Light guide member for vehicle lamp, vehicle lamp, and positioning method for light guide member of vehicle lamp

Abstract

Provided is a light guide member for a vehicle lamp, the light guide member enabling adjustment of the positional relationship among a plurality of light guides without the interposing of any member other than the light guides."　A light guide member (1) for a vehicle lamp comprises: a first light guide (3) that guides and emits incident light from a first light source (9); and a second light guide (5) that guides and emits incident light from a second light source (11). The first light guide (3) is provided with first contact surfaces (23a, 23b) that contact the second light guide (5). The second light guide (5) is provided with second contact surfaces (27a, 27b) that contact the first contact surfaces (23a, 23b).

Description

Light guide member for vehicle lamp, vehicle lamp, and positioning method for light guide member of vehicle lamp

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a light guide member for a vehicle lamp, a vehicle lamp, and a positioning method for a light guide member of a vehicle lamp.

[0002] Conventionally, as a vehicle lamp, there is known a structure in which a low-beam lens and an ADB (Adaptive Driving Beam) lens are fixed to a holder with their cut-off shaped portions arranged close to and facing each other (Patent Document 1). This is said to smooth the luminance change between the light distribution pattern of light emitted from the low-beam lens and the light distribution pattern of light emitted from the ADB lens.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-220404

[0004] However, in the vehicle lamp described in Patent Document 1, the positional relationship between the low-beam lens and the ADB lens is adjusted by individually fixing the low-beam lens and the ADB lens, which are light guides, to the holder. Therefore, the positional relationship between the low-beam lens and the ADB lens is indirectly adjusted by the positional relationship between the holder and the low-beam lens, and the positional relationship between the holder and the ADB lens. As described above, in the vehicle lamp described in Patent Document 1, the positional relationship between the low-beam lens and the ADB lens cannot be adjusted without intervening another member such as a holder, which may cause a problem when the positional relationship does not match the design.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve such conventional problems, and aims to provide a light guide member for a vehicle lamp, a vehicle lamp, and a positioning method for a light guide member of a vehicle lamp that can adjust the positional relationship between a plurality of light guides without intervening other members other than the light guides.

[0006] The light guide member for a vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure is a light guide member for a vehicle lamp including a first light guide that guides and emits incident light from a first light source, and a second light guide that guides and emits incident light from a second light source, wherein the first light guide includes a first contact surface that abuts against the second light guide, and the second light guide includes a second contact surface that abuts against the first contact surface.

[0007] Furthermore, the vehicle lighting device according to the present disclosure comprises the light guide member of the vehicle lighting device described above, the first light source that irradiates light onto the first light guide, and the second light source that irradiates light onto the second light guide. On the other hand, the vehicle lighting device according to the present disclosure comprises the light guide member of the vehicle lighting device described above, the first light source that irradiates light onto the first light guide, the second light source that irradiates light onto the second light guide, and a holder that houses the first light guide and the second light guide, wherein the holder comprises a first holding portion that holds the first light guide so that it can move by a predetermined vertical distance in the vertical direction, and the vertical distance is shorter than the length of the portion in which the holes and the columnar portions overlap in the height direction when the pair of columnar portions are inserted into the pair of holes.

[0008] Furthermore, the method for positioning a light guide member of a vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure comprises a first light guide body that guides and emits incident light from a first light source and a second light guide body that guides and emits incident light from a second light source, and the method for positioning a light guide member of a vehicle lamp comprises a contact step of bringing into contact a first contact surface provided on the first light guide body and a second contact surface provided on the second light guide body.

[0009] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide a light guide member for a vehicle lamp, a vehicle lamp, and a method for positioning a light guide member for a vehicle lamp, which can adjust the positional relationship between multiple light guides without the need for other components other than the light guides.

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle light fixture according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle light fixture of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a schematic drawing of the F1-F1 cross-sectional view of Figure 1, showing the optical path of light emitted from the light source, with the hatching of the cross section omitted. Figure 4 is a schematic drawing of the F2-F2 cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view near the positioning part) of Figure 1, with the hatching of the cross section omitted. Figure 5 is a front view showing the first light guide and the second light guide of Figure 2 combined. Figure 6 is a perspective view from the incident surface side showing the first light guide and the second light guide of Figure 2 housed in the holder. Figure 7 is an enlarged view of region R in Figure 5. Figure 8 is a diagram showing the state in Figure 7 where the first light guide and the second light guide are separated from each other. Figure 9 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship in the left-right and up-down directions between region R in Figure 5 and the first and second holding parts. Figure 10 is a perspective view showing a vehicle light fixture according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle light fixture of Figure 10. Figure 12 is an enlarged view of the first light guide of Figure 10, with the first edge indicated by hatching. Figure 13 is a perspective view of the first light guide of Figure 10 as seen from the incident surface side, with the first edge indicated by hatching. Figure 14 is an enlarged view of the second light guide of Figure 10. Figure 15 is a perspective view of the second light guide of Figure 10 as seen from the incident surface side. Figure 16 is a perspective view of the first and second light guides of Figure 10 combined as seen from the incident surface side. Figure 17 is a perspective view of Figure 16 as seen from the lower and upper emission surfaces. Figure 18 is a front view of the vicinity of the lower and upper emission surfaces of Figure 10, showing the first and second light guides separated from each other. Figure 19 is a front view of the vicinity of the lower and upper emission surfaces of Figure 10. Figure 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A near the first projection in Figure 17. Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B near the first projection in Figure 17. Figure 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in Figure 10. Figure 23 is a front view showing the first and second light guides of a vehicle lamp according to the third embodiment of this disclosure combined. Figure 24 is an enlarged view of region R2 in Figure 23.

[0011] The vehicle lighting equipment according to the embodiments of this disclosure will be described below, but this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described below and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of this disclosure. In addition, in the embodiments, some parts of the illustration and explanation of some components are omitted, but it goes without saying that the details of the omitted technologies are appropriately applied to the extent that they do not contradict the content described below.

[0012] First, the schematic configuration of the vehicle lighting device according to the first embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the vehicle lighting device according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle lighting device of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a schematic drawing of the F1-F1 cross-sectional view of Figure 1, showing the optical path of light emitted from the light source, with the hatching of the cross-section omitted.

[0013] The vehicle light fixture 100 shown in Figure 1 is a vehicle headlight and, as shown in Figure 2, comprises a first light source 9, a second light source 11, a light guide member 1, a holder 13, an outer lens 15, and a retainer 17.

[0014] The first light source 9 and the second light source 11 are electronic components that generate light emitted from the vehicle lighting fixture 100, and for example, LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are used. The first light source 9 and the second light source 11 are mounted on a substrate 7 and emit light by receiving power through the substrate 7. In addition, on the substrate 7, a heat sink 19 is provided on the side opposite to the side on which the first light source 9 and the second light source 11 are mounted, to dissipate the heat generated when the first light source 9 and the second light source 11 emit light.

[0015] The light guide member 1 is the part that guides and emits incident light from the first light source 9 and the second light source 11, and is provided in front of the first light source 9 and the second light source 11 in the direction in which the incident light is emitted (direction from the heat sink 19 toward the substrate 7). The light guide member 1 comprises a first light guide 3 and a second light guide 5.

[0016] The first light guide 3 is a light guide that guides and emits incident light from the first light source 9, and is specifically, for example, a high-beam lens or an ADB lens. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the first embodiment will be described using the case where the first light guide 3 is a high-beam lens as an example. More specifically, as shown in Figure 3, the first light guide 3 comprises an incident surface 3a, a first reflective surface 3b, a second reflective surface 3c, and a lower emission surface 3d. The incident surface 3a is a frustoconical portion into which light is incident from the first light source 9. The first reflective surface 3b is an inclined surface that reflects the light incident from the incident surface 3a upward. The second reflective surface 3c is an inclined surface that reflects the light incident from the first reflective surface 3b forward. The lower emission surface 3d is a surface that emits the light incident from the second reflective surface 5c forward.

[0017] The second light guide 5 is a light guide that guides and emits incident light from the second light source 11, and is specifically, for example, a low-beam lens. More specifically, the second light guide 5 is provided so as to overlap the first light guide 3 and comprises an incident surface 5a, a first reflective surface 5b, a second reflective surface 5c, and an upper emission surface 5d. The incident surface 5a is a frustoconical portion into which light is incident from the second light source 11. The first reflective surface 5b is an inclined surface that reflects the light incident from the incident surface 5a downwards. The second reflective surface 5c is an inclined surface that reflects the light incident from the first reflective surface 5b forwards. The upper emission surface 5d is a surface that emits the light incident from the second reflective surface 5c forwards.

