15) has a light-blocking portion (38) for blocking light that is emitted from an outer position (Po) in the width direction of the upper emission surface (25) and travels under the upper emission surface (25).

Description

Vehicle lighting device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle lighting device.

[0002] Some vehicle lighting devices form a passing light distribution pattern with a low beam unit and a driving light distribution pattern with a high beam unit. In such vehicle lighting devices, it is conceivable to curve the emission surfaces of both the high beam unit and the lens members of the high beam unit in a concave shape in the width direction (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This vehicle lighting device can bring the both emission surfaces closer to the focal plane of the projection lens, and can form a passing light distribution pattern and a driving light distribution pattern while suppressing distortion caused by the deviation between the both emission surfaces and the focal plane.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2024-101856

[0004] By the way, in the above vehicle lighting device, since both lens members curve the emission surface in a concave shape in the width direction, light passing through the outer side in the width direction is refracted more greatly outward. Therefore, it is difficult for the above vehicle lighting device to efficiently make the light emitted from both lens members enter the projection lens, and there is room for improvement from the viewpoint of appropriately forming both light distribution patterns.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle lighting device capable of appropriately forming a passing light distribution pattern and a driving light distribution pattern.

[0006] The vehicle lighting device of the present disclosure includes an upper lens member that emits light from an upper light source from an upper emission surface to form a passing light distribution pattern, a lower lens member that emits light from a lower light source from a lower emission surface to form a driving light distribution pattern, and a projection lens that projects the light that has passed through the upper lens member and the lower lens member, wherein the lower lens member has a light shielding portion that blocks light emitted from an outer position in the width direction of the upper emission surface and traveling downward from the upper emission surface.

[0007] According to the vehicle lighting device of the present disclosure, a passing light distribution pattern and a driving light distribution pattern can be appropriately formed.

[0008] This is an explanatory diagram showing the vehicle light fixture of Embodiment 1 according to the present disclosure from the front in the front-rear direction. This is an explanatory diagram showing the vehicle light fixture from the rear in the front-rear direction. This is an explanatory diagram showing the substrate together with the cross section obtained along the line I-I shown in Figure 2. This is an explanatory diagram showing the upper lens member as viewed from the rear in the front-rear direction. This is an explanatory diagram showing the upper lens member as viewed from the front in the front-rear direction. This is an explanatory diagram showing the cross section obtained along the line II-II shown in Figure 4. This is an explanatory diagram showing the lower lens member as viewed from the rear in the front-rear direction. This is an explanatory diagram showing the lower lens member as viewed from the front in the front-rear direction. This is an explanatory diagram showing the cross section obtained along the line III-III shown in Figure 7. This is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the upper lens member and the lower lens member, and shows the view from the upper side in the vertical direction. This is an explanatory diagram showing how light emitted from each light source propagates when the upper incident part and the lower incident part, located on the far side, are added to the cross section obtained along the line IV-IV shown in Figure 10 of the vehicle light fixture. This is an explanatory diagram showing how light emitted from each light source propagates, with the upper incident portion located on the far side added to the cross-sectional position obtained along the V-V line shown in Figure 10 of the vehicle lighting device. This is an explanatory diagram showing how light emitted from the upper exit surface of the upper lens member is reflected by the light-shielding reflective surface. This is an explanatory diagram showing how the passing light distribution pattern and the driving light distribution pattern are formed on a screen where the horizontal line and the vertical line intersect at an inner position on the projected optical axis. This is an explanatory diagram showing the vehicle lighting device of Embodiment 2 according to this disclosure from the front in the front-rear direction. This is an explanatory diagram showing the vehicle lighting device of Embodiment 2 from the left side in the width direction. This is an explanatory diagram showing the vehicle lighting device of Embodiment 2 from the upper side in the up-down direction. This is an explanatory diagram showing how light emitted from the upper light source on the inside of the vehicle propagates in the vehicle lighting device of Embodiment 2, with the substrate shown together with the cross-sectional position obtained along the VI-VI line shown in Figure 16. This is an explanatory diagram showing how the passing light distribution pattern and the driving light distribution pattern of Embodiment 2 are formed on a screen similar to that in Figure 14. This is an explanatory diagram showing the settings of the vehicle light fixture of Embodiment 3 according to this disclosure when it is installed on the front right of the vehicle, viewed from above in the vertical direction. This is an explanatory diagram showing the settings of the vehicle light fixture of Embodiment 3 when it is installed on the front left of the vehicle, viewed from above in the vertical direction.

[0009] The following describes various embodiments of the vehicle lighting device according to this disclosure with reference to the drawings. In Figures 1, 2, 15, and 17, the substrate 13 is omitted to facilitate understanding of the positional relationship and configuration of the upper light source 11, the lower light source 12, the substrate 13, the upper lens member 14, the lower lens member 15, and the projection lens 16. Also, in Figures 11 and 12, the cross-sectional lines of each component are omitted to facilitate understanding of how light propagates. In Figures 11, 12, and 18, since the upper incident portion 21 and the lower incident portion 31 are not present in the cross-section, what is visible beyond the cross-sectional line is shown to facilitate understanding. [Embodiment 1]

[0010] A vehicle lamp 10 of Embodiment 1, an embodiment of the vehicle lamp according to this disclosure, will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 14. The vehicle lamp 10 of Embodiment 1 is used as a headlight device for a vehicle such as an automobile. This vehicle lamp 10 is installed in lamp chambers formed by lamp housings, the open front ends of which are covered by outer lenses, on both the left and right sides of the front of the vehicle. The vehicle lamp 10 is installed in the lamp chambers via an optical axis adjustment mechanism for the vertical direction and an optical axis adjustment mechanism for the horizontal direction, and illuminates the front of the vehicle as appropriate. In the following description, in the vehicle lamp 10, the direction in which the vehicle moves is defined as the front-rear direction (Z in the drawings), the vertical direction when the front-rear direction is aligned with a horizontal plane is defined as the up-down direction (Y in the drawings), and the direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the up-down direction (horizontal direction) is defined as the width direction (X in the drawings). In the front-rear direction, the direction in which the vehicle moves forward is defined as the front, and in the width direction, the right and left sides as seen from the perspective of an occupant facing the front in the front-rear direction are used. Here, the vehicle lighting fixture 10, whether installed on the left or right side of the vehicle, has essentially the same configuration but is reversed or translated in the width direction (left or right). Therefore, the following explanation will use the vehicle lighting fixture 10 installed on the left side.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the vehicle light fixture 10 of Embodiment 1 comprises an upper light source 11, a lower light source 12, a substrate 13, an upper lens member 14, a lower lens member 15, and a projection lens 16, forming a projector-type light fixture unit with the front-to-back direction as the optical axis. The upper light source 11 and the lower light source 12 are mounted on a single substrate 13. The upper light source 11 is located on the upper side of the substrate 13 and is arranged in a row of five at approximately equal intervals in the width direction. The lower light source 12 is located on the lower side of the substrate 13 and is arranged in a row of four at approximately equal intervals in the width direction, with the two at the ends positioned higher than the other two. In the vehicle light fixture 10, the area where the five upper light sources 11 are located is larger in the width direction than the area where the four lower light sources 12 are located. Therefore, in the vehicle light fixture 10, the emission range in the width direction is larger for the upper light sources 11 than for the lower light sources 12. Each of these light sources (11, 12) is composed of a light-emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode).

[0012] The substrate 13 is in the form of a plate made of an aluminum substrate. The substrate 13 may also be made of a resin material such as a glass epoxy substrate, or other materials. Furthermore, the substrate 13 may be a heat sink made of aluminum or the like to provide excellent heat dissipation. In this case, the light sources can be mounted on one side of the heat sink and connected to a circuit board mounted on the heat sink by wire bonding. The substrate 13 is provided with wiring patterns and connector terminals for electrically connecting each light source (11, 12). The substrate 13 receives power from the lighting control circuit via the connector terminals to light each light source (11, 12) as needed. The substrate 13 can be attached to a heat sink made of, for example, a thermally conductive aluminum plate, aluminum die-cast, or resin. The heat sink can, for example, have multiple heat dissipation fins to primarily dissipate the heat generated by each light source (11, 12) to the outside through these fins. Furthermore, the heat sink may be configured as a mounting member to which the upper lens member 14, the lower lens member 15, and the projection lens 16 are attached via a support member or the like.

[0013] The upper lens member 14 is provided in accordance with the five upper light sources 11 and is made of transparent resin. This upper lens member 14 is an optical lens that guides the light emitted from each upper light source 11 inward and works in cooperation with the projection lens 16 to form a passing light distribution pattern LP (see Figure 14). As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the upper lens member 14 has five upper incident portions 21 on the rear side in the front-to-back direction and on the upper side in the up-to-down direction. Each upper incident portion 21 corresponds individually to each upper light source 11 and has basically the same configuration as the others, but has optical characteristics (surface shape, etc.) according to the light distribution image required for each.

