JP6793577B2 - In-vehicle headlights - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an in-vehicle headlight.

Recently, as a light source used for an in-vehicle headlight composed of a traveling light (high beam) and a passing light (low beam), LED (Light Emitting) has been used instead of the conventional tungsten filament bulb and the discharge lamp by arc discharge. Semiconductor light sources such as Diode) and LD (Laser Diode) have become widespread. This semiconductor light source has a long life, can secure the required brightness with a small amount of electric power, and can emit stable brightness by simple control that supplies a constant current, so it can be used as a light source for in-vehicle headlights. Suitable.

In-vehicle headlights need to form a unique light distribution such as traveling lights and passing lights. Therefore, the conventional projection type in-vehicle headlight uses a semiconductor light source as a light source, but in order to form the light distribution, the projection lens is the same as the projection type in-vehicle headlight using a conventional light bulb or the like. Is often used.

For example, the vehicle lamp according to Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which an LED is used as a light source and a Fresnel lens is used as a projection lens.
Further, for example, the vehicle headlight according to Patent Document 2 has a configuration in which a lens having a microtexture structure is added between the LED and the projection lens. A lens having a microtexture structure refracts the light emitted by the LED to inject a larger amount of light flux within the capture angle of the projection lens, thereby increasing the utilization efficiency of the light emitted by the LED.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-89333 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-93191

Since the conventional in-vehicle headlight has a configuration using a projection lens, there is a problem that the area on the front side of the vehicle is large and the headlight is thick in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle headlight having a narrow area on the front side of the vehicle and a thin thickness in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

The vehicle-mounted headlight according to the present invention is a plate-shaped lens having a light emitting surface and a surface facing the light source member having irregularities smaller than the size of the light emitting surface and having light-collecting properties. A light source member includes a member, a front lens that transmits light emitted from the lens member to the front of the vehicle, and a shadow forming member arranged above the optical axis between the lens member and the front lens. The distance from the surface to the surface on which the unevenness of the lens member is formed is equal to or less than the maximum width of the light emitting surface.

According to the present invention, a plate-shaped lens member having irregularities formed is used instead of the projection lens, and the lens member is arranged close to the light source member. Therefore, the area on the front side of the vehicle is narrow and the front and rear of the vehicle are small. It is possible to provide an in-vehicle headlight having a thin thickness in the direction.