[0018] The holder 13 is a box-shaped member that houses the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5. The outer lens 15 is a lens that emits light incident from the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5, and is positioned in front of the holder 13 in the direction from which the incident light is emitted. Specifically, the outer lens 15 emits light incident from the first light guide 3 in the direction indicated by arrow HB, and emits light incident from the second light guide 5 in the direction indicated by arrow LB. When the first light guide 3 is a high-beam lens and the second light guide 5 is a low-beam lens, the low-beam optical path indicated by arrow LB differs from the high-beam optical path indicated by arrow HB, and consists only of a downward optical path. The retainer 17 is a member that cooperates with the holder 13 to hold the outer lens 15 in place, and is positioned in front of the holder 13 in the direction from which the incident light is emitted. The above is a general description of the configuration of the vehicle lighting device 100.

[0019] Next, the structure of the light guide member 1 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 4 to 9. Figure 4 is a schematic drawing of the F2-F2 cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view near the positioning part) of Figure 1, and the hatching of the cross section is omitted. Figure 5 is a front view showing the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 of Figure 2 combined. Figure 6 is a perspective view from the incident surface side showing the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 of Figure 2 housed in the holder 13. Figure 7 is an enlarged view of region R in Figure 5. Figure 8 shows the state in Figure 7 where the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are separated from each other. Figure 9 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship in the left-right and up-down directions between region R in Figure 5 and the first and second holding parts.

[0020] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are in contact with each other. Also, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the first light guide 3 includes first contact surfaces 23a, 23b and columnar portions 31a, 31b (positioning portions). The first light guide 3 also includes a lower cutoff-shaped portion 39a, first horizontal surfaces 35a, 35b and base portions 25a, 25b.

[0021] The first contact surfaces 23a and 23b are surfaces that contact the second light guide 5, and in this case, they are part of the upper surface of the first light guide 3. The columnar parts 31a and 31b are members that contact the second light guide 5, and in this case, they are cylinders projecting upward from the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b. The lower cutoff shape portion 39a is the boundary portion between the light distribution range of the low beam and the high beam, and is a sloping step formed on the upper surface of the first light guide 3 so as to rise vertically from one side in the left-right direction (X1, X2) as shown in Figure 7 when viewed from the lower emission surface 3d side shown in Figure 3. The lower cutoff shape portion 39a shown in Figure 7 is a step formed so as to rise from left (one side) to right (the other side). The first horizontal surfaces 35a and 35b are horizontal surfaces connected to the left and right ends of the lower cutoff shape portion 39a, respectively, and are part of the upper surface of the first light guide 3. The base portions 25a and 25b are parts with the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b as their upper surfaces, and are trapezoidal parts formed such that the first contact surface 23a is higher than the first horizontal surface 35a, and the first contact surface 23b is higher than the first horizontal surface 35b. In the first light guide 3, when viewed from the lower emission surface 3d, the base portion 25a is provided on the left side of the first horizontal surface 35a, and the base portion 25b is provided on the right side of the first horizontal surface 35b, and the region between the first contact surface 23a and the first contact surface 23b constitutes the lower emission surface 3d.

[0022] On the other hand, the second light guide 5 includes second contact surfaces 27a, 27b and holes 33a, 33b (positioning portions). The second light guide 5 also includes an upper cutoff shape portion 39b, second horizontal surfaces 37a, 37b (horizontal surfaces), and base portions 29a, 29b.

[0023] The second contact surfaces 27a and 27b are surfaces that contact the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b of the first light guide 3, and are in this case a part of the lower surface of the second light guide 5. The holes 33a and 33b are the parts into which the columnar parts 31a and 31b of the second light guide 5 are inserted, and are in this case cylindrical recesses (round holes) formed upward from the second contact surfaces 27a and 27b. The upper cutoff shape 39b is the part that forms the boundary between the light distribution range of the low beam and the high beam, and is a sloped step formed on the lower surface of the second light guide 5, rising vertically from one side in the left-right direction (X1, X2) as shown in Figure 7 when viewed from the upper emission surface 5d side shown in Figure 3. The upper cutoff shape 39b shown in Figure 7 is a step formed to rise from left (one side) to right (the other side). The second horizontal surfaces 37a and 37b are horizontal surfaces connected to the left and right ends of the upper cutoff shape portion 39b, respectively, and are part of the lower surface of the second light guide 5. The base portions 29a and 29b are portions with the second contact surfaces 27a and 27b as their lower surfaces, and are trapezoidal portions formed such that the second contact surface 27a is lower than the second horizontal surface 37a, and the second contact surface 27b is lower than the second horizontal surface 37b. In the second light guide 5, when viewed from the upper emission surface 5d, the base portion 29a is provided to the left of the second horizontal surface 37a, and the base portion 29b is provided to the right of the second horizontal surface 37b, and the region between the second contact surface 27a and the second contact surface 27b constitutes the upper emission surface 5d.

[0024] Furthermore, the upper cutoff shape portion 39b is spaced apart and faces the lower cutoff shape portion 39a, following its alignment. Thus, the lower cutoff shape portion 39a is spaced apart and faces the upper cutoff shape portion 39b, following its alignment. Specifically, the first light guide 3 has first contact surfaces 23a and 23b provided on the base portions 25a and 25b, and the second light guide 5 has second contact surfaces 27a and 27b provided on the base portions 29a and 29b. Therefore, the first contact surface 23a is higher in the vertical direction than the first horizontal surface 35a, and the first contact surface 23b is higher in the vertical direction than the first horizontal surface 35b. Also, the second contact surface 27a is lower in the vertical direction than the second horizontal surface 37a, and the second contact surface 27b is lower in the vertical direction than the second horizontal surface 37b. Therefore, when the second light guide 5 is placed on the upper surface of the first light guide 3 and the second contact surfaces 27a and 27b are in contact with the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b, the first horizontal surfaces 35a and 35b and the second horizontal surfaces 37a and 37b are spaced apart and facing each other. Also, the lower cutoff shape portion 39a and the upper cutoff shape portion 39b are spaced apart and facing each other.

[0025] In this configuration, the positioning of the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 is performed by the following procedure. First, the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b of the first light guide 3 and the second contact surfaces 27a and 27b of the second light guide 5 are moved relative to each other in the directions of Z1 and Z2 in Figure 8 and brought into contact, and the columnar portions 31a and 31b are inserted into the holes 33a and 33b as shown in Figure 7. In other words, the second contact surfaces 27a and 27b are in contact with the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b. In this way, the light guide member 1 can position the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 in the contact direction (directions of Z1 and Z2) by bringing the second contact surfaces 27a and 27b of the second light guide 2 into contact with the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b of the first light guide 3. Therefore, the relative positions of multiple light guides can be adjusted without the need for any other components besides the light guides themselves.

[0026] Furthermore, from the state shown in Figure 7, the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are moved relative to each other in the direction of X1 or X2 along the first contact surfaces 23a, 23b and the second contact surfaces 27a, 27b until one of the holes 33a, 33b comes into contact with one of the columnar portions 31a, 31b. The position where one of the holes 33a, 33b comes into contact with one of the columnar portions 31a, 31b becomes the positioned position. Note that if the hole 33a comes into contact with the columnar portion 31a and the hole 33b comes into contact with the columnar portion 31b, the position where they come into contact becomes the positioned position.

[0027] In this way, the light guide member 1 is moved along the first contact surfaces 23a, 23b and the second contact surfaces 27a, 27b while the first light guide body 3 and the second light guide body 5 are in contact, and the holes 33a, 33b come into contact with the columnar portions 31a, 31b, thereby positioning the first light guide body 3 and the second light guide body 5 in the direction along the first contact surfaces 23a, 23b and the second contact surfaces 27a, 27b. Therefore, the light guide member 1 has a structure that allows adjustment not only in the contact direction but also in the positional relationship along the first contact surfaces 23a, 23b and the second contact surfaces 27a, 27b without the need for any other components besides the light guide body.

[0028] Furthermore, in the light guide member 1, the first light guide 3 is a high-beam lens or an ADB lens. The second light guide 5 is a low-beam lens positioned opposite the first light guide 3 in the vertical direction, and the first contact surfaces 23a, 23b and the second contact surfaces 27a, 27b are positioned to overlap in the vertical direction.

[0029] In this configuration, the first light guide 3, which acts as a high-beam lens or ADB lens, and the second light guide 5, which acts as a low-beam lens, are positioned. Therefore, by positioning the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5, the position of the high-beam light distribution pattern and the position of the low-beam light distribution pattern can also be adjusted.

[0030] Furthermore, in the light guide member 1, the second light guide body 5 has an upper cutoff-shaped portion 39b. In this configuration, the columnar portions 31a, 31b and the holes 33a, 33b are each provided in pairs on both the left and right sides of the upper cutoff-shaped portion 39b when viewed from the upper emission surface 5d side.

[0031] In this configuration, the first light guide 3 rotates relative to the second light guide 5 along the first contact surfaces 23a, 23b and the second contact surfaces 27a, 27b, with the other of the columnar portions 31a, 31b and the holes 33a, 33b acting as the pivot point. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the first light guide 3 from rotating relative to the second light guide 5 while it is in a positioned state.