[0014] As shown in Figures 4 and 6, each upper incident portion 21 is formed with a portion facing the corresponding upper light source 11 protruding towards the upper light source 11, and its center recessed on the opposite side from the upper light source 11, and has an upper opposing incident surface 21a, an upper inclined incident surface 21b, and an upper annular reflective surface 21c. The upper opposing incident surface 21a is curved convexly toward the upper light source 11, and the upper light source 11 is positioned near the rear (upper light source 11) focal point (rear focal point). The upper opposing incident surface 21a causes the light emitted from the upper light source 11 to enter the upper lens member 14 as parallel light traveling approximately parallel to the axis of the upper incident portion 21, and directs it toward the upper first reflective surface 22 of the upper lens member 14. This parallel light refers to light that has been collimated by passing through the upper opposing incident surface 21a. The parallel light in each of these upper incident portions 21 is not necessarily limited to perfectly parallel light, but may also include light that is approximately parallel.

[0015] The upper inclined incident surface 21b is provided in a frustoconical shape, protruding from the upper opposing incident surface 21a toward the upper light source 11. This upper inclined incident surface 21b causes light from the upper light source 11 that does not proceed toward the upper opposing incident surface 21a to be incident into the upper lens member 14. The upper annular reflective surface 21c is provided in a frustoconical shape, surrounding the upper inclined incident surface 21b, and is positioned as the point through which light incident from the upper inclined incident surface 21b into the upper lens member 14 proceeds. The upper annular reflective surface 21c reflects the light incident from the upper inclined incident surface 21b and causes it to proceed toward the upper first reflective surface 22 of the upper lens member 14 as parallel light traveling approximately parallel to the axis of the upper incident portion 21. The upper annular reflective surface 21c may reflect light using total internal reflection, or it may reflect light by attaching aluminum, silver, or the like by vapor deposition or painting.

[0016] The upper first reflective surface 22 is provided on the front side in the front-to-back direction of each upper incident portion 21. This upper first reflective surface 22 reflects the light incident from each upper incident portion 21 toward the upper second reflective surface 23 of the upper lens member 14. In Embodiment 1, the upper first reflective surface 22 is configured by arranging four free-form surfaces in the width direction (see Figure 5). Each of these free-form surfaces is based on a parabolic surface with a focus near the cutoff edge 26 of the upper exit portion 24 of the upper lens member 14, while considering reflection at the upper second reflective surface 23. Therefore, the upper first reflective surface 22 reflects the light incident from the upper incident portion 21, causing that light to propagate toward the cutoff edge 26. Note that the upper first reflective surface 22 may utilize total internal reflection, undergo reflection processing, or have other configurations, as long as it reflects as described above. Furthermore, the upper first reflective surface 22 may be a single surface and is not limited to the configuration of Embodiment 1. In Embodiment 1, the upper first reflective surface 22 is configured such that the two central surfaces in the width direction reflect light so that they approach the projection optical axis Ap, which will be described later, while the surfaces located on both outer sides in the width direction reflect light along the projection optical axis Ap while maintaining their outer positions.

[0017] The upper second reflective surface 23 is located below the upper first reflective surface 22 in the vertical direction. This upper second reflective surface 23 reflects the light reflected by the upper first reflective surface 22 toward the upper emission portion 24 of the upper lens member 14. Here, since the upper first reflective surface 22 is set as described above, the upper second reflective surface 23 concentrates the reflected light near the cutoff edge 26 and propagates it toward the upper emission portion 24.

[0018] The upper emission section 24 is located on the front side in the front-to-back direction of the upper second reflective surface 23. The front surface of this upper emission section 24 is the upper emission surface 25, and the lower edge in the vertical direction of the upper emission surface 25 is the cutoff edge 26. The upper emission surface 25 is positioned opposite the upper second reflective surface 23 in the front-to-back direction and is a flat plane or freeform surface that emits light from at least the upper second reflective surface 23. Even if the upper emission surface 25 is a freeform surface, the degree of curvature is smaller than that of the lower emission surface 35, which will be described later (see Figure 10). The cutoff edge 26 forms a cutoff line CL (see Figure 14) and has a shape in which horizontal edges of different heights are joined together by an inclined edge. This cutoff edge 26 is located near the focal point (rear focal point) of the projection lens 16.

[0019] Furthermore, the upper lens member 14 has an upper third reflective surface 27 at its lower end in the vertical direction, located between the upper second reflective surface 23 and the upper emission section 24. This upper third reflective surface 27 extends from the cutoff edge 26 at the lower end of the upper emission surface 25 toward the rear in the front-rear direction, and at least the vicinity of the cutoff edge 26 is parallel to the projection optical axis Ap, which will be described later. Here, the vicinity of the cutoff edge 26 on the upper third reflective surface 27 is not only perfectly parallel to the projection optical axis Ap, but also includes a state of being approximately parallel with an angle difference of a few degrees. The upper third reflective surface 27 reflects the light that has been reflected by the upper second reflective surface 23 and is traveling below the upper emission surface 25 of the upper emission section 24, and directs it toward the upper emission surface 25 (see Figure 11).

[0020] Therefore, the upper emission section 24 emits light from the upper emission surface 25 and does not emit light that has traveled below the cutoff edge 26, so that the shape of the cutoff edge 26 can be reflected in the emitted light. Furthermore, even when the vehicle light fixture 10 is installed on the right side of the vehicle, the relationship between the direction of inclination and height of the cutoff edge 26 is not reversed in the width direction. That is, the vehicle light fixture 10 is reversed in the width direction on the right and left sides of the vehicle, but the inclination of the cutoff edge 26 of the upper emission section 24 is the same direction for both sides.

[0021] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the lower lens member 15 is provided corresponding to the four lower light sources 12 and is made of transparent resin. This lower lens member 15 is an optical lens that guides the light emitted from each lower light source 12 inward and works in cooperation with the projection lens 16 to form the light distribution pattern HP for driving (see Figure 14). As shown in Figures 7 to 9, the lower lens member 15 has four lower incident portions 31 on the rear side in the front-rear direction and on the lower side in the vertical direction. Each lower incident portion 31 corresponds individually to each lower light source 12 and has basically the same configuration as the others, but has optical characteristics (surface shape, etc.) according to the light distribution image required for each.

[0022] As shown in Figures 7 and 9, each lower incident portion 31 is formed with a portion facing the corresponding lower light source 12 protruding towards the lower light source 12, and its center recessed on the opposite side from the lower light source 12, and has a lower opposing incident surface 31a, a lower inclined incident surface 31b, and a lower annular reflective surface 31c. The lower opposing incident surface 31a is curved convexly toward the lower light source 12, and the lower light source 12 is positioned near the rear (lower light source 12 side) focal point (rear focal point). The lower opposing incident surface 31a causes the light emitted from the lower light source 12 to enter the lower lens member 15 as parallel light traveling approximately parallel to the axis of the lower incident portion 31, and directs it toward the lower first reflective surface 32 of the lower lens member 15. The parallel light in each lower incident portion 31 is not necessarily all perfectly parallel, but may include approximately parallel light.

[0023] The lower inclined incident surface 31b is provided in a frustoconical shape, protruding from the lower opposing incident surface 31a toward the lower light source 12. This lower inclined incident surface 31b causes light from the lower light source 12 that does not proceed toward the lower opposing incident surface 31a to enter the lower lens member 15. The lower annular reflective surface 31c is provided in a frustoconical shape, surrounding the lower inclined incident surface 31b, and is positioned where light incident from the lower inclined incident surface 31b into the lower lens member 15 proceeds. The lower annular reflective surface 31c reflects the light incident from the lower inclined incident surface 31b and causes it to proceed toward the lower first reflective surface 32 of the lower lens member 15 as parallel light traveling approximately parallel to the axis of the lower incident portion 31. The lower annular reflective surface 31c may reflect light using total internal reflection, or it may reflect light by bonding aluminum, silver, or the like to it through vapor deposition or painting.

[0024] The lower first reflective surface 32 is provided on the front side in the front-rear direction of each lower incident portion 31. This lower first reflective surface 32 reflects the light incident from each lower incident portion 31 toward the lower second reflective surface 33 of the lower lens member 15. The lower first reflective surface 32 is a single free-form surface based on a parabolic surface with a focal point near the cutoff edge 26 of the upper exit portion 24 of the upper lens member 14, while taking into account the reflection at the lower second reflective surface 33. Therefore, the lower first reflective surface 32 reflects the light incident from the lower incident portion 31, causing that light to propagate toward the cutoff edge 26. The lower first reflective surface 32 may utilize total internal reflection, undergo reflection processing, or have other configurations as long as it reflects as described above. Furthermore, the lower first reflective surface 32 may consist of multiple surfaces and is not limited to the configuration of Embodiment 1.

[0025] The lower second reflective surface 33 is located above the lower first reflective surface 32 in the vertical direction. This lower second reflective surface 33 reflects the light reflected by the lower first reflective surface 32 toward the lower exit portion 34 of the lower lens member 15. Here, since the lower first reflective surface 32 is set as described above, the lower second reflective surface 33 concentrates the reflected light near the cutoff edge 26 and propagates it toward the lower exit portion 34.

[0026] The lower emission section 34 is located on the front side in the front-to-back direction of the lower second reflective surface 33. The front surface of this lower emission section 34 is the lower emission surface 35. The lower emission surface 35 is positioned opposite the lower second reflective surface 33 in the front-to-back direction and is designed to emit light from at least the lower second reflective surface 33. The lower emission surface 35 is a concave surface that is curved in the width direction, protruding away from the projection lens 16, while being substantially flat in the vertical direction. The position of this lower emission surface 35 that coincides with the projection optical axis Ap (described later) in the width direction is the position furthest from the projection lens 16, and as it moves away from the projection optical axis Ap in the width direction, it approaches the projection lens 16. In addition, the vertical dimension of the lower emission surface 35 is smaller than that of the upper emission section 24.