A main part of the configuration example of the vehicle-mounted headlight according to the first embodiment of the present invention is shown, FIG. 1A is a perspective view, and FIG. 1B is a sectional view. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of the light source unit in the vehicle-mounted headlight which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The high beam LED and the lens member according to the first embodiment of the present invention are shown, FIG. 3A is a front view, FIG. 3B is a side view, and FIG. 3C is a view showing light emitted to the front of the vehicle. The low beam LED, the lens member, and the reflector according to the first embodiment of the present invention are shown, FIG. 4A is a front view, FIG. 4B is a side view, and FIG. 4C is a view showing light emitted to the front of the vehicle. A modified example of the low beam LED, the lens member, and the reflector in the first embodiment of the present invention is shown, FIG. 5A is a front view, FIG. 5B is a side view, and FIG. 5C is a view showing light emitted to the front of the vehicle. .. A reference example for assisting the understanding of the first embodiment of the present invention is shown, FIG. 6A is a diagram of a configuration using a convex lens as a projection lens, and FIG. 6B is a diagram of a configuration using a Fresnel lens. It is a side view and the front view which show the example of the lens member in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view and the front view which show the example of the lens member in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view and the front view which show the example of the lens member in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view and the front view which show the example of the lens member in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view and the front view which show the example of the lens member in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view which shows typically the example of the unevenness of the lens member in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the light emitted by the high beam LED and the light emitted by a lens member in Embodiment 1 of this invention. A modified example of the low beam LED, the lens member, and the reflector in the first embodiment of the present invention is shown, FIG. 14A is a front view, FIG. 14B is a side view, and FIG. 14C is a view showing light emitted to the front of the vehicle. .. It is a perspective view which shows the main part of the modification of the vehicle-mounted headlight which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the main part of the modification of the vehicle-mounted headlight which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The LED, the lens member, and the movable reflector in the vehicle-mounted headlight according to the second embodiment of the present invention are shown, FIG. 17A is a front view, FIG. 17B is a side view, and FIG. 17C is a light emitted to the front of the vehicle. It is a figure which shows. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of the light source unit and the movable light-shielding plate in the vehicle-mounted headlight which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. The LED, the lens member, and the movable shading plate according to the third embodiment of the present invention are shown, FIG. 19A is a front view, FIG. 19B is a side view, and FIG. 19C is a view showing light emitted to the front of the vehicle. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of the light source unit and the light guide member in the vehicle-mounted headlight which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a side view which shows the modification of the lens member and the light guide member in Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of the light source unit and the liquid crystal type light-shielding plate in the vehicle-mounted headlight which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the example of the reflector in the headlight for vehicle which concerns on Embodiment 6 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the light emitted to the front of the vehicle in Embodiment 6 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the example of the movable light-shielding plate in the vehicle-mounted headlight which concerns on Embodiment 6 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the example of the light guide member in the vehicle-mounted headlight which concerns on Embodiment 6 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the example of the liquid crystal type light-shielding plate in the vehicle-mounted headlight which concerns on Embodiment 6 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the example of the movable light-shielding plate in the vehicle-mounted headlight which concerns on Embodiment 7 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the light emitted to the front of the vehicle in Embodiment 7 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the example of the movable light-shielding plate in the vehicle-mounted headlight which concerns on Embodiment 8 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the light emitted to the front of the vehicle in Embodiment 8 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the example of the liquid crystal type light-shielding plate in the vehicle-mounted headlight which concerns on Embodiment 8 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the main part of the structural example of the vehicle-mounted headlight which concerns on Embodiment 9 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of the light source unit and the projection lens in the vehicle-mounted headlight which concerns on Embodiment 9 of this invention. 9 is a plan view of the projected light of the ADB LED according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above the in-vehicle headlight. An example of the light source member of the vehicle-mounted headlight according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention is shown, FIG. 36A is a side view, and FIG. 36B is an enlarged view of the LD and the blue laser light emitted by the LD. It is a side view which shows another example of the light source member of the vehicle-mounted headlight which concerns on Embodiment 10 of this invention. It is a side view which shows another example of the light source member of the vehicle-mounted headlight which concerns on Embodiment 10 of this invention.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 shows a main part of a configuration example of an in-vehicle headlight 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1A is a perspective view, and FIG. 1B is a sectional view. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a high beam low beam integrated light source unit 110 in the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the first embodiment has a front lens 2, a high beam LED 3H and a low beam LED 3L as a light source member, a plate-shaped lens member 4, and a reflector 5 having a reflecting surface 51 as a shadow forming member. , An outer shell case 6, a holding / radiating member 7, and an optical axis adjusting member 8. The high beam low beam integrated light source unit 110 is composed of a high beam LED 3H and its lens member 4, a low beam LED 3L and its lens member 4, a reflector 5, and a holding and heat radiating member 7. The high beam low beam integrated light source unit 110 is housed inside the front lens 2 and the outer shell case 6. The holding and heat radiating member 7 has a function of holding the high beam LED 3H and its lens member 4 and the low beam LED 3L and its lens member 4, and a function of radiating heat generated by the high beam LED 3H and the low beam LED 3L. The optical axis adjusting member 8 is a so-called aiming screw, and adjusts the optical axis by adjusting the inclination of the high beam low beam integrated light source unit 110. The in-vehicle headlight 1 functions as a headlight for a passing light by turning on the low beam LED 3L. Further, the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 functions as a traveling light headlight by lighting the high beam LED 3H or lighting the low beam LED 3L and the high beam LED 3H at the same time.

FIG. 3 shows the high beam LED 3H and the lens member 4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3A is a front view, FIG. 3B is a side view, and FIG. 3C is a view showing light emitted to the front of the vehicle. In the side view of FIG. 3B, the brightness is expressed in an analog manner by the amount of bulge to the right, and in this figure, the upper and lower ends drawn to the left are dark, and the center bulging to the right is bright. Shown. Further, in the emitted light of FIG. 3C, the light and darkness of the light is expressed by the shade of black and white, indicating that the dark part in the center is bright and the light part around it is dark. From this point onward, the brightness and darkness of light will be expressed by the amount of swelling to the right as in FIG. 3B and the shade of black and white as in FIG. 3C.
The plate-shaped lens member 4 is arranged so as to face the light emitting surface 31 of the high beam LED 3H. The high beam LED 3H is fixed to the holding and heat radiating member 7. Further, a leg portion 41 is formed on the lens member 4, and the leg portion 41 is fixed to the holding and heat radiating member 7. The means for fixing the lens member 4 to the holding and heat radiating member 7 is not limited to the leg 41 shown in FIG. 3B.