[0032] Furthermore, in the light guide member 1, the first light guide body 3 has a lower cutoff shape portion 39a, and the columnar portions 31a, 31b and the holes 33a, 33b are provided in pairs on the left and right sides of the lower cutoff shape portion 39a and the upper cutoff shape portion 39b, respectively, when viewed from the lower emission surface 3d side and the upper emission surface 5d side.

[0033] In this configuration, positioning is performed on both the left and right sides of the lower cutoff-shaped portion 39a and the upper cutoff-shaped portion 39b. Therefore, the light guide member 1 has a structure that prevents interference between the columnar portions 31a, 31b and the holes 33a, 33b and the lower cutoff-shaped portion 39a and the upper cutoff-shaped portion 39b.

[0034] Furthermore, in the light guide member 1, the columnar portions 31a, 31b and the holes 33a, 33b are positioned to the left and right outer with respect to the lower emission surface 3d of the first light guide 3. In this configuration, the light emitted from the lower emission surface 3d of the first light guide 3 passes between the columnar portions 31a, holes 33a and the columnar portions 31b, holes 33b. Therefore, the light guide member 1 has a structure that prevents interference between the columnar portions 31a, 31b and holes 33a, 33b and the lower emission surface 3d.

[0035] On the other hand, in the light guide member 1, the positioning portion is a pair of columnar portions 31a, 31b protruding from the first contact surfaces 23a, 23b. Also in the light guide member 1, the positioned portion is a pair of holes 33a, 33b provided on the left and right second contact surfaces 27a, 27b of the upper cutoff shaped portion 39b when viewed from the upper emission surface 5d side, into which the pair of columnar portions 31a, 31b are inserted. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9, the depth H2 of the pair of holes 33a, 33b is deeper than the height H1 of the pair of columnar portions 31a, 31b, and the width W2 (inner diameter) of the pair of holes 33a, 33b in the left-right direction is wider than the width W1 (outer diameter) of the pair of columnar portions 31a, 31b in the left-right direction. Therefore, when the columnar portions 31a and 31b are inserted into the holes 33a and 33b, gaps are created between the holes 33a and 33b and the columnar portions 31a and 31b in the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0036] In this configuration, the entire columnar portions 31a and 31b can be inserted into the holes 33a and 33b, and while inserted, the holes 33a and 33b can be moved relative to the columnar portions 31a and 31b in the left-right direction. Furthermore, in this configuration, with the columnar portions 31a and 31b inserted into the holes 33a and 33b, the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are positioned at the point where the circumferential surfaces of the columnar portions 31a and 31b and the circumferential surfaces of the holes 33a and 33b are in contact. Therefore, the range in which the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 can move relative to each other during positioning can be defined by the dimensions between the columnar portions 31a and 31b and the holes 33a and 33b, preventing the movable distance during positioning from being too long or too short.

[0037] On the other hand, in the light guide member 1, the positioning portion is provided on the left and right first contact surfaces 23a and 23b of the lower cutoff shape portion 39a when viewed from the lower emission surface 3d side.

[0038] In this configuration, positioning is performed on both the left and right sides of the lower cutoff-shaped portion 39a and the upper cutoff-shaped portion 39b. Therefore, the light guide member 1 has a structure that prevents interference between the columnar portions 31a, 31b and the holes 33a, 33b and the lower cutoff-shaped portion 39a and the upper cutoff-shaped portion 39b.

[0039] Furthermore, in the light guide member 1, the lower cutoff shape portion 39a and the upper cutoff shape portion 39b have portions that face each other on the left and right sides when viewed from the lower emission surface 3d side and the upper emission surface 5d side. The shortest distance WF (distance) in the left-right direction between these left-right facing portions is longer than the distance that the first light guide body 3 and the second light guide body 5 can move in the left-right direction during positioning (the length of the gap in the left-right direction between the holes 33a, 33b and the columnar portions 31a, 31b). Specifically, the widths W2 and W1 are the widths that allow the pair of columnar portions 31a, 31b to move relative to each other in the left-right direction within the pair of holes 33a, 33b by a first distance WL1 and WL2 that is shorter than the shortest distance WF, when the pair of columnar portions 31a, 31b are inserted into the pair of holes 33a, 33b. Furthermore, in the light guide member 1, the widths W2 and W1 are the widths such that the lower cutoff-shaped portion 39a and the upper cutoff-shaped portion 39b face each other in the vertical and horizontal directions when the pair of columnar portions 31a and 31b are inserted into the pair of holes 33a and 33b. In this configuration, when the first light guide body 3 and the second light guide body 5 are moved horizontally during positioning, one of the holes 33a and 33b will come into contact with one of the columnar portions 31a and 31b before the upper cutoff-shaped portion 39b comes into contact with the lower cutoff-shaped portion 39b, thus positioning them. Therefore, even when the first light guide body 3 and the second light guide body 5 are moved horizontally during positioning, it is possible to prevent the upper cutoff-shaped portion 39b from coming into contact with the lower cutoff-shaped portion 39a.

[0040] As shown in Figure 6, the holder 13 has a first holding portion 13g. The first light guide 3 has a first holding hole 3f and a holding leg 3g. The first holding portion 13g is a round rod-shaped (pin-shaped) member that holds the first light guide 3 so that it can move vertically by a predetermined distance (vertical distance). The first holding portion 13g also holds the first light guide 3 so that it can move horizontally by a predetermined distance (horizontal distance). On the other hand, the first holding hole 3f is a circular hole through which the second holding portion 13h is inserted when the first light guide 3 is held in the holder 13. Here, as shown in Figure 9, the inner diameter D1 of the first holding hole 3f is larger than the outer diameter D2 of the round rod of the first holding portion 13g. Therefore, when the first holding portion 13g is inserted through the first holding hole 3f, a gap is created between the first holding hole 3f and the first holding portion 13g in the horizontal and vertical directions. The length of the gap in the left-right direction is referred to as the left-right distance DL1. The length of the gap in the up-down direction is referred to as the up-down distance DH. Note that if the axis centers of the first retaining hole 3f and the first retaining part 13g do not coincide, the left-right distance DL1 and the up-down distance DH may have different values ​​depending on the circumferential positions of the first retaining hole 3f and the first retaining part 13g. The retaining leg 3g is a round rod-shaped member that penetrates the substrate 7 and the heat sink 19 when fixing the position of the first light guide 3.

[0041] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, the holder 13 has a second holding portion 13h. The second light guide 5 also has a second holding hole 5f and a holding leg 5g. The second holding portion 13h is a round rod-shaped (pin-shaped) member that holds the second light guide 5 so that it can move left-right and up-down by a predetermined distance (second distance). The second holding hole 5f is a circular hole through which the second holding portion 13h is inserted when the second light guide 5 is held by the holder 13. As shown in Figure 9, the inner diameter D3 of the second holding hole 5f is larger than the outer diameter D4 of the round rod of the second holding portion 13h. Therefore, when the second holding portion 13h is inserted through the second holding hole 5f, a gap is created between the second holding hole 5f and the second holding portion 13h. The length of this gap is referred to as the second distance DL2. Furthermore, if the axial centers of the second retaining hole 5f and the second retaining part 13h do not coincide, the second distance DL2 may have different values ​​depending on the circumferential positions of the second retaining hole 5f and the second retaining part 13h. For example, the second distance DL2 may have different values ​​in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. The retaining leg 5g is a round rod-shaped member that penetrates the substrate 7 and the heat sink 19 when fixing the position of the second light guide 5.

[0042] In this configuration, the procedure for housing the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 in the holder 13 is as follows, for example. First, the holes 33a and 33b of the second light guide 5 are inserted into the columnar portions 31a and 31b of the first light guide 3. Note that by sandwiching the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 with a jig that allows vertical movement of the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 but restricts horizontal movement, and moving the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 along the jig, it becomes easier to insert the holes 33a and 33b into the columnar portions 31a and 31b. Next, the first holding portion 13g of the holder 13 is inserted through the first holding hole 3f of the first light guide 3 to hold the first light guide 3, and the second holding portion 13h is inserted through the second holding hole 5f of the second light guide 5 to hold the second light guide 5. Furthermore, the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are positioned relative to each other. Finally, the substrate 7 and the heat sink 19 are pressed against the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 so that the retaining legs 3g and 5g pass through them, and the heat sink 19 is screwed into the holder 13, thereby housing the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 in the holder 13 with their relative positions.

[0043] Here, the vertical distance DH shown in FIG. 9 is shorter than the length of the portion where the holes 33a, 33b and the columnar portions 31a, 31b overlap in the height direction, in a state where the pair of columnar portions 31a, 31b are inserted into the pair of holes 33a, 33b. For example, in FIG. 9, the length of the portion where the holes 33a, 33b and the columnar portions 31a, 31b overlap in the height direction is the height H1. With this configuration, when the first light guide 3 moves in the vertical direction in a state where the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are housed in the holder 13, the first holding portion 13g comes into contact with the first holding hole 3f and blocks the movement in the vertical direction before the columnar portions 31a, 31b come out of the holes 33a, 33b. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the columnar portions 31a, 31b from coming out of the holes 33a, 33b and separating the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 from each other in a state where the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are housed in the holder 13.