[0027] The lower emission section 34 has a front end flat surface 36. This front end flat surface 36 is a flat surface perpendicular to the front-rear direction, i.e., a flat surface extending in the width direction and the vertical direction, on both outer sides in the width direction of the lower emission surface 35. Both front end flat surfaces 36 are set to be outside in the width direction of the position where the light reflected by the lower second reflective surface 33 propagates. These two front end flat surfaces 36 suppress the increase in the front-rear dimension of the lower lens member 15 caused by the curvature of the lower emission surface 35.

[0028] Furthermore, in the lower lens member 15, a lower third reflective surface 37 is provided between the lower second reflective surface 33 and the lower emission section 34. This lower third reflective surface 37 reflects the light that travels above the lower emission surface 35 of the lower emission section 34 from the light reflected by the lower second reflective surface 33, and directs it toward the lower emission surface 35 (see Figure 11). As a result, the lower emission section 34 emits light from the lower emission surface 35 toward the front in the front-rear direction.

[0029] The lower third reflective surface 37 has an outer surface, that is, the upper end surface in the vertical direction of the lower lens member 15, which is the light-shielding reflective surface 38. The light-shielding reflective surface 38 is located outside the lower third reflective surface 37, and when each member (reference numerals 11 to 16) is assembled as a vehicle lamp 10, it is located in front of the upper emission surface 25 of the upper lens member 14 in the front-rear direction, as shown in Figures 10, 13, etc. In the vehicle lamp 10, the lower emission surface 35 of the lower lens member 15 is positioned behind the upper emission surface 25 at the inner position Pi, which is near the projection optical axis Ap in the width direction, and the lower emission surface 35 is positioned in front of the upper emission surface 25 at the outer positions Po on both sides of the inner position Pi in the width direction. Therefore, the light-shielding reflective surface 38 is located in front of the upper emission surface 25 at the outer positions Po on both sides in the width direction. Each of these light-shielding reflective surfaces 38 reflects the light emitted from the upper emission surface 25 at both outer positions Po that travels below the upper emission surface 25 toward the projection lens 16 (see Figures 12, 13, etc.). Note that each light-shielding reflective surface 38 may utilize total internal reflection, undergo a reflective treatment, or have any other configuration, as long as it reflects as described above.

[0030] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the projection lens 16 is provided on the front side in the front-rear direction of the upper exit surface 25 (upper exit portion 24) of the upper lens member 14 and the lower exit surface 35 (lower exit portion 34) of the lower lens member 15. This projection lens 16 is a convex lens made of a molded resin material and is a free-form surface based on a sphere with a focal point (rear focal point) located near the cutoff edge 26 of the upper exit portion 24 of the upper lens member 14. In the first embodiment, the projection lens 16 has a gently convex projection incident surface 16a on the upper lens member 14 and lower lens member 15 side, and a greatly curved convex projection exit surface 16b on the opposite side of the projection incident surface 16a. For this reason, the projection lens 16 is a convex lens (front convex lens, or outward convex lens) that protrudes toward the projection exit surface 16b side. The optical axis of the projection lens 16 becomes the projection optical axis Ap of the vehicle lighting device 10, and in Embodiment 1, it coincides with the front-to-back direction.

[0031] The projection lens 16 irradiates light emitted from the upper emission surface 25 and the lower emission surface 35, inverting the image formed on the focal plane (meridional image plane) including the rear focal point vertically and horizontally, and projects it onto a screen where the horizontal line and the vertical line intersect, with the projection optical axis Ap as the origin (see Figure 14). The focal plane is curved so as to protrude to the rear in the front-to-back direction, because the projection lens 16 is a convex lens that protrudes toward the projection emission surface 16b side. For this reason, the focal plane is aligned with the lower emission surface 35 of the lower lens member 15. In this disclosure, "aligning" the lower emission surface 35 and the focal plane does not mean that they are exactly the same, but also that they are curved in a similar shape while approaching each other overall.

[0032] The vehicle light fixture 10 is integrally constructed in the positional relationship shown in Figures 1 to 3, with the upper light source 11, lower light source 12, substrate 13, upper lens member 14, lower lens member 15, and projection lens 16 being supported by a support member (not shown). As shown in Figure 11, when the five upper light sources 11 of the vehicle light fixture 10 are lit, the light is incident on the upper lens member 14 from the corresponding upper incident portion 21. The upper lens member 14 collects and reflects the incident light at the upper first reflective surface 22, then reflects it at the upper second reflective surface 23, and emits it from the upper emission surface 25 of the upper emission portion 24. The vehicle light fixture 10 then projects the shape of the upper emission surface 25, including the cutoff edge portion 26, onto the screen, thereby forming a passing light distribution pattern LP (see Figure 14). This passing-by light distribution pattern LP has a cutoff line CL on the projection optical axis Ap, making the area near the projection optical axis Ap the brightest while illuminating a large area in the width direction below the cutoff line CL.

[0033] Furthermore, when the vehicle light fixture 10 illuminates the four lower light sources 12, the light is directed into the lower lens member 15 from the corresponding lower incident portions 31. The lower lens member 15 collects and reflects the incident light at the lower first reflective surface 32, then reflects it at the lower second reflective surface 33, and emits it from the lower exit surface 35 of the lower exit portion 34. The vehicle light fixture 10 then projects the shape of the lower exit surface 35 onto the screen to form a driving light distribution pattern HP (see Figure 14). This driving light distribution pattern HP partially overlaps the upper end of the passing light distribution pattern LP, making the area near the projected optical axis Ap the brightest while also illuminating the upper part of the passing light distribution pattern LP.

[0034] Therefore, in the vehicle light fixture 10, five upper light sources 11, an upper lens member 14, and a projection lens 16 function as a low beam unit 17 that forms a passing light distribution pattern LP. In addition, in the vehicle light fixture 10, four lower light sources 12, a lower lens member 15, and a projection lens 16 function as a high beam unit 18 that forms a driving light distribution pattern HP. This vehicle light fixture 10 can be configured to provide passing light distribution (so-called low beam) by lighting each of the upper light sources 11 and forming the passing light distribution pattern LP with the low beam unit 17. Furthermore, in addition to each of the upper light sources 11, the vehicle light fixture 10 can be configured to provide driving light distribution (so-called high beam) by lighting each of the lower light sources 12 and forming the driving light distribution pattern HP with the high beam unit 18.

[0035] In this vehicle lighting fixture 10, the low beam unit 17 allows light from each upper light source 11 to enter through each upper incident section 21, so that the light from each upper light source 11, which has a wide spread, can be efficiently incident onto the upper lens member 14. Furthermore, in the vehicle lighting fixture 10, the upper lens member 14 totally reflects the incident light between the upper first reflective surface 22 and the upper second reflective surface 23, forming a cutoff line CL, so that the passing light distribution pattern LP can be formed while efficiently utilizing that light.

[0036] Furthermore, in the vehicle lighting unit 10, the light from each lower light source 12 is incident on the lower lens member 15 through each lower incident section 31 in the high beam unit 18, so that the light from each lower light source 12, which has a wide spread, can be efficiently incident on the lower lens member 15. Then, in the vehicle lighting unit 10, the lower lens member 15 totally reflects the incident light between the lower first reflective surface 32 and the lower second reflective surface 33, so that the light can be efficiently utilized to form the driving light distribution pattern HP.

[0037] Furthermore, the vehicle lighting fixture 10 has upper light sources 11 on the rear side of the upper lens member 14 and lower light sources 12 on the rear side of the lower lens member 15. As a result, the vehicle lighting fixture 10 can suppress an increase in its vertical dimensions. In addition, the vehicle lighting fixture 10 mounts each upper light source 11 and each lower light source 12 on a single circuit board 13. As a result, the vehicle lighting fixture 10 can use a common configuration for controlling the illumination of both light sources (11, 12) and for cooling them, thereby reducing the number of parts and assembly steps.

[0038] In addition, the vehicle light fixture 10 has two lens members (14, 15) that allow light from each light source (11, 12) to enter through their respective ingress ports (21, 31), reflect off their respective first reflective surfaces (22, 32) and second reflective surfaces (23, 33), and then emit light from their respective emission surfaces (25, 35). In other words, the vehicle light fixture 10 has two lens members (14, 15) that are basically the same in configuration but inverted vertically. As a result, the vehicle light fixture 10 can arrange the upper light source 11 and the lower light source 12 on the substrate 13 with a gap between them, allowing heat from both light sources (11, 12) to dissipate efficiently and enabling easy and appropriate cooling of each.