The lens member 4 has irregularities formed on the surface facing the high beam LED 3H. The surface of the lens member 4 on which the unevenness is formed is arranged within a distance shorter than the maximum width of the light emitting surface 31 from the light emitting surface 31 of the high beam LED 3H. For example, when the light emitting surface 31 of the high beam LED 3H is a square having a side length L1, the distance L2 from the light emitting surface 31 to the unevenness of the lens member 4 is one side length L1 or less. When the light emitting surface 31 is rectangular, the long side is set to L1. Further, in the example of FIG. 3B, the distance between the light emitting surface 31 and the tip of the convex portion of the lens member 4 is set to L2, but since the height difference of the unevenness of the lens member 4 is as small as the order of micrometers, the tip of the convex portion is set. There is no substantial problem even if L2 is set based on the concave side or the like instead. If there is a possibility of contact when the surface of the lens member 4 on which the unevenness is formed is arranged in the very vicinity of the light emitting surface 31 of the high beam LED 3H, the lens member 4 is made of a material that can withstand the heat generation of the high beam LED 3H. Configure.

FIG. 4 shows a low beam LED 3L, a lens member 4, and a reflector 5 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4A shows a front view, FIG. 4B shows a side view, and FIG. 4C shows light emitted to the front of the vehicle. It is a figure. The side view of the bulge to the right in FIG. 4B cut at the upper part of the cut-off line shows that the area immediately below the cut-off line in the center is the brightest, and the upper part of the cut-off line is dark without emitting any light. ..
FIG. 5 shows a modified example of the low beam LED 3L, the lens member 4, and the reflector 5 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5A is a front view, FIG. 5B is a side view, and FIG. 5C is emitted from the front of the vehicle. It is a figure which shows the light. Similar to the high beam LED 3H, the lens member 4 is arranged opposite the light emitting surface 31 of the low beam LED 3L. The surface of the lens member 4 on which the unevenness is formed is arranged within a distance shorter than the maximum width of the light emitting surface 31 from the light emitting surface 31 of the low beam LED 3L.
Details of the reflector 5 will be described later.

FIG. 6 shows a reference example showing the arrangement of the projection lens with respect to the LED of the conventional projection type vehicle-mounted headlight for assisting the understanding of the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6A uses the convex lens 101 as the projection lens. Configuration, FIG. 6B is a diagram of a configuration using a Fresnel lens 102 as a projection lens. In the reference example of FIG. 6A, the light emitted by the LED 100 is projected to the front of the vehicle through the front lens via the convex lens 101. The optical property of projecting the light emitted by the LED 100 is obtained by refraction on the surface of the convex lens 101. When the convex lens 101 is arranged close to the LED 100 in order to reduce the size of the in-vehicle headlight, it is necessary to make the convex lens 101 thicker (increasing the curvature of the surface) to shorten the focal length. As the curvature of the convex lens 101 increases, the effective diameter decreases, so that the light emitted by the LED 100 leaks without incident on the convex lens 101, and the light utilization efficiency decreases. Therefore, there is a limit to the close arrangement of the convex lens 101 and the LED 100, and it is not possible to arrange the convex lens 101 and the LED 100 close to each other while satisfying the desired light utilization efficiency. On the other hand, when the convex lens 101 is arranged away from the LED 100, it is necessary to use the large-diameter convex lens 101 in order to allow the light emitted by the LED 100 to enter the convex lens 101 without leaking, but the large-diameter convex lens 101 is used. In this case, the opening on the vehicle front side of the vehicle-mounted headlight becomes large, and the vehicle-mounted headlight cannot be miniaturized.

On the other hand, in the reference example of FIG. 6B, the light emitted by the LED 100 passes through the front lens via the Fresnel lens 102 and is emitted to the front of the vehicle. Since the Fresnel lens 102 has a plurality of refracting surfaces, it can be arranged closer to the LED 100 than the convex lens 101. However, even when the Fresnel lens 102 is arranged close to the LED 100, it is the same as the convex lens 101 that the uneven portion of the Fresnel lens 102 needs to be thickened to shorten the focal length. In the reference examples of FIGS. 6A and 6B, since the projection lens needs to be thick, the thickness of the in-vehicle headlight in the vehicle front-rear direction is not thinned, and there is a limit to the miniaturization of the projection type in-vehicle headlight. is there.