[0044] Furthermore, the left-right distance DL1 is longer than the first distances WL1 and WL2. With this configuration, when the first light guide 3 moves in the left-right direction in a state where the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are housed in the holder 13, the holes 33a, 33b stop against the columnar portions 31a, 31b before the first holding portion 13g blocks the movement in the left-right direction. Therefore, positioning can be performed in a state where the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are housed in the holder 13.

[0045] Also, the left-right distance DL1 and the vertical distance DH are different from the second distance DL2. With this configuration, in a state where the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are housed in the holder 13, the vertically and horizontally movable ranges of the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are different. Therefore, positioning can be performed for the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 by moving the one having a wider movement range based on the position of the one having a narrower movement range.

[0046] Furthermore, it is preferable that the left-right distance DL1 and the up-down distance DH are longer than the second distance DL2. In this configuration, when the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are housed in the holder 13, the first light guide 3, which is the high-beam lens, has a wider range of movement in all directions than the second light guide 5, which is the low-beam lens. Therefore, by moving the high-beam lens within the holder 13 based on the position of the low-beam lens, the low-beam lens, which has many constraints on the items to be managed and is difficult to move, can be positioned with minimal movement. The above is a detailed explanation of the structure of the light guide member 1.

[0047] Next, the positioning method for the light guide member 1 will be briefly explained. First, from the state shown in Figure 8, the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b provided on the first light guide 3 and the second contact surfaces 27a and 27b provided on the second light guide 5 are brought into contact (contact step). At this time, as shown in Figure 9, a pair of columnar parts 31a and 31b are inserted into a pair of holes 33a and 33b to bring the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b and the second contact surfaces 27a and 27b into contact. By performing this contact step, the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are positioned in the contact direction. Therefore, the positional relationship between multiple light guides can be adjusted without the need for other components other than the light guides.

[0048] Next, the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are relatively moved along the first contact surfaces 23a, 23b and the second contact surfaces 27a, 27b until a position where one of the columnar portions 31a, 31b stops against one of the hole portions 33a, 33b (positioning step). By performing the positioning step in this manner, the positional relationship between the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 not only in the contact direction but also in the direction along the first contact surfaces 23a, 23b and the second contact surfaces 27a, 27b can be adjusted without intervention of any members other than the light guides. In the vehicular lamp 100, the smaller the gap between the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 is, the brighter the boundary between the light distribution pattern of light emitted from the first light guide 3 and the light distribution pattern of light emitted from the second light guide 5 becomes, which is preferable. Therefore, it is preferable to relatively move the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 in a direction in which the distance in the left-right direction between the lower cut-off shaped portion 39a and the upper cut-off shaped portion 39b becomes shorter. Specifically, it is preferable to perform positioning by moving the second light guide relative to the first light guide 3 in the direction X2, or perform positioning by moving the first light guide 3 relative to the second light guide 5 in the direction X1. The above is the description of the positioning method for the light guide member 1.

[0049] As described above, according to the first embodiment, the light guide member 1 includes a first light guide 3 and a second light guide 5, the first light guide 3 includes first contact surfaces 23a and 23b, and the second light guide 5 includes second contact surfaces 27a and 27b.

[0050] In this configuration, when the second contact surfaces 27a, 27b are brought into contact with the first contact surfaces 23a, 23b, the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are positioned in the contact direction. Therefore, the positional relationship between the plurality of light guides can be adjusted without intervention of any members other than the light guides.

[0051] On the other hand, according to the first embodiment, the first light guide 3 includes columnar portions 31a and 31b, and the second light guide 5 includes hole portions 33a and 33b.

[0052] In this configuration, when the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are moved relative to each other with the second contact surfaces 27a and 27b in contact with the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b, and the holes 33a and 33b stop in contact with the columnar portions 31a and 31b, the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are positioned in the direction along the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b and the second contact surfaces 27a and 27b. Therefore, the positional relationship between the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 in the direction along the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b and the second contact surfaces 27a and 27b can also be adjusted without the use of any other components besides the light guides.

[0053] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the first light guide 3 is a high-beam lens or an ADB lens, and the second light guide 5 is a low-beam lens positioned opposite the first light guide 3 in the vertical direction. Also, the first contact surfaces 23a, 23b and the second contact surfaces 27a, 27b are arranged to overlap in the vertical direction.

[0054] In this configuration, the first light guide 3, which functions as a high-beam lens or ADB lens, and the second light guide 5, which functions as a low-beam lens, are positioned. Therefore, by positioning the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5, the positions of the high-beam light distribution pattern and the low-beam light distribution pattern can also be adjusted.

[0055] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the second light guide 5 has an upper cutoff-shaped portion 39b. In this configuration, the columnar portions 31a, 31b and the holes 33a, 33b are each provided in pairs on both the left and right sides of the upper cutoff-shaped portion 39b when viewed from the upper emission surface 5d side.

[0056] In this configuration, the first light guide 3 rotates relative to the second light guide 5 along the first contact surfaces 23a, 23b and the second contact surfaces 27a, 27b, with the other of the columnar portions 31a, 31b and the holes 33a, 33b acting as the pivot point. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the first light guide 3 from rotating relative to the second light guide 5 while it is in a positioned state.

[0057] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the first light guide 3 has a lower cutoff shape portion 39a. In this configuration, the columnar portions 31a, 31b and the holes 33a, 33b are provided in pairs on both the left and right sides of the lower cutoff shape portion 39a and the upper cutoff shape portion 39b, respectively, when viewed from the lower emission surface 3d side and the upper emission surface 5d side.

[0058] In this configuration, positioning is performed on both the left and right sides of the lower cutoff-shaped portion 39a and the upper cutoff-shaped portion 39b. Therefore, the light guide member 1 has a structure that prevents interference between the columnar portions 31a, 31b and the holes 33a, 33b and the lower cutoff-shaped portion 39a and the upper cutoff-shaped portion 39b.

[0059] On the other hand, according to the first embodiment, in the light guide member 1, the columnar portions 31a, 31b and the holes 33a, 33b are provided at positions to the left and right outer with respect to the lower emission surface 3d of the first light guide 3. In this configuration, the light emitted from the lower emission surface 3d of the first light guide 3 passes between the columnar portions 31a, holes 33a and the columnar portions 31b, holes 33b. Therefore, the light guide member 1 has a structure that can prevent interference between the columnar portions 31a, 31b and holes 33a, 33b and the lower emission surface 3d.

[0060] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, in the light guide member 1, the positioning portion is a pair of columnar portions 31a, 31b protruding from the first contact surfaces 23a, 23b. Also, in the light guide member 1, the positioned portion is a pair of holes 33a, 33b provided on the left and right second contact surfaces 27a, 27b of the upper cutoff shaped portion 39b when viewed from the upper emission surface 5d side, into which the pair of columnar portions 31a, 31b are inserted. Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the depth H2 of the pair of holes 33a, 33b is deeper than the height H1 of the pair of columnar portions 31a, 31b, and the width W2 of the pair of holes 33a, 33b in the left-right direction is wider than the width W1 of the pair of columnar portions 31a, 31b in the left-right direction.

[0061] In this configuration, the entire columnar portions 31a and 31b can be inserted into the holes 33a and 33b, and while inserted, the holes 33a and 33b can be moved relative to the columnar portions 31a and 31b in the left-right direction. Furthermore, in this configuration, with the columnar portions 31a and 31b inserted into the holes 33a and 33b, the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are positioned at the point where the circumferential surfaces of the columnar portions 31a and 31b and the circumferential surfaces of the holes 33a and 33b are in contact. Therefore, the range in which the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 can move relative to each other during positioning can be defined by the dimensions between the columnar portions 31a and 31b and the holes 33a and 33b, preventing the movable distance during positioning from being too long or too short.

[0062] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, in the light guide member 1, the positioning portion is provided on the left and right first contact surfaces 23a and 23b of the lower cutoff shaped portion 39a when viewed from the lower emission surface 3d side.

[0063] In this configuration, positioning is performed on both the left and right sides of the lower cutoff-shaped portion 39a and the upper cutoff-shaped portion 39b. Therefore, the light guide member 1 has a structure that prevents interference between the columnar portions 31a, 31b and the holes 33a, 33b and the lower cutoff-shaped portion 39a and the upper cutoff-shaped portion 39b.