[0039] The vehicle light fixture 10 has two lens members (14, 15) that receive light from each light source (11, 12) as parallel light at each incident part (21, 31), and then reflect it at each first reflecting surface (22, 32) to concentrate it near the cutoff edge 26. As a result, the vehicle light fixture 10 can concentrate light over a smaller area with a simpler configuration, and the brightness distribution in the resulting light distribution pattern can be more precisely targeted. This is due to the following: First, the spread at the point of focus is due to the fact that the light-emitting area of ​​each light source (11, 12) is not a point but has a predetermined area. Then, in the lens member, it is conceivable to configure it to concentrate light near the cutoff edge by adjusting the lens surface of the incident part. However, with such a configuration, the spread light from the corresponding light source is concentrated only at the incident part, and the shape of the lens surface of the incident part becomes complex. Furthermore, in such a configuration, since light is focused on only a single surface, it becomes difficult to direct light from a point far from the light-emitting point in the optical design to the set focusing position. For these reasons, such a configuration leads to complexity, and it becomes difficult to focus light into a small area like the vehicle lighting device 10 of this disclosure, making it difficult to achieve the desired brightness distribution in the resulting light distribution pattern.

[0040] Here, we will explain the challenges of conventional vehicle lighting technology. Conventional vehicle lighting systems bring the upper emission surface of the lens member of the low-beam unit closer to the focal plane of the projection lens by curving it concavely in the width direction. As a result, conventional vehicle lighting systems can suppress distortion of the passing light distribution pattern caused by the misalignment between the upper emission surface and the focal plane of the projection lens. For example, if the upper emission surface of the upper lens member of the low-beam unit is flat, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 14, when forming a passing light distribution pattern, the areas above both sides of the cutoff line will be illuminated. In contrast, conventional vehicle lighting systems curve the upper emission surface concavely in the width direction to bring it closer to the focal plane of the projection lens, thus preventing illumination of the areas above both sides and allowing for the proper formation of a passing light distribution pattern. The same applies to the high-beam unit (and the driving light distribution pattern formed therein).

[0041] However, in this conventional vehicle light fixture, the emitting surface is curved concavely in the width direction, causing light passing on the outer edges of the width direction to be refracted outwards more significantly. For this reason, in order to efficiently direct the light emitted from both lens members into the projection lens, it is conceivable that the above vehicle light fixture would concentrate the light near the center of the emitting surface of both lens members. However, this makes it difficult to utilize a wide area in the width direction on the emitting surface of both lens members, and there is room for improvement in terms of appropriately forming both light distribution patterns. Furthermore, while it is conceivable to enlarge the projection lens of the above vehicle light fixture, this would lead to an overall increase in size.

[0042] In contrast, the vehicle lamp 10 of this disclosure has two light-shielding reflective surfaces 38 on the lower lens member 15. The function of these two light-shielding reflective surfaces 38 will be explained below. First, since the vehicle lamp 10 has an upper emission surface 25 of the upper lens member 14 of the low beam unit 17 as a flat or slightly curved free-form surface, the further the upper emission surface 25 is from the projection optical axis Ap in the width direction, the greater the deviation from the focal plane of the projection lens 16. For this reason, when the vehicle lamp 10 forms a passing light distribution pattern LP on the screen as seen only from the low beam unit 17, the further it is from the projection optical axis Ap in the width direction, the more it illuminates the area above the cutoff line CL (see the dashed line in Figure 14). This upper area is due to the deviation between the upper emission surface 25 and the focal plane of the projection lens 16, and as this deviation increases, that is, as it is further from the projection optical axis Ap in the width direction, it expands in the vertical direction. Taking this into consideration, in the vehicle lighting device 10 of this disclosure, the position in the width direction where illumination to the upper area is prominent is set as the outer position Po. The criterion for this prominent illumination can be set to satisfy the regulations required for passing light distribution pattern LP.

[0043] And in the vehicle lamp 10, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, both light-shielding reflecting surfaces 38 are provided at positions where the light emitted from the upper emission surface 25 at both outer positions Po travels downward from the upper emission surface 25. Thereby, the vehicle lamp 10 can block the light emitted from the upper emission surface 25 at both outer positions Po from traveling downward from the upper emission surface 25. From this, both light-shielding reflecting surfaces 38 function as light-shielding portions provided on the lower lens member 15. Therefore, when the vehicle lamp 10 forms the passing-by light distribution pattern LP on the above-described screen by the low beam unit 17, it can prevent the area above the cut-off line CL from being irradiated.

[0044] In particular, in the vehicle lamp 10 of Embodiment 1, it is assumed that both light-shielding reflecting surfaces 38 reflect the light from the upper emission surface 25 toward the projection lens 16. Thereby, when the vehicle lamp 10 forms the passing-by light distribution pattern LP by the low beam unit 17, the light irradiating the area above the above-described cut-off line CL can be made to irradiate below the cut-off line CL. Thereby, the vehicle lamp 10 can efficiently use the light emitted from each upper light source 11 to form the passing-by light distribution pattern LP in the low beam unit 17. That is, instead of curving the upper emission surface 25 as in the conventional case to reduce the deviation from the focal plane of the projection lens 16, the vehicle lamp 10 can prevent the passing-by light distribution pattern LP caused by the deviation from the focal plane from being distorted by providing the light-shielding reflecting surfaces 38 at both outer positions Po.

[0045] In addition, in the vehicle light fixture 10, at the inner position Pi, the lower emission surface 35 is positioned behind the upper emission surface 25, so that the lower lens member 15 does not exist in front of the upper emission surface 25. Therefore, in the vehicle light fixture 10, at the inner position Pi, the propagation of light emitted from the upper emission surface 25 is not obstructed by the lower lens member 15. Furthermore, in the vehicle light fixture 10, the inner position Pi is close to the focal plane of the projection lens 16, so that the light emitted from the upper emission surface 25 illuminates the area below the cutoff line CL on the screen. As a result, the vehicle light fixture 10 can efficiently utilize the light emitted from each upper light source 11 in the area on the screen corresponding to the inner position Pi to form a passing light distribution pattern LP.

[0046] Furthermore, in the vehicle light fixture 10, the upper emitting surface 25 is a flat or slightly curved free-form surface, which allows for extremely small refraction of the emitted light. Therefore, even if the vehicle light fixture 10 allows light to travel over a wide area of ​​the upper emitting surface 25 in the width direction, that is, not only to the inner position Pi but also to both outer positions Po, the light emitted from the upper emitting surface 25 can be incident on the projection lens 16. As a result, the upper lens member 14 does not need to concentrate the incident light into a narrow area, which increases the degree of freedom in optical design and makes it optically sound. Consequently, the vehicle light fixture 10 can more appropriately form a passing light distribution pattern LP that spreads widely in the direction along the horizontal line in the low beam unit 17 with a simpler configuration.

[0047] Furthermore, in the vehicle light fixture 10, the lower emission surface 35 of the lower lens member 15 of the high beam unit 18 is curved more significantly than the upper emission surface 25. As a result, the vehicle light fixture 10 can align the lower emission surface 35 with the focal plane of the projection lens 16, preventing distortion of the driving light distribution pattern HP. In addition, in the vehicle light fixture 10, the dimensions of the driving light distribution pattern HP are smaller than the dimensions of the passing light distribution pattern LP in the direction along the horizontal line. Consequently, the lower lens member 15 can appropriately form the driving light distribution pattern HP even when light is directed to a narrow range of the lower emission surface 35 in the width direction, i.e., approximately the inner position Pi. Therefore, in the vehicle light fixture 10, light emitted from the lower emission surface 35 can be incident on the projection lens 16. As a result, the vehicle light fixture 10 can appropriately form the driving light distribution pattern HP in the high beam unit 18. In particular, the vehicle light fixture 10 of Embodiment 1 has a widthwise emission range of the lower light source 12 that is smaller than the widthwise emission range of the upper light source 11, so that light can be propagated optically smoothly within the narrow range of the lower emission surface 35 in the widthwise direction. In addition, the vehicle light fixture 10 has a vertical dimension in which the lower emission surface 35 is smaller than the upper emission section 24. As a result, the vehicle light fixture 10 can easily make the driving light distribution pattern HP smaller than the passing light distribution pattern LP, even in the direction along the vertical line.

[0048] In the vehicle lamp 10, the lower emission surface 35 of the lower lens member 15 is positioned behind the upper emission surface 25 at the inner position Pi. Here, if the vehicle lamp is provided with the upper emission surface and the lower emission surface at the same position in the front-rear direction, a gap corresponding to the lens interval is formed between the crossing light distribution pattern and the traveling light distribution pattern formed by each of them. This gap is recognized as a dark portion extending substantially along the horizontal line between the brightened light distribution patterns, so that the viewer feels a sense of discomfort. On the other hand, since the vehicle lamp 10 positions the lower emission surface 35 behind the upper emission surface 25 at the inner position Pi, the lower end of the traveling light distribution pattern HP can be displaced downward in the direction along the vertical line on the above screen. For this reason, the vehicle lamp 10 can partially overlap the two light distribution patterns (LP, HP) in the direction along the vertical line, and can eliminate the sense of discomfort of the viewer.

[0049] In the vehicle lamp 10, by curving the lower emission surface 35 in a concave shape as described above, the lower emission surface 35 is positioned behind the upper emission surface 25 at the inner position Pi, while the lower emission surface 35 is positioned in front of the upper emission surface 25 at the outer position Po. For this reason, the vehicle lamp 10 can partially overlap the appropriately formed traveling light distribution pattern HP with the crossing light distribution pattern LP, and can form each light shielding reflection surface 38 at a location where the lower emission surface 35 is positioned in front of the upper emission surface 25 by curving the lower emission surface 35 in the lower lens member 15. Thereby, the vehicle lamp 10 can provide each light shielding reflection surface 38 by using the configuration for appropriately forming the two light distribution patterns (LP, HP), and can make the crossing light distribution pattern LP more appropriate. In addition, the lower lens member 15 is provided with front end flat surfaces 36 on both outer sides in the width direction of the lower emission surface 35. For this reason, the vehicle lamp 10 can prevent the lower lens member 15 from becoming large while appropriately forming the two light distribution patterns (LP, HP) as described above, and can make the overall configuration smaller.