[0064] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, widths W2 and W1 are widths that allow the pair of columnar portions 31a and 31b to move relative to each other by a first distance WL1 and WL2 shorter than the shortest distance WF, with the pair of columnar portions 31a and 31b inserted into the pair of holes 33a and 33b. Also, widths W2 and W1 are widths that allow the lower cutoff shape portion 39a and the upper cutoff shape portion 39b to face each other in the vertical and horizontal directions, with the pair of columnar portions 31a and 31b inserted into the pair of holes 33a and 33b. In this configuration, when the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are moved horizontally during positioning, the circumferential surfaces of the columnar portions 31a and 31b and the circumferential surfaces of the holes 33a and 33b come into contact and are positioned before the upper cutoff shape portion 39b comes into contact with the lower cutoff shape portion 39a. Therefore, even when the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are moved in the left-right direction during positioning, it is possible to prevent the upper cutoff-shaped portion 39b from coming into contact with the lower cutoff-shaped portion 39a.

[0065] Furthermore, the vehicle lighting fixture 100 of the first embodiment includes a light guide member 1, a first light source 9 that irradiates light onto a first light guide 3 of the light guide member 1, and a second light source 11 that irradiates light onto a second light guide 5 of the light guide member 1. Therefore, the positional relationship between multiple light guides can be adjusted without the need for other components besides the light guides.

[0066] On the other hand, the vehicle light fixture 100 of the first embodiment includes a holder 13 that houses the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5, and the holder 13 includes a first holding part 13g that holds the first light guide 3 so that it can move vertically by a vertical distance DH. Furthermore, in the light guide member 1, the vertical distance DH is shorter than the length of the portion in which the holes 33a, 33b and the columnar parts 31a, 31b overlap in the height direction when the pair of columnar parts 31a, 31b are inserted into the pair of holes 33a, 33b.

[0067] In this configuration, when the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are housed in the holder 13, if the first light guide 3 moves in the vertical direction, the first retaining part 13g contacts the first retaining hole 3f before the columnar parts 31a and 31b come out of the holes 33a and 33b, thereby preventing vertical movement. As a result, it is possible to prevent the columnar parts 31a and 31b from coming out of the holes 33a and 33b and separating the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 while they are housed in the holder 13.

[0068] Furthermore, in the vehicle light fixture 100 of the first embodiment, the first holding part 13g holds the first light guide 3 so that it can move left and right by a left-right distance DL1, and the left-right distance DL1 is longer than the first distances WL1 and WL2. In this configuration, when the first light guide 3 moves left and right while the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are housed in the holder 13, the holes 33a and 33b hit the columnar parts 31a and 31b and stop before the first holding part 13g can block the left-right movement. Therefore, positioning can be performed while the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are housed in the holder 13.

[0069] Furthermore, in the vehicle lighting device 100 of the first embodiment, the vertical distance DH and the horizontal distance DL1 are different from the second distance DL2. In this configuration, when the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are housed in the holder 13, the ranges in which the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 can move vertically and horizontally are different. Therefore, positioning can be performed by moving the light guide with a wider range of movement relative to the position of the light guide with a narrower range of movement.

[0070] On the other hand, in the vehicle lighting device 100 of the first embodiment, the vertical distance DH and the horizontal distance DL1 are longer than the second distance DL2. In this configuration, when the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 are housed in the holder 13, the first light guide 3, which is the high-beam lens, has a wider range of vertical and horizontal movement than the second light guide 5, which is the low-beam lens. Therefore, by moving the high-beam lens within the holder 13 based on the position of the low-beam lens, the low-beam lens, which has many constraints on the items to be managed and is difficult to move, can be positioned with minimal movement.

[0071] Furthermore, the positioning method for the light guide member 1 of the first embodiment includes a contact step. Therefore, the positional relationship between multiple light guides can be adjusted without the need for other members other than the light guides.

[0072] Furthermore, the positioning method for the light guide member 1 of the first embodiment includes a positioning step. Therefore, the positional relationship between the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 in the direction along the first contact surfaces 23a, 23b and the second contact surfaces 27a, 27b can also be adjusted without the use of any other components besides the light guides.

[0073] Next, the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 10 to 22. The second embodiment uses a positioning part and a positioned part with different shapes from those of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, elements that perform the same function as in the first embodiment are given the same numbers, and the parts that differ mainly from the first embodiment will be described.

[0074] First, an overview of the configuration of the vehicle lighting device according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the vehicle lighting device according to the second embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle lighting device of Figure 10. The vehicle lighting device 100a according to the second embodiment shown in Figure 10 is a vehicle headlight, similar to the vehicle lighting device 100, and as shown in Figure 11, comprises a first light source 9, a second light source 11, a light guide member 1a, a holder 13 (holder 53), an outer lens 15, and a retainer 17. The vehicle lighting device 100a has a substrate 7 (substrate 51) which is divided into a first substrate 51a that holds the first light source 9 and a second substrate 51b that holds the second light source 11. The heat sink 19 (heat sink 59) is also divided into a first heat sink 59a that contacts the first substrate 51a and a second heat sink 59b that contacts the second substrate 51b. The above is an overview of the configuration of the vehicle lighting device 100a.

[0075] Next, the details of the structure of the vehicle lamp 100a, particularly the details of the structure of the light guide member 1a and the holder 53, will be described with reference to Figures 11 to 22. Figure 12 is an enlarged view of the first light guide in Figure 10, with the first edge indicated by hatching. Figure 13 is a perspective view of the first light guide in Figure 10 as seen from the incident surface side, with the first edge indicated by hatching. Figure 14 is an enlarged view of the second light guide in Figure 10. Figure 15 is a perspective view of the second light guide in Figure 10 as seen from the incident surface side. Figure 16 is a perspective view of the first light guide and the second light guide in Figure 10 combined as seen from the incident surface side. Figure 17 is a perspective view of Figure 16 as seen from the lower and upper emission surfaces. Figure 18 is a front view of the vicinity of the lower and upper emission surfaces of Figure 10, showing the first light guide and the second light guide separated from each other. Figure 19 is a front view of the vicinity of the lower and upper ejection surfaces of Figure 10. Figure 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A near the first projection in Figure 17. Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B near the first projection in Figure 17. Figure 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in Figure 10.

[0076] As shown in Figure 11, the light guide member 1a comprises a first light guide 3 (first light guide 43) and a second light guide 5 (second light guide 45). The first light guide 43 shown in Figures 12 and 13 is an ADB lens and comprises a first lens portion 43a and a first edge portion 43b. The first lens portion 43a is the region that becomes the optical path of incident light incident from the first light source 9 shown in Figure 11, and is made of, for example, transparent silicone resin. The first lens portion 43a has an incident surface 3a on its back, a lower cutoff shape portion 39a, first horizontal surfaces 35a and 35b at its upper end, and a lower exit surface 3d on its front. The first edge portion 43b is a thin plate-like portion that surrounds the left, right and lower sides of the first lens portion 43a, as indicated by hatching in Figures 12 and 13, and is made of a material harder than the first lens portion 43a, such as polycarbonate. The term "hard material" here refers to, for example, the material that deforms less when one material is pressed against the other. Alternatively, it refers to the material with the higher modulus of elasticity when comparing two materials. The first lens portion 43a and the first edge portion 43b are integrated, for example, by insert molding. The first edge portion 43b includes a U-shaped portion 81, plate-shaped portions 83a and 83b, fixing portions 85a and 85b, and first protrusions 57a and 57b (positioning portions).

[0077] The U-shaped portion 81 is a U-shaped part that surrounds the left, right, and bottom of the first lens portion 43a. The plate-shaped portions 83a and 83b are plate-shaped parts provided on the left and right sides of the U-shaped portion 81 when viewed from the lower emission surface 3d side as shown in Figure 12, and their thickness direction is oriented from the back to the front of the first light guide 43. The fixing portions 85a and 85b are parts for fixing the first light guide 43 to the second light guide 45, and are through holes provided in at least one pair that penetrate the plate-shaped portions 83a and 83b in the thickness direction, and are holes through which screws (not shown) pass. The first projections 57a and 57b are positioning portions that position the first light guide 43 and the second light guide 45, and are projections that protrude from the upper end of the U-shaped portion 81 toward the front and upper surfaces.

[0078] On the other hand, the second light guide 45 shown in Figures 14 and 15 is a low-beam lens. The second light guide 45 here comprises a second lens portion 45a and a second edge portion 45b. The second lens portion 45a is the region that forms the optical path of incident light incident from the second light source 11, and has an incident surface 5a on its back, an upper cutoff shaped portion 39b and second horizontal surfaces 37a and 37b at its lower end, and an upper emission surface 5d on its front.