[0050] The vehicle lamp 10 as an example of the vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure can obtain the following respective operational effects.

[0051] The vehicle light fixture 10 includes an upper lens member 14 that emits light from an upper light source 11 from an upper emission surface 25 to form a passing light distribution pattern LP, a lower lens member 15 that emits light from a lower light source 12 from a lower emission surface 35 to form a driving light distribution pattern HP, and a projection lens 16 that projects the light that has passed through both lens members (14, 15). The lower lens member 15 has a light-shielding reflective surface 38 as a light-shielding location that blocks light emitted from an outer position Po on the upper emission surface 25 and traveling below the upper emission surface 25. As a result, when the vehicle light fixture 10 forms a passing light distribution pattern LP with light from the upper light source 11 that has passed through the lower lens member 15, it is possible to prevent illumination of the area above the cutoff line CL and to properly form a passing light distribution pattern LP.

[0052] Furthermore, the vehicle light fixture 10 has a light-shielding reflective surface 38 that reflects light emitted from the outer position Po of the upper emission surface 25 and traveling downward from the upper emission surface 25 toward the projection lens 16. As a result, the vehicle light fixture 10 can efficiently utilize the light from the upper light source 11 to form a passing light distribution pattern LP of an appropriate shape.

[0053] Furthermore, the vehicle light fixture 10 has at least a portion of its lower emission surface 35 curved in a concave shape in the width direction. The light-shielding reflective surface 38 is formed at a portion of the lower lens member 15 that protrudes toward the projection lens 16 side than the upper emission surface 25 due to the curvature of the lower emission surface 35. As a result, the vehicle light fixture 10 can provide each light-shielding reflective surface 38 while preventing distortion of the driving light distribution pattern HP by utilizing this configuration.

[0054] The vehicle light fixture 10 has an upper emitting surface 25 that is flat in the width direction or curved to a smaller degree in the width direction than the lower emitting surface 35. As a result, the vehicle light fixture 10 can increase the degree of freedom in the optical design of the upper lens member 14 and make the upper lens member 14 optically sound, and can form a passing light distribution pattern LP more appropriately with a simpler configuration.

[0055] The vehicle light fixture 10 displaces its lower emission surface 35 in the optical axis direction along the projection optical axis Ap of the projection lens 16, either to coincide with the upper emission surface 25 or away from the projection lens 16 relative to the upper emission surface 25. As a result, the vehicle light fixture 10 can displace the lower end of the driving light distribution pattern HP downward in the direction along the vertical line on the screen, allowing both light distribution patterns (LP, HP) to be partially overlapped in the direction along the vertical line, thus eliminating any sense of discomfort for the viewer. Furthermore, the vehicle light fixture 10 can efficiently utilize the light emitted from each upper light source 11 near the projection optical axis Ap on the screen to form the passing light distribution pattern LP.

[0056] The vehicle light fixture 10 is displaced at the lower emission surface 35 toward the projection lens 16 relative to the upper emission surface 25 at the inner position Pi, and toward the projection lens 16 relative to the upper emission surface 25 at the outer position Po. As a result, the vehicle light fixture 10 can appropriately form a light distribution pattern HP for driving, and can partially overlap this light distribution pattern HP with a light distribution pattern LP for passing.

[0057] The vehicle light fixture 10 has a lower lens member 15 that has a front flat surface 36 extending in the width direction, located on the outside of the upper light-emitting surface 25 in the width direction. As a result, the vehicle light fixture 10 can appropriately form both light distribution patterns (LP, HP) as described above, while preventing the lower lens member 15 from becoming too large, thus enabling a miniaturization of the overall configuration.

[0058] The vehicle light fixture 10 has a larger vertical dimension of the upper emission surface 25 than the vertical dimension of the lower emission surface 35. Therefore, the vehicle light fixture 10 can easily make the passing light distribution pattern LP larger than the driving light distribution pattern HP in the direction along the vertical line on the screen.

[0059] The vehicle light fixture 10 has a projection lens 16 that is a convex lens protruding toward the projection emission surface 16b. As a result, the vehicle light fixture 10 is curved so that the focal plane of the projection lens 16 protrudes away from the projection lens 16. By curving at least a portion of the lower emission surface 35 into a concave shape in the width direction, the lower emission surface 35 can be made to align with the focal plane, and a more appropriate light distribution pattern HP for driving can be formed.

[0060] In the vehicle lighting fixture 10, the emission range of the upper light source 11 is larger than that of the lower light source 12 in the width direction. Therefore, the vehicle lighting fixture 10 can optically propagate light to a narrow area of ​​the lower emission surface 35 in the width direction without difficulty, and it is easy to make the driving light distribution pattern HP smaller than the passing light distribution pattern LP in the direction along the vertical line on the screen.

[0061] The vehicle light fixture 10 has an upper lens member 14 which includes an upper incident portion 21 that receives light from an upper light source 11, an upper first reflective surface 22 that reflects the light received therefrom, and an upper second reflective surface 23 that reflects the light reflected thereto toward an upper exit surface 25. The lower lens member 15 has a lower incident portion 31 that receives light from a lower light source 12, a lower first reflective surface 32 that reflects the light received therefrom, and a lower second reflective surface 33 that reflects the light reflected thereto toward a lower exit surface 35. As a result, the vehicle light fixture 10 can have separate optical roles set for each incident portion (21, 31), each first reflective surface (22, 32), and each second reflective surface (23, 33), and its respective configuration can be simplified.

[0062] Therefore, the vehicle light fixture 10 of Embodiment 1 according to the present disclosure can appropriately form a passing light distribution pattern LP and a driving light distribution pattern HP. [Embodiment 2]

[0063] Next, as an example of a vehicle lighting device according to the present disclosure, the vehicle lighting device 10A of Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to Figures 15 to 19. The vehicle lighting device 10A is characterized in that the upper emission portion 24A of the upper lens member 14A differs from the upper emission portion 24 of the vehicle lighting device 10, but the basic concept and configuration are the same as those of the vehicle lighting device 10 of Embodiment 1. Therefore, the same reference numerals are used for parts with the same configuration, and detailed explanations are omitted.

[0064] First, the vehicle light fixture 10A of Embodiment 2 is shown as being installed on the right side of the vehicle. In this vehicle light fixture 10A, the upper lens member 14A has five upper incident portions 21A that are displaced to the left side in the width direction, that is, to the inside of the vehicle (see Figure 17). Each of these upper incident portions 21A has the same configuration as each of the upper incident portions 21 of Embodiment 1. The upper lens member 14A has an upper exit portion 24A, as shown in Figures 15 to 18, with a deflected exit surface portion 41 at the left side in the width direction of the upper exit surface 25A, that is, at the inner end of the vehicle. Hereafter, the part of the upper exit surface 25A that is not the deflected exit surface portion 41 will be referred to as the main exit surface portion 42. The main exit surface portion 42 is located at a position that includes the projected optical axis Ap and is a plane perpendicular to the projected optical axis Ap.

[0065] Here, in the upper lens member 14A, light from each upper light source 11, which is incident as parallel light traveling substantially parallel to the axis of the corresponding upper incident portion 21A, is appropriately reflected by the upper first reflective surface 22, the upper second reflective surface 23, and the upper third reflective surface 27 and guided to the upper exit surface 25A. The main exit surface portion 42 is the same as the upper exit surface 25 of Embodiment 1, and emits the light guided as parallel light toward the front in the front-rear direction. Note that the main exit surface portion 42 may be slightly curved as long as its curvature is smaller than that of the deflection exit surface portion 41.

[0066] The deflection emission surface 41 directs the direction of light propagation towards the projected optical axis Ap, i.e., outward in the width direction within the vehicle, compared to the direction of light propagation from the main emission surface 42. This deflection emission surface 41 is located in front of the leftmost upper incident section 21A in the width direction (inward in the vehicle) of the five upper incident sections 21A, and is located at the outer position Po (see Figure 17, etc.) within the vehicle lighting fixture 10A. In Embodiment 2, both the deflection emission surface 41 and the main emission surface 42 are located in front of the leftmost upper incident section 21A in the width direction. The deflection emission surface 41 is a surface that inclins further back in the front-rear direction than the main emission surface 42 as it moves away from the main emission surface 42 in the width direction. In Embodiment 2, the deflection emission surface portion 41 is curved in the width direction from the left end of the main emission surface portion 42 toward the rear in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the angle of the deflection emission surface portion 41 with respect to the projected optical axis Ap is smaller than the angle of the emission surface portion 42 with respect to the projected optical axis Ap. As a result, the deflection emission surface portion 41 makes the emission angle of the light guided as parallel light with respect to the projected optical axis Ap larger than the emission angle of the light guided as parallel light with respect to the projected optical axis Ap from the main emission surface portion 42. Note that even if the main emission surface portion 42 is curved, the deflection emission surface portion 41 only needs to make the emission angle of the light guided as parallel light with respect to the projected optical axis Ap larger than that of the main emission surface portion 42.

[0067] In Embodiment 2, the deflection emission surface portion 41 extends in the width direction to the left of each upper incident portion 21A and projection lens 16 (downward when viewing Figures 17 and 18 from the front), that is, to the inside of the vehicle. In other words, at least a portion of the upper lens member 14A is located to the left in the width direction (inward of the vehicle) of each upper light source 11 and projection lens 16, and the deflection emission surface portion 41 is provided at that left position.

[0068] At the upper emission surface 25A, the guided light is emitted from the main emission surface portion 42 and the deflection emission surface portion 41. At this time, the main emission surface portion 42 emits the guided light in the same way as the upper emission surface 25 of Embodiment 1, and the projection lens 16 projects the shape of the upper emission surface 25A, including the cutoff edge portion 26, onto the screen. The deflection emission surface portion 41 operates as follows. First, the deflection emission surface portion 41 has a larger emission angle with respect to the projection optical axis Ap of the guided light, which is treated as parallel light, than the main emission surface portion 42. Furthermore, the deflection emission surface portion 41 is curved so that it moves towards the rear in the front-to-back direction as it moves to the left in the width direction. Therefore, by emitting the guided light, the deflection emission surface portion 41 refracts it in a direction inclined with respect to the projection optical axis Ap so that it moves toward the projection optical axis Ap, as shown in Figure 18. This light, when projected by the projection lens 16, is significantly refracted to the right in the width direction, i.e., outward on the vehicle. This light partially overlaps with the area projected by the main emission surface 42, illuminating the right side of that area. As a result, the deflection emission surface 41 can form a passing light distribution pattern LPA, which expands the right side in the horizontal direction compared to the passing light distribution pattern LP of Embodiment 1 (see Figure 14), as shown by the dot on the right side of Figure 19.

[0069] Furthermore, the deflection emission surface portion 41 extends to the left in the width direction from each upper incident portion 21A, that is, to the inside of the vehicle. Here, since each upper light source 11 has a predetermined area rather than a point of emission, even if the upper incident portion 21A makes the light from the corresponding upper light source 11 into parallel light as described above, not all of it becomes parallel light, and there is light (light beam) that propagates in a direction inclined with respect to the projected optical axis Ap. In contrast, as shown in Figure 18, the deflection emission surface portion 41 can be positioned in the direction of propagation even when the light incident from the innermost upper incident portion 21A in the vehicle propagates to the left in the width direction from the upper incident portion 21A. As a result, the deflection emission surface portion 41 can more efficiently utilize the light emitted from each upper light source 11 and incident from each upper incident portion 21A to the upper lens member 14A to form a passing light distribution pattern LPA.

[0070] Furthermore, the deflection emission surface portion 41 extends to the left in the width direction of the projection lens 16, that is, to the inside of the vehicle. Here, the deflection emission surface portion 41 refracts light in a direction inclined with respect to the projection optical axis Ap so that it is directed toward the projection optical axis Ap. As a result, the deflection emission surface portion 41 can cause light that has traveled to the left in the width direction of the projection lens 16 within the upper lens member 14A to be incident on the projection lens 16. In this way, the deflection emission surface portion 41 can more efficiently utilize the light emitted from each upper light source 11 and incident on the upper lens member 14A from each upper incident portion 21A to form the passing light distribution pattern LPA.

[0071] In Embodiment 2, a vehicle light fixture 10A is shown that is installed on the right side of the vehicle. Here, if the vehicle light fixture 10A is installed on the left side of the vehicle, the configuration of the upper emission portion 24A, excluding the inclined edge and horizontal edge of the cutoff edge portion 26, is reversed on the left and right sides. In this vehicle light fixture 10A on the left side of the vehicle, the deflected emission surface portion 41 will be located on the right side. The vehicle light fixture 10A on the left side of the vehicle can form a passing light distribution pattern LPA that is expanded horizontally to the left compared to the passing light distribution pattern LP of Embodiment 1 (see Figure 14), as shown by the dot on the left side of Figure 19.

[0072] The vehicle lighting fixture 10A of Embodiment 2 can obtain the following effects. Since this vehicle lighting fixture 10A has basically the same configuration as the vehicle lighting fixture 10 of Embodiment 1, it can obtain the same effects as Embodiment 1.

[0073] In addition, the vehicle light fixture 10A has an upper emission surface 25A which includes a main emission surface portion 42 positioned to include the projection optical axis in the width direction, and a deflection emission surface portion 41 positioned at at least one end of the main emission surface portion 42 in the width direction. The deflection emission surface portion 41 is tilted to the rear so that the emission angle of light from the upper light source 11 incident from the upper incident portion 21A with respect to the projection optical axis Ap is greater than the emission angle of light from the main emission surface portion 42 with respect to the projection optical axis Ap. As a result, the vehicle light fixture 10A can direct the light emitted from the deflection emission surface portion 41 in a direction tilted with respect to the projection optical axis Ap, so that it is directed more toward the projection optical axis Ap than the light emitted from the main emission surface portion 42. As a result, the vehicle light fixture 10A can form a horizontally widened passing light distribution pattern LPA, which can improve the visibility of pedestrians, for example. Furthermore, since the vehicle light fixture 10A is simply constructed by providing a deflection emission surface portion 41 at the end of the upper emission surface 25A, that is, by adjusting the shape of the upper emission surface 25A to provide a main emission surface portion 42 and a deflection emission surface portion 41, it is possible to maintain a simple configuration while preventing an increase in size.

[0074] Furthermore, the vehicle light fixture 10A positions the deflection emission surface 41 further inward in the width direction within the vehicle than the main emission surface 42. As a result, the vehicle light fixture 10A can direct the light emitted from the deflection emission surface 41 outward within the vehicle than the light emitted from the main emission surface 42, thereby forming a passing light distribution pattern LPA that is horizontally expanded outward. Here, the vehicle light fixture 10A is generally installed on both the left and right sides of the front of the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle light fixture 10A installed on the front right side of the vehicle can expand the passing light distribution pattern LPA to the right, and the vehicle light fixture 10A installed on the front left side of the vehicle can expand the passing light distribution pattern LPA to the left. In this way, the vehicle light fixture 10A can expand the side on which it is installed in the width direction, so it can form a passing light distribution pattern LPA that is horizontally expanded more efficiently.

[0075] Furthermore, the vehicle lamp 10A has a deflection emission surface 41 that is a continuous curved surface. As a result, the vehicle lamp 10A can have a smooth upper emission surface 25A, and the change in brightness of the passing light distribution pattern it forms can be made smooth. In particular, the vehicle lamp 10A has a deflection emission surface 41 that has a greater curvature as it moves away from the main emission surface 42. As a result, the vehicle lamp 10A can make the passing light distribution pattern it forms gradually dimmer as it moves outward. This is because, in the deflection emission surface 41, the degree of refraction increases as the curvature increases, and the density of light (luminous flux) decreases.

[0076] The vehicle light fixture 10A has at least a portion of its deflection emission surface 41 positioned further inward in the width direction within the vehicle than the upper incidence section 21A, that is, positioned further inward in the width direction than the upper incidence section 21A. Therefore, even when the vehicle light fixture 10A moves further inward within the vehicle than the upper incidence section 21A, the deflection emission surface 41 can be positioned in the direction of travel, and the light from each upper incidence section 21A can be used more efficiently to form a passing light distribution pattern LPA. In particular, the vehicle light fixture 10A has the upper incidence section 21A, which is located further inward within the vehicle, positioned so that it overlaps with both the deflection emission surface 41 and the main emission surface 42 in the width direction. Therefore, in the horizontally expanded passing light distribution pattern LPA, the vehicle light fixture 10A can make the change in brightness (gradation) in the horizontal direction of the expanded area smoother.

[0077] The vehicle light fixture 10A has its deflection emission surface portion 41 positioned inward in the width direction from the projection lens 16, that is, in a position that protrudes in the width direction from the projection lens 16. Therefore, the vehicle light fixture 10A can more efficiently utilize the light emitted from each upper light source 11 and incident on the upper lens member 14A from each upper incident portion 21A to form a passing light distribution pattern LPA.

[0078] The vehicle light fixture 10A has its deflection emission surface 41 positioned at an outer position Po in the width direction. Therefore, the vehicle light fixture 10A can prevent the light emitted from the deflection emission surface 41 from traveling below the upper emission surface 25A by the light-shielding reflective surface 38, thereby forming an appropriate passing light distribution pattern LPA. In particular, the vehicle light fixture 10A has the light-shielding reflective surface 38, which acts as a light-shielding point, extending in the width direction from the deflection emission surface 41 towards the projection optical axis Ap. Therefore, even if the light emitted from the deflection emission surface 41 of the vehicle light fixture 10A travels toward the projection optical axis Ap, the light-shielding reflective surface 38 can reliably prevent it from traveling below the upper emission surface 25A.

[0079] Therefore, the vehicle lighting device 10A of Embodiment 2 according to the present disclosure can appropriately form a passing light distribution pattern LPA and a driving light distribution pattern HP.