[0079] The second edge portion 45b is provided so as to surround the left, right, and top of the second lens portion 45a, and includes fixed portions 61a, 61b and second projections 63a, 63b (positioning portions). The fixed portions 61a, 61b are the parts that fix the second light guide body 45 to the first light guide body 43 by being fixed to the fixing portions 85a, 85b shown in Figure 12, and are cylindrical members provided in at least one pair on both the left and right sides of the second lens portion 45a when viewed from the upper emission surface 5d side. More specifically, the fixed portions 61a, 61b are provided on the third edge portions 46a, 46b. The third edges 46a and 46b are part of the second edge 45b and are plate-shaped members provided on both the left and right sides of the second lens portion 45a when viewed from the incident surface 5a side, with the plate thickness direction facing from the incident surface 5a of the second lens portion 45a toward the upper exit surface 5d. The fixed portions 61a and 61b have their axial direction of the cylinder facing from the incident surface 5a of the second lens portion 45a toward the upper exit surface 5d, and have female threads 65a and 65b cut into their inner circumferences. Furthermore, the bottom of the cylinder on the upper exit surface 5d side of the fixed portions 61a and 61b is closed.

[0080] In this configuration, the screws 95a and 95b shown in Figure 16 are inserted into the through holes that make up the fixing parts 85a and 85b, and into the inner circumference of the cylinders that make up the fixed parts 61a and 61b, and are screwed into the female screws 65a and 65b, thereby fixing the fixed parts 61a and 61b to the fixing parts 85a and 85b. In this way, in the light guide member 1a, the fixed parts 61a and 61b of the second light guide 45 are fixed to the fixing parts 85a and 85b of the first light guide 43, thereby fixing the first light guide 43 to the second light guide 45. Therefore, the light guide member 1a has a structure that allows the first light guide 43 to be fixed to the second light guide 45 without the need for other members.

[0081] Furthermore, the fixing parts 85a and 85b are provided in at least one pair on the left and right sides of the first lens part 43a when viewed from the lower emission surface 3d side. In addition, the fixed parts 61a and 61b are provided in at least one pair on the left and right sides of the second lens part 45a when viewed from the upper emission surface 5d side. In this configuration, the first light guide 43 and the second light guide 45 are fixed at a position outside the optical path of the incident light. Therefore, the light guide member 1a is less likely to lose light due to incident light entering the fixing parts 85a and 85b and the fixed parts 61a and 61b.

[0082] The second protrusions 63a and 63b shown in Figures 14 and 15 are members that position the first light guide 43 and the second light guide 45 relative to each other by coming into contact with the first protrusions 57a and 57b. The second protrusions 63a and 63b are also portions that protrude downward from both the left and right ends of the second lens portion 45a on the second edge portion 45b.

[0083] In the light guide member 1a, as shown in Figure 18, the upper ends of the first protrusions 57a and 57b of the first light guide body 43 correspond to the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b. Also, in the light guide member 1a, the second horizontal surfaces 37a and 37b of the second light guide body 45 correspond to the second contact surfaces 27a and 27b. Therefore, as shown in Figures 19 and 20, when the second contact surfaces 27a and 27b are in contact with the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b, the pair of first protrusions 57a and 57b come into contact with the second horizontal surfaces 37a and 37b.

[0084] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 19, in the light guide member 1a, with the second contact surfaces 27a and 27b in contact with the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b, the pair of second protrusions 63a and 63b are provided so as to sandwich the pair of first protrusions 57a and 57b in the left-right direction. Also, as shown in Figure 18, the shortest left-right distance W4 (distance) between the pair of second protrusions 63a and 63b is longer than the longest left-right distance W3 (distance) between the pair of first protrusions 57a and 57b. Therefore, with the second contact surfaces 27a and 27b in contact with the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b, positioning is achieved by only one of the first protrusions 57a and 57b stopping against one of the second protrusions 63a and 63b. For example, Figure 21 illustrates a case where the outer surface 95 of the first projection 57a ​​is positioned by contacting and stopping against the inner surface 97 of the second projection 63a.

[0085] Thus, in the second light guide 45, the second contact surfaces 27a and 27b, to which the first protrusions 57a and 57b abut, are provided on optical surfaces that form the second horizontal planes 37a and 37b, which are connected to both the left and right sides of the upper cutoff-shaped portion 39b. In this configuration, the vertical position of the low-beam lens and the high-beam lens is determined by the direct contact of the first protrusions 57a and 57b, which are the positioning portions, with the second horizontal planes 37a and 37b, which are the optical planes. In other words, the second contact surfaces 27a and 27b are the optical planes. Therefore, in the light guide member 1a, it is not necessary to consider the position tolerance between the second contact surfaces 27a and 27b and the optical planes that form the second horizontal planes 37a and 37b, thus reducing the vertical position tolerance.

[0086] Furthermore, the first light guide 43 has first contact surfaces 23a and 23b made of a harder material than the lower exit surface 3d, which is the surface from which the emitted light is emitted. In this configuration, the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b are harder than the lower exit surface 3d. The first contact surfaces 23a and 23b are the tips of the first protrusions 57a and 57b, and are prone to deformation when they come into contact with and slide against the second contact surfaces 27a and 27b during positioning. Therefore, by making the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b harder than the lower exit surface 3d, deformation of the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b during positioning can be suppressed. Also, if the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b are made of a harder material than the lower exit surface 3d, the incident surface 3a will be made of a softer material than the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b. Generally, softer materials have higher fluidity during insert molding than harder materials, allowing for the formation of finer shapes. Therefore, by using a softer material than the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b, the incident surface 3a can be miniaturized. Here, "softer material" refers, for example, to the material that deforms more when one material is pressed against the other. Alternatively, it refers to the material with the lower elastic modulus when comparing the two materials.

[0087] On the other hand, the pair of second protrusions 63a and 63b are provided so as to sandwich the pair of first protrusions 57a and 57b in the left-right direction. Also, when viewed from the upper emission surface 5d, the shortest left-right distance W4 between the pair of second protrusions 63a and 63b is longer than the longest left-right distance W3 between the first protrusions 57a and 57b. In this configuration, the pair of first protrusions 57a and 57b move in the left-right direction within the range sandwiched between the pair of second protrusions 63a and 63b, and when either the left or right positioning part comes into contact with either the left or right second protrusion 63a or 63b, the first light guide 43 and the second light guide 45 are positioned. Therefore, positioning can be achieved without providing holes 33a and 33b (see Figure 7) in the second light guide 45.

[0088] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 22, in the vehicle light fixture 100a (light guide member 1a), the holder 53 is provided with a lower leg portion 53a (one of the two legs) and an upper leg portion 53b (the other of the two legs). The lower leg portion 53a is a member that cooperates with the second substrate 51b to sandwich the first light guide body 43 and the second light guide body 45. The upper leg portion 53b is a member that cooperates with the first substrate 51a to sandwich the second light guide body 45. Furthermore, when the first light guide body 43 and the second light guide body 45 are fixed to each other by the fixing portions 85a, 85b and the fixed portions 61a, 61b and housed in the holder 53, the fixing portions 85a, 85b and the fixed portions 61a, 61b are positioned between the lower leg portion 53a and the upper leg portion 53b. In this configuration, when the first light guide 43 and the second light guide 45 are pressed against the holder 53, the first light guide 43 and the second light guide 45 come into contact with the lower leg portion 53a and the upper leg portion 53b, and the portion between the lower leg portion 53a and the upper leg portion 53b does not deform. Therefore, even if force is applied to the first light guide 43 and the second light guide 45 during the process of fixing the substrate 51 or heat sink 59 to the holder 53, no load is placed on the fixing portion 85a, 85b and the fixed portion 61a, 61b located between the lower leg portion 53a and the upper leg portion 53b.

[0089] Furthermore, the tip of the lower leg portion 53a has a contact portion 53c that contacts the first light guide 43, and a tip portion that is lower in height than the contact portion 53c and has a stepped portion 53d that faces the second light guide 45, while the upper leg portion 53b faces the second light guide 45. In this configuration, the lower ends of a part of the second light guide 5, in this case the third edges 46a and 46b, are provided between the first light guide 3 and the stepped portion 53d of the lower leg portion 53a, so the third edges 46a and 46b are sandwiched between the plate-like portions 83a and 83b of the first light guide 43 and the upper leg portion 53b. As a result, the second light guide 45 is less likely to rotate unintentionally with the third edges 46a and 46b as a pivot point during assembly. The above is a detailed explanation of the structure of the vehicle lighting device 100a.

[0090] Thus, according to the second embodiment, the vehicle light fixture 100a includes a first light guide 43 having a pair of first protrusions 57a and 57b, and a second light guide 45 having a pair of second protrusions 63a and 63b. Therefore, similar to the first embodiment, the positional relationship between multiple light guides can be adjusted without the need for other components besides the light guides.

[0091] Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, the second contact surfaces 27a and 27b of the second light guide 45, to which the first protrusions 57a and 57b abut, are provided on optical surfaces that form the second horizontal surfaces 37a and 37b, which are connected to both the left and right sides of the upper cutoff-shaped portion 39b. In this configuration, the vertical position of the first light guide 43 and the second light guide 45 is determined by the direct contact of the first protrusions 57a and 57b, which are the positioning portions, with the second contact surfaces 27a and 27b, which are the optical surfaces. Therefore, in the light guide member 1a, it is not necessary to consider the position tolerance between the second contact surfaces 27a and 27b and the optical surfaces that form the second horizontal surfaces 37a and 37b, thus making the vertical position tolerance smaller.