[0080] In the above-described embodiment 2, the upper lens member 14A has an upper emission portion 24A which includes a deflection emission surface portion 41 and a main emission surface portion 42, with the deflection emission surface portion 41 extending to the inner edge on the vehicle. However, the upper emission portion 24A may have other surfaces as long as the main emission surface portion 42 is positioned to include the projection optical axis Ap in the width direction, and the deflection emission surface portion 41 is located at at least one end of the main emission surface portion 42 in the width direction, and the edge of the upper lens member 14A (upper emission portion 24A) in the width direction may also be another surface, and is not limited to the configuration of embodiment 2. [Embodiment 3]

[0081] Next, as an example of a vehicle lighting device according to this disclosure, the vehicle lighting device 10B of Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to Figures 20 and 21. The vehicle lighting device 10B is characterized in that the upper emission portion 24B of the upper lens member 14B is different from the upper emission portion 24A of the vehicle lighting device 10A, but the basic concept and configuration are the same as those of the vehicle lighting device 10A of Embodiment 2, so the same reference numerals are used for parts with the same configuration, and detailed explanations are omitted.

[0082] First, the vehicle light fixture 10B of Embodiment 3 can be installed on both the right and left sides of the vehicle. Specifically, the upper lens member 14B of the vehicle light fixture 10B has six upper incident portions 21B in the width direction. Each of these upper incident portions 21B has the same configuration as the upper incident portions 21 of Embodiment 1.

[0083] The upper lens member 14B has deflection emission surface portions 41B at both ends in the width direction of the upper emission surface 25B in the upper emission portion 24B. That is, the upper emission surface 25B has a main emission surface portion 42B at the position containing the projection optical axis Ap, and deflection emission surface portions 41B on both sides in the width direction. The main emission surface portion 42B is at the position containing the projection optical axis Ap and is a plane perpendicular to the projection optical axis Ap. The upper lens member 14B has a symmetrical shape in the width direction, that is, a symmetrical shape with respect to a plane perpendicular to the width direction that contains the projection optical axis Ap. The main emission surface portion 42B may be slightly curved as long as its curvature is smaller than that of both deflection emission surface portions 41B.

[0084] Both deflection emission surfaces 41B direct the direction of light propagation towards the projection optical axis Ap in the width direction, compared to the direction of light propagation from the main emission surface 42B. That is, the left deflection emission surface 41B directs light to the right in the width direction compared to the direction of light propagation from the main emission surface 42B, and the right deflection emission surface 41B directs light to the left in the width direction compared to the direction of light propagation from the main emission surface 42B. These two deflection emission surfaces 41B are located in front of each of the six upper incidence sections 21B located at both ends in the width direction. As the deflection emission surfaces 41B move away from the main emission surface 42 in the width direction, they are surfaces that are inclined to the rear in the front-rear direction compared to the main emission surface 42B. Each deflection emission surface portion 41B in Embodiment 2 is curved in the width direction from the end of the main emission surface portion 42B toward the rear in the front-rear direction. Each deflection emission surface portion 41B makes the emission angle of the light guided by each upper incident portion 21B as parallel light with respect to the projection optical axis Ap greater than the emission angle of the light guided by each upper incident portion 21B as parallel light with respect to the projection optical axis Ap from the main emission surface portion 42B. Note that even if the main emission surface portion 42B is curved, each deflection emission surface portion 41B only needs to make the emission angle of the light guided as parallel light greater than the emission angle of the light from the curved emission surface portion 42B with respect to the projection optical axis Ap.

[0085] Each deflection emission surface portion 41B in Embodiment 2 extends to the right or left of each upper incidence portion 21B and projection lens 16 in the width direction. That is, at least a portion of the upper lens member 14B is sized to be located on the inside and outside of the vehicle in the width direction, relative to each upper light source 11 and projection lens 16, and the deflection emission surface portion 41B is provided at these inside and outside positions.

[0086] At the upper emission surface 25B, the guided light is emitted from the main emission surface portion 42B and each deflection emission surface portion 41B. At this time, the main emission surface portion 42B emits the guided light in the same way as the upper emission surface 25 of Embodiment 1, and the projection lens 16 projects the shape of the upper emission surface 25B, including the cutoff edge portion 26, onto the screen. The deflection emission surface portion 41B then operates as follows. First, the deflection emission surface portion 41B makes the emission angle of the guided light, which is treated as parallel light, with respect to the projection optical axis Ap larger than the emission angle of the guided light, which is treated as parallel light, with respect to the projection optical axis Ap from the main emission surface portion 42B2. Furthermore, the deflection emission surface portion 41B is curved so that it is directed towards the rear in the front-rear direction as it is directed towards the inside of the vehicle in the width direction.

[0087] Therefore, the left deflection emission surface 41B emits light that has been guided as parallel light, causing it to refract in a direction inclined with respect to the projection optical axis Ap so that it is directed to the right. This light is projected by the projection lens 16, causing it to be greatly refracted to the right in the width direction. As a result, the left deflection emission surface 41B can widen the right side of the passing light distribution pattern it forms. Similarly, the right deflection emission surface 41B emits light that has been guided as parallel light, causing it to refract in a direction inclined with respect to the projection optical axis Ap so that it is directed to the left. This light is projected by the projection lens 16, causing it to be greatly refracted to the left in the width direction. As a result, the right deflection emission surface 41B can widen the left side of the passing light distribution pattern it forms.

[0088] Here, when the vehicle light fixture 10B is installed on the right side of the vehicle, as shown in Figure 20, five upper light sources 11 are provided corresponding to the five leftmost upper incident portions 21B. That is, the vehicle light fixture 10B does not provide an upper light source 11 to the rightmost upper incident portion 21B, and the five upper light sources 11 are mounted on the substrate 13 at positions corresponding to the remaining upper incident portions 21B. As a result, the vehicle light fixture 10B has the upper incident portions 21B and upper light sources 11 positioned on the rear side in the front-rear direction of the left deflection emission surface portion 41B, directing the light from them towards the left deflection emission surface portion 41B. Also, the vehicle light fixture 10B does not have the upper incident portions 21B and upper light sources 11 positioned on the rear side in the front-rear direction of the right deflection emission surface portion 41B, so the light from the rightmost upper incident portion 21B does not direct towards the right deflection emission surface portion 41B. As a result, the vehicle light fixture 10B can achieve substantially the same effect as the vehicle light fixture 10A of Embodiment 2, and can form a passing light distribution pattern LPA (see Figure 19) with an expanded horizontal right side.

[0089] Furthermore, when the vehicle light fixture 10B is installed on the left side of a vehicle, as shown in Figure 21, five upper light sources 11 are provided corresponding to the five rightmost upper incident portions 21B. That is, the vehicle light fixture 10B does not provide an upper light source 11 to the leftmost upper incident portion 21B, and the five upper light sources 11 are mounted on the substrate 13 at positions corresponding to the remaining upper incident portions 21B. As a result, the vehicle light fixture 10B has the upper incident portions 21B and upper light sources 11 positioned on the rear side in the front-rear direction of the right-side deflection emission surface portion 41B, directing the light from them towards the right-side deflection emission surface portion 41B. Also, the vehicle light fixture 10B does not have the upper incident portions 21B and upper light sources 11 positioned on the rear side in the front-rear direction of the left-side deflection emission surface portion 41B, so the light from its leftmost upper incident portion 21B does not direct towards the left-side deflection emission surface portion 41B. As a result, the vehicle light fixture 10B can achieve essentially the same effect as the vehicle light fixture 10A of Embodiment 2, but inverted horizontally (excluding the cutoff edge portion 26), and can form a passing light distribution pattern LPA (see Figure 19) with an enlarged horizontal left side.

[0090] Therefore, the vehicle lighting fixture 10B only requires changing the mounting position of each upper light source 11 on the substrate 13 depending on whether it is installed on the right or left side of the vehicle, and the remaining lower light sources 12, substrate 13, upper lens member 14B, lower lens member 15, and projection lens 16 can be shared. For this reason, the vehicle lighting fixture 10B does not need to manufacture different components for the right side and the left side, and only the mounting position of the upper light source 11 needs to be changed. Thus, the vehicle lighting fixture 10B can form a horizontally expanded passing light distribution pattern LPA (see Figure 19) while simplifying the manufacturing process and parts management.

[0091] The vehicle lighting fixture 10B of Embodiment 3 can obtain the following effects. Since this vehicle lighting fixture 10B has basically the same configuration as the vehicle lighting fixture 10A of Embodiment 2, it can obtain the same effects as Embodiment 2.

[0092] In addition, the vehicle light fixture 10B is provided with deflection emission surfaces 42B on both sides of the main emission surface 41B, and the upper lens member 21B has a symmetrical shape in the width direction. Therefore, the same components can be used for both the right and left sides of the vehicle when the vehicle light fixture 10B is installed, which simplifies the manufacturing process and parts management.

[0093] Therefore, the vehicle light fixture 10B of Embodiment 3, as a vehicle light fixture according to the present disclosure, can appropriately form a passing light distribution pattern LPA and a driving light distribution pattern HP.

[0094] Although the vehicle lighting devices of this disclosure have been described above based on each embodiment, the specific configuration is not limited to each embodiment, and changes or additions to the design are permitted as long as they do not deviate from the gist of the invention as described in each claim.

[0095] In the embodiments described above, the low-beam unit 17 was provided with five upper light sources 11, and the high-beam unit 18 was provided with four lower light sources 12. However, the number of each light source can be set as appropriate, and the configuration is not limited to the embodiments described above.