[0092] Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, the first light guide 43 is made of a material that is harder than the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b of the first light guide 43. In this configuration, the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b are harder than the lower light exit surface 3d. Therefore, deformation of the first contact surfaces 23a and 23b during positioning can be suppressed.

[0093] Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, the pair of second protrusions 63a and 63b are provided so as to sandwich the pair of first protrusions 57a and 57b in the left-right direction. Also, when viewed from the lower emission surface 3d and the upper emission surface 5d, the shortest distance W4 between the pair of second protrusions 63a and 63b is longer than the longest distance W3 between the first protrusions 57a and 57b. In this configuration, the first protrusions 57a and 57b move in the left-right direction within the range sandwiched by the pair of second protrusions 63a and 63b, and when one of the first protrusions 57a and 57b contacts the other of the second protrusions 63a and 63b, the first light guide 43 and the second light guide 45 are positioned. Therefore, positioning can be achieved without providing holes 33a and 33b.

[0094] Next, the third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 23 and 24. Figure 23 is a front view showing the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 of the vehicle lamp according to the third embodiment of this disclosure in a combined state. Figure 24 is an enlarged view of region R2 in Figure 23. The third embodiment defines the outer angle between the upper cutoff shape portion 39b and the second contact surface 27b, and the inner angle between the lower cutoff shape portion 39a and the first contact surface 23a, as in the first embodiment. In the third embodiment, elements that perform the same function as in the first embodiment are given the same numbers, and the parts that differ mainly from the first embodiment will be described.

[0095] As shown in Figure 23, the light guide member 1b of the vehicle lamp 100b according to the third embodiment has a structure in which the first contact surface 23b of the first light guide body 3 and the second contact surface 27b of the second light guide body 5 come into contact, and the second light guide body 5 is positioned by moving it relative to the first contact surface 23b and the second contact surface 27b, as shown in Figure 24.

[0096] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 24, the second light guide 5 has an upper cutoff shape portion 39b (outer slope) that is inclined from the second contact surface 27b toward the first light guide 3. The first light guide 3 also has a lower cutoff shape portion 39a (inner slope) that is inclined from the first contact surface 23b toward the upper cutoff shape portion 39b. Moreover, the outer angle α that the upper cutoff shape portion 39b makes with the second contact surface 27b is greater than 90 degrees. In this configuration, the second light guide 5 is placed over the first light guide 3.

[0097] Here, in the vehicle light fixture 100b, the outer angle α formed by the second contact surface 27b of the second light guide 5 and the upper cutoff shape portion 39b is greater than the inner angle β formed by the first contact surface 23b of the first light guide 3 and the lower cutoff shape portion 39a. The outer angle α here refers to the angle when the second light guide 5 is viewed from the upper emission surface 5d side. The inner angle β here refers to the angle when the first light guide 3 is viewed from the lower emission surface 3d side.

[0098] In this configuration, during positioning, first, the first contact surface 23b and the second contact surface 27b are brought into contact, and the lower cutoff shape portion 39a and the upper cutoff shape portion 39b are separated. Next, the second light guide 5 is moved in the direction of arrow X2 in Figure 24, bringing the lower cutoff shape portion 39a and the upper cutoff shape portion 39b closer to each other along the first contact surface 23b and the second contact surface 27b. As a result, the apex 77, which is the part where the second contact surface 27b and the upper cutoff shape portion 39b intersect, comes into contact with the apex 75, which is the part where the first contact surface 23b and the lower cutoff shape portion 39a intersect. On the other hand, the lower cutoff shape portion 39a and the upper cutoff shape portion 39b do not come into contact. Therefore, the rear end 79 of the upper cutoff shape portion 39b does not come into contact with the lower cutoff shape portion 39a.

[0099] Therefore, in this configuration, when the lower cutoff shape portion 39a and the upper cutoff shape portion 39b are brought closer to each other with the first contact surface 23b and the second contact surface 27b in contact, the top portion 77 will come into contact with the top portion 75 and stop there. Consequently, when positioning, the rear end 79 of the upper cutoff shape portion 39b comes into contact with the lower cutoff shape portion 39a, preventing the first light guide body 3 and the second light guide body 5 from rotating and shifting position with the rear end 79 as a pivot point.

[0100] In Figure 24, the upper cutoff shape portion 39b is shown as an example of the outer slope, but the outer slope does not have to be a cutoff shape as long as it is inclined with respect to the second contact surface 27b. Similarly, the inner slope does not have to be a cutoff shape as long as it is inclined to follow the outer slope. This concludes the description of the third embodiment.

[0101] As described above, according to the third embodiment, in the vehicle light fixture 100b, the outer angle α formed by the second contact surface 27b of the second light guide 5 and the upper cutoff shape portion 39b is larger than the inner angle β formed by the first contact surface 23b of the first light guide 3 and the lower cutoff shape portion 39a.

[0102] In this configuration, when the lower cutoff shape portion 39a and the upper cutoff shape portion 39b are brought closer together with the first contact surface 23b and the second contact surface 27b in contact, the top portion 77 will come into contact with the top portion 75 and stop there. Therefore, when positioning, the rear end 79 of the upper cutoff shape portion 39b will come into contact with the lower cutoff shape portion 39a, preventing the first light guide body 3 and the second light guide body 5 from rotating and shifting positions with the rear end 79 as a pivot point.

[0103] Although the present disclosure has been described above based on embodiments, this disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and modifications may be made or publicly known technologies may be combined, as long as they do not depart from the spirit of this disclosure.

[0104] For example, in the embodiment described above, the first light guides 3 and 43 are high-beam lenses or ADB lenses, and the second light guides 5 and 45 are low-beam lenses, that is, the first light guides 3 and 43 and the second light guides 5 and 45 have different functions as optical components. However, the first light guides 3 and 43 and the second light guides 5 and 45 do not necessarily have different functions as optical components, and this disclosure can also be applied to structures in which both the first light guides 3 and 43 and the second light guides 5 and 45 are high-beam lenses.

[0105] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the first light source 9 and the second light source 11 are different light sources, but they may be the same light source.

[0106] On the other hand, in the above-described embodiment, the lower cutoff shape portion 39a and the first horizontal surfaces 35a and 35b are spaced apart from each other, but they may be in contact with each other.

[0107] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, both holes 33a and 33b are cylindrical holes. On the other hand, both holes 33a and 33b do not necessarily have to be for positioning; one may be for positioning and the other for preventing rotation. Therefore, one of the holes 33a and 33b may be an elongated hole extending in the left-right direction for preventing rotation.

[0108] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the columnar portions 31a, 31b and the holes 33a, 33b are provided in pairs (two of each). On the other hand, if the columnar portion 31a is made into a rectangular prism shape and the holes 33a are made into square holes, the light guide member 1 may have a structure that has only the columnar portion 31a and the holes 33a, or a structure that has only the columnar portion 31b and the holes 33b.

[0109] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the first light guide 3 is provided with columnar portions 31a and 31b, and the second light guide 5 is provided with holes 33a and 33b. However, the first light guide 3 may be provided with holes 33a and 33b, and the second light guide 5 may be provided with columnar portions 31a and 31b.

[0110] On the other hand, in the first embodiment described above, the first holding portion 13g and the second holding portion 13h are round rods (pin-shaped) that pass through the first holding hole 3f and the second holding hole 5f. On the other hand, the first holding portion 13g and the second holding portion 13h may have a structure that allows the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 to be movably held in the holder 13. Therefore, the first holding portion 13g and the second holding portion 13h may be, for example, members that surround the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 from above, below, left, and right, and that restrict movement when they come into contact with the edges of the first light guide 3 and the second light guide 5 from above, below, left, and right.

[0111] Furthermore, this disclosure is also described as follows:

[0112] (Note 1) A light guide member for a vehicle lamp, comprising a first light guide that guides and emits incident light from a first light source, and a second light guide that guides and emits incident light from a second light source, wherein the first light guide has a fixing portion that is fixed to the second light guide, and the second light guide has a fixed portion that is fixed to the fixing portion.

[0113] According to Appendix 1, the first light guide is fixed to the second light guide by fixing the part to be fixed to the fixing part. Therefore, the light guide member can fix the first light guide to the second light guide without the need for other members.

[0114] (Note 2) The light guide member for a vehicle lamp as described in Note 1, characterized in that the fixing portion is provided in at least one pair on the left and right sides of the region that becomes the optical path of the incident light of the first light guide when viewed from the exit surface side of the first light guide, and the fixed portion is provided in at least one pair on the left and right sides of the region that becomes the optical path of the incident light of the second light guide when viewed from the exit surface side of the second light guide.