[0096] Furthermore, in each of the embodiments described above, the entire lower ejection surface 35 is curved in a concave shape in the width direction. However, the lower ejection surface 35 only needs to be curved in a concave shape in the width direction in at least a portion of it, and is not limited to the configuration of each embodiment described above.

[0097] Furthermore, in each of the embodiments described above, the lower lens member 15 is curved to form light-shielding reflective surfaces 38 at locations in front of the upper emission surface 25. However, the light-shielding areas are not limited to the configurations of the embodiments described above, and only need to be provided on the lower lens member 15 so as to block light emitted from the upper emission surface 25 at the outer position Po and traveling downward from the upper emission surface 25. For example, the light-shielding areas may extend in a plate shape from the upper end of the lower lens member 15 to the front in the front-rear direction, or a plate-shaped member, a rod-shaped member, or a mesh-shaped member may be fixed to the lower lens member 15. Also, the light-shielding areas may be provided only on one side in the width direction relative to the lower emission surface 35. Furthermore, the light-shielding areas are not limited to those that completely reflect light, but may reflect only a portion of the light traveling toward them.

[0098] In each of the embodiments described above, the lower emission surface 35 of the lower lens member 15 is positioned behind the upper emission surface 25 of the upper lens member 14 at the inner position Pi. However, the positions of the lower emission surface 35 and the upper emission surface 25 in the front-to-back direction may be aligned at the inner position Pi. Even with such a configuration, the propagation of light emitted from the upper emission surface 25 is not obstructed by the lower lens member 15 in the vicinity of the projection optical axis Ap, and the passing light distribution pattern LP can be formed by efficiently utilizing the light emitted from each upper light source 11.

[0099] [1] A vehicle light fixture comprising: a lens member that receives light from a light source through an incident part and emits it from an exit surface to form a passing light distribution pattern; and a projection lens that projects the light that has passed through the lens member, wherein the incident part receives light from the light source as parallel light, and the exit surface has a main exit surface portion located at a position that includes the projection optical axis in the width direction, and a deflection exit surface portion located at at least one end in the width direction, wherein the deflection exit surface portion is inclined to the rear so that the exit angle of the light incident from the incident part with respect to the projection optical axis is greater than the exit angle of the light incident from the incident part with respect to the projection optical axis from the main exit surface portion. As a result, the vehicle lamp can form a horizontally widened passing light distribution pattern, which can improve the visibility of pedestrians, for example. Furthermore, since the vehicle lamp only requires a deflected emission surface portion at the end of the emission surface, that is, the shape of the emission surface is adjusted to provide a main emission surface portion and a deflected emission surface portion, it is possible to maintain a simple configuration while preventing an increase in size. [2] The vehicle lamp according to [1], characterized in that the deflected emission surface portion is located further inward in the width direction within the vehicle than the main emission surface portion. This vehicle lamp can direct the light emitted from the deflected emission surface portion further outward within the vehicle than the light emitted from the main emission surface portion, thereby forming a horizontally widened passing light distribution pattern LPA. [3] The vehicle lamp according to [1], characterized in that the deflected emission surface portion is a continuous curved surface. This vehicle lamp can have a smooth emitting surface, and the change in brightness of the passing light distribution pattern it forms can be made smooth. [4] The vehicle lamp according to [3], characterized in that the curvature of the deflection emitting surface portion increases as it moves away from the main emitting surface portion. This vehicle lamp can make the passing light distribution pattern it forms gradually darken as it moves outward. This is because, in the deflection emitting surface portion, the degree of refraction increases as the curvature increases, resulting in a decrease in the density of light (luminous flux).[5] The vehicle lamp according to [2], wherein the lens member has an incident portion for receiving light from the light source, and at least a portion of the deflection emission surface portion is located further inward in the width direction than the incident portion. This vehicle lamp can more efficiently utilize the light emitted from the light source and incident on the lens member from the incident portion to form a passing light distribution pattern. [6] The vehicle lamp according to [5], wherein the incident portion located further inward in the vehicle is in a positional relationship that overlaps with both the deflection emission surface portion and the main emission surface portion in the width direction. This vehicle lamp can make the change in brightness (gradation) in the horizontal direction of the expanded portion smoother in a passing light distribution pattern that is expanded horizontally. [7] The vehicle lamp according to [2], wherein the deflection emission surface portion is located further inward in the width direction than the projection lens. This vehicle light fixture can more efficiently utilize the light emitted from the light source and incident on the lens member from the incident part to form a passing light distribution pattern. [8] The vehicle light fixture according to [2], characterized in that the deflection emission surface portion is provided on both sides of the main emission surface portion and has a symmetrical shape in the width direction. This vehicle light fixture can use the same components whether it is installed on the right side or the left side of the vehicle, making the manufacturing process and parts management simpler. [9] The vehicle light fixture according to [8], characterized in that the lens member has a plurality of incident parts into which light from the light source is incident, and the two deflection emission surface portions are located on the front side in the front-rear direction of the plurality of incident parts located at both ends in the width direction. This vehicle light fixture can use the same components whether it is installed on the right side or the left side of the vehicle, even when the plurality of incident parts are set in positions that are biased in the width direction, making the manufacturing process and parts management simpler.

[10] The vehicle lamp according to [2], wherein the lens member is an upper lens member, the light source is an upper light source, the incident part is an upper incident part, the exit surface is an upper exit surface, and further comprises a lower lens member that emits light from a lower light source from a lower exit surface to form a light distribution pattern for driving, wherein the lower lens member has a light-shielding portion that blocks light emitted from an outer position in the width direction of the upper exit surface and that travels below the upper exit surface, and the deflection exit surface portion is located at the outer position in the width direction. The vehicle lamp according to [2], wherein when a passing light distribution pattern is formed with light from an upper light source through the lower lens member, the area above the cutoff line is prevented from being illuminated, and a passing light distribution pattern can be formed appropriately.

[11] The vehicle lamp according to

[10] , wherein the light-shielding portion is provided in the width direction to the projection light axis side of the deflection exit surface portion. This vehicle light fixture reliably prevents light emitted from the deflection emission surface from traveling downwards from the upper emission surface, even when the light is directed toward the projection optical axis, due to the light-shielding points.

[0100] [Cross-references to related applications] This application claims priority pursuant to Japanese Patent Application No. 2025-015138, filed with the Japan Patent Office on 31 January 2025, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2025-078798, filed with the Japan Patent Office on 9 May 2025, all of which disclosures are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Claims

1. A vehicle light fixture comprising: an upper lens member that emits light from an upper light source from an upper emission surface to form a passing light distribution pattern; a lower lens member that emits light from a lower light source from a lower emission surface to form a driving light distribution pattern; and a projection lens that projects the light that has passed through the upper lens member and the lower lens member, wherein the lower lens member has a light-shielding portion that blocks light emitted from an outer position in the width direction of the upper emission surface and that travels below the upper emission surface.

2. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the light-shielding portion reflects light emitted from the outer position of the upper emission surface and traveling downward from the upper emission surface toward the projection lens.

3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 2, characterized in that at least a portion of the lower emission surface is curved in a concave shape in the width direction, and the light-shielding portion is a portion of the lower lens member that protrudes toward the projection lens side than the upper emission surface due to the curvature of the lower emission surface.

4. The vehicle light fixture according to claim 3, characterized in that the upper emission surface is flat in the width direction or curved to a smaller degree in the width direction than the lower emission surface.

5. The vehicle lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the lower emission surface coincides with the upper emission surface or is displaced away from the projection lens relative to the upper emission surface in the optical axis direction along the projection optical axis of the projection lens.

6. The vehicle lamp according to claim 5, characterized in that the lower emission surface is displaced in the width direction at an inner position that is inward from the outer position, away from the projection lens relative to the upper emission surface, and at the outer position, it is displaced toward the projection lens relative to the upper emission surface.

7. The vehicle lamp according to claim 6, characterized in that the lower lens member has a front end flat surface that is a flat surface extending in the width direction on the outside of the upper emission surface in the width direction.

8. The vehicle light fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper emission surface has a larger vertical dimension than the lower emission surface.

9. The vehicle light fixture according to claim 3, characterized in that the projection lens is a convex lens protruding from the projection output surface side opposite to the upper lens member and the lower lens member.

10. The vehicle light fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper light source has a larger emission range in the width direction than the lower light source.

11. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper lens member has an upper incident portion for receiving light from the upper light source, an upper first reflective surface for reflecting light incident from the upper incident portion, and an upper second reflective surface for reflecting the light reflected from the upper first reflective surface toward the upper exit surface, and the lower lens member has a lower incident portion for receiving light from the lower light source, a lower first reflective surface for reflecting light incident from the lower incident portion, and a lower second reflective surface for reflecting the light reflected from the lower first reflective surface toward the lower exit surface.

12. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the upper emission surface has a main emission surface portion positioned to include the projection optical axis in the width direction, and a deflection emission surface portion positioned at at least one end of the main emission surface portion in the width direction, and the deflection emission surface portion is inclined to the rearward side such that the emission angle of the light from the incident upper light source with respect to the projection optical axis is greater than the emission angle of the light from the incident upper light source with respect to the projection optical axis from the main emission surface portion.

13. The vehicle lamp according to claim 12, characterized in that the light-shielding portion is provided in the width direction to the projection light axis side of the deflection emission surface portion.

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