[0115] According to Appendix 2, the first and second light guides are fixed at a position outside the optical path of the incident light. Therefore, even if the part to be fixed is fixed to the fixed part, the incident light does not enter the fixed part and is not lost.

[0116] (Note 3) A light guide member for a vehicle lamp as described in Note 1 or Note 2, comprising a holder for housing the first light guide and the second light guide, wherein the holder has two legs that contact the first light guide, and when the first light guide and the second light guide are fixed to each other by the fixing part and the fixed part and housed in the holder, the fixing part and the fixed part are positioned between the two legs.

[0117] According to Appendix 3, when the first and second light guides are pressed against the holder, they come into contact with each other at the legs, and the area between the legs does not deform. Therefore, even if force is applied to the first and second light guides during the process of fixing a substrate or heat sink to the holder, no load is placed on the fixing part or the part being fixed.

[0118] (Note 4) The light guide member for a vehicle lamp as described in Note 3, characterized in that one of the two legs has a first contact portion that contacts the first light guide and a second contact portion that faces the second light guide, and the other of the two legs contacts the second light guide.

[0119] According to Appendix 4, a portion of the second light guide is provided between the first light guide and one of its legs. This makes it less likely for the second light guide to rotate unintentionally during assembly.

[0120] 1, 1a, 1b: Light guide material; 3: First light guide; 3a: Incident surface; 3d: Lower exit surface; 5: Second light guide; 5a: Incident surface; 5d: Upper exit surface; 7: Substrate; 9: First light source; 11: Second light source; 13: Hole; 13g: First holding part; 13h: Second holding part; 23a, 23b: First contact surface; 27a, 27b: Second contact surface; 31a, 31b: Columnar part (positioning part); 33a, 33b: Hole part (positioning part); 35a, 35b: First horizontal surface; 37a, 37b: Second horizontal surface (horizontal surface); 39a: Lower cut-off shape part (inner inclined surface); 39b : Upper cut-off shape (outer slope) 43 : First light guide 45 : Second light guide 53 : Holda 57a, 57b : First protrusion (position determination part) 63a, 63b : Second protrusion (position determination part) 100, 100a, 100b : Vehicle lamps DH : Vertical distance DL1 : Horizontal distance DL2 : Second distance H1 : Height H2 : Depth W1 : Width W2 : Width W3 : Longest distance (distance) W4 : Shortest distance (distance) WF : Shortest distance (distance) WL1, WL2 : First distance α : Outer angle β : Inner angle

Claims

1. A light guide member for a vehicle lamp, comprising a first light guide that guides and emits incident light from a first light source, and a second light guide that guides and emits incident light from a second light source, wherein the first light guide has a first contact surface that contacts the second light guide, and the second light guide has a second contact surface that contacts the first contact surface.

2. The light guide member for a vehicle lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the first light guide body has a positioning portion that contacts the second light guide body, and the second light guide body has a positioning portion that positions the first light guide body and the second light guide body relative to each other at the position where they stop when the second contact surface is in contact with the first contact surface, while the second contact surface is in contact with the first contact surface.

3. The light guide member for a vehicle lamp according to claim 2, characterized in that the first light guide is a high-beam lens or an ADB lens, the second light guide is a low-beam lens positioned opposite the first light guide in the vertical direction, and the first contact surface and the second contact surface are positioned to overlap in the vertical direction.

4. The light guide member for a vehicle lamp according to claim 3, wherein the second light guide has an upper cutoff shape portion at its lower end, which is a vertical step formed to rise from one side to the other in the left-right direction when viewed from the upper light-emitting surface side, and the positioning portion and the positioned portion are each provided in pairs on both the left and right sides of the upper cutoff shape portion when viewed from the upper light-emitting surface side.

5. The light guide member for a vehicle lamp according to claim 4, wherein the first light guide has a lower cutoff shape portion which is a step in the vertical direction that is spaced apart and opposite to the upper cutoff shape portion, and is formed at the upper end such that it rises from one side in the left-right direction when viewed from the lower light-emitting surface side which is the surface from which light is emitted, and the positioning portion and the positioned portion are provided in pairs on the left and right sides of the lower cutoff shape portion and the upper cutoff shape portion, respectively, when viewed from the lower light-emitting surface side and the upper light-emitting surface side.

6. The light guide member for a vehicle lamp according to claim 5, characterized in that the pair of positioning portions and the pair of positioned portions are provided at positions to the left and right outer with respect to the lower emission surface.

7. The second contact surface of the second light guide is the surface to which the positioning portion contacts, and is provided on optical surfaces that form a horizontal plane and are connected to both the left and right sides of the upper cutoff-shaped portion. This is the light guide member for a vehicle lamp according to claim 4.

8. The light guide member for a vehicle lamp according to claim 4, characterized in that the first light guide body has a first contact surface made of a material harder than the lower emitting surface which is the surface from which light is emitted.

9. The pair of positioning portions are provided so as to sandwich the pair of positioning portions in the left-right direction, and the distance between the pair of positioning portions in the left-right direction, as viewed from the lower emission surface side and the upper emission surface side, is longer than the distance between the positioning portions in the left-right direction, as described in claim 5, the light guide member for a vehicle lamp.

10. The positioning portion is a pair of columnar portions protruding from the first contact surface, or a hole formed in the first contact surface; the positioned portion is a pair of holes provided on the left and right second contact surfaces of the upper cutoff shape portion as viewed from the upper emission surface side, into which the pair of columnar portions are inserted, or a pair of columnar portions protruding from the second contact surface and inserted into the pair of holes provided on the first contact surface; the depth of the pair of holes is greater than the height of the pair of columnar portions; and the width of the pair of holes in the left-right direction is greater than the width of the pair of columnar portions in the left-right direction, characterized in that the light guide member for a vehicle lamp according to claim 4.

11. The light guide member for a vehicle lamp according to claim 10, wherein the first light guide has a lower cutoff shape portion which is a step in the vertical direction that is spaced apart and facing the upper cutoff shape portion, and is formed at the upper end such that it rises from one side in the left-right direction when viewed from the lower light-emitting surface side which is the surface from which light is emitted, and the positioning portion is provided on the left and right first contact surfaces of the lower cutoff shape portion when viewed from the lower light-emitting surface side.

12. The width of the pair of holes and the width of the pair of columnar portions are such that, with the pair of columnar portions inserted into the pair of holes, the columnar portions can move relative to each other in the left-right direction within the pair of holes by a first distance shorter than the shortest distance between the portions facing each other in the left-right direction in the lower cutoff portion and the upper cutoff portion, and the widths of the lower cutoff portion and the upper cutoff portion are such that they face each other in the up-down direction and the left-right direction, as described in claim 11.

13. A vehicle lamp comprising: a light guide member for a vehicle lamp as described in any one of claims 1 to 12; a first light source for irradiating the first light guide with light; and a second light source for irradiating the second light guide with light.

14. A vehicle lamp comprising: a light guide member for a vehicle according to claim 12; a first light source for irradiating light onto the first light guide; a second light source for irradiating light onto the second light guide; and a holder for housing the first light guide and the second light guide, wherein the holder comprises a first holding portion for holding the first light guide so as to be movable by a predetermined vertical distance in the vertical direction, and the vertical distance is shorter than the length of the portion in which the holes and the columnar portions overlap in the height direction when the pair of columnar portions are inserted into the pair of holes.

15. The vehicle lamp according to claim 14, characterized in that the first holding part holds the first light guide so that it can move by a predetermined left-right distance in the left-right direction, and the left-right distance is longer than the first distance.

16. The vehicle lamp according to claim 15, wherein the holder comprises a second holding portion that holds the second light guide so as to be movable by a second predetermined distance in the left-right direction and the up-down direction, and the up-down distance and the left-right distance are different from the second distance.

17. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 16, characterized in that the vertical distance and the horizontal distance are longer than the second distance.

18. A method for positioning a light guide member of a vehicle lamp, comprising a first light guide that guides and emits incident light from a first light source and a second light guide that guides and emits incident light from a second light source, characterized in that the method comprises a contact step of bringing into contact a first contact surface provided on the first light guide and a second contact surface provided on the second light guide.

19. A positioning method for a light guide member of a vehicle lamp according to claim 18, further comprising a positioning step of moving the first light guide and the second light guide relative to each other along the first contact surface and the second contact surface until the positioning portion provided on the first light guide comes into contact with and stops on the positioned portion provided on the second light guide, while the first contact surface and the second contact surface are in contact with each other.

20. The light guide member for a vehicle lamp according to claim 2, characterized in that the second light guide has an outer slope in the portion inclined toward the first light guide from the second contact surface, with an outer angle greater than 90 degrees between it and the second contact surface, the first light guide has an inner slope inclined toward the outer slope from the first contact surface, and the outer angle between the second contact surface of the second light guide and the outer slope is greater than the inner angle between the first contact surface of the first light guide and the inner slope.

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