On the other hand, the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the first embodiment has a plate-like shape having a light-collecting property, in which irregularities smaller than the size of the light emitting surface 31 of the high beam LED 3H and the low beam LED 3L are formed. The lens member 4 of the above is used. In order to form fine irregularities on the lens member 4 and shorten the substantial focal length, the lens member 4 can be arranged close to the light emitting surface 31 of the high beam LED 3H and the low beam LED 3L. By arranging the lens member 4 close to the high beam LED 3H and the low beam LED 3L, the light emitted by the high beam LED 3H and the low beam LED 3L enters the lens member 4 without leaking and passes through the front lens 2 to the front of the vehicle. It emits to. As described above, in the first embodiment, the lens member 4 is used instead of the projection lens, so that the in-vehicle headlight 1 can be downsized.

7 to 12 are a side view and a front view showing an example of the lens member 4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Since the lens member 4 arranged on the opposite side of the high beam LED 3H and the lens member 4 arranged on the opposite side of the low beam LED 3L are the same, the lens member 4 arranged on the opposite side of the high beam LED 3H will be described below. Let's take an example.

The lens member 4 of FIG. 7 is a type in which lens surfaces having a curvature similar to that of the central convex lens surface are formed concentrically. The lens member 4 of FIG. 8 is a type in which a small convex lens is formed on one side. The lens member 4 of FIG. 9 is a type in which a pillar having a reflection characteristic for reflecting light is formed on a side surface. The lens member 4 of FIGS. 10 and 11 is a type having irregularities having a diffraction characteristic that diffracts the transmitted light or an interference characteristic that causes the transmitted light to interfere with each other due to the phase difference of the light transmitted through a plurality of parts.
Note that FIG. 12 is a diagram for schematically explaining an example of fine irregularities formed on the lens member 4. For example, the concentric, serrated surfaces of the lens member 4 are formed from smaller serrated surfaces, the serrated surfaces are also formed by smaller serrated surfaces, and eventually the individual serrated surfaces. The surface is schematically represented as a stepped shape with a small step (height difference) at the wavelength level of light. That is, the lens member 4 is required to have, in addition to the refraction characteristics of a general lens, an interference characteristic that causes the transmitted light to interfere with each other due to the phase difference of the transmitted light, or a diffraction characteristic that diffracts the transmitted light. Correspondingly, it is formed by the unevenness of the wavelength level of light.
By the way, the lens member 4 formed by the above-mentioned fine irregularities is excellent in the characteristic of concentrating light in a specific direction, but projects the light emitted by the light source like a conventional lens to cast a shadow of the light source forward. Poor projection characteristics. That is, the lens member 4 is inferior in the optical characteristics of the conventional lens for producing a real image and a virtual image. Therefore, the substantial focal length of the lens member 4 corresponds to the focal length of the conventional lens, but for convenience, the position is such that the light emitted by the light source can be efficiently collected.

In the lens member 4 of the first embodiment, the height difference of the unevenness formed on the surface (for example, L3 in FIG. 7) is preferably optical characteristics such as a refraction phenomenon, an interference phenomenon, or a diffraction phenomenon with respect to the passing light. It is preferable that the height difference of the wavelength level of light is such that it works. As an example, when the light emitting surface 31 of the high beam LED 3H has a size of about 1 mm × 1 mm, the height difference of the unevenness formed on the surface of the lens member 4 (for example, L3 in FIG. 7) is the minimum width of the light emitting surface 31. It is assumed that it is 1/10 or less, preferably 1/20 or less. The lens member 4 of the first embodiment may be a processed plate material, or may be a processed film material or sheet material.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the light emitted by the high beam LED 3H and the light emitted by the lens member 4 in the first embodiment of the present invention. The light emitted by the high beam LED 3H is scattered light that spreads at a wide angle around the normal direction of the light emitting surface 31. By arranging the lens member 4 as shown in FIGS. 7 to 12 in the vicinity of the high beam LED 3H, the light emitted by the high beam LED 3H is incident on the lens member 4 without leaking. Further, the lens member 4 uses optical characteristics such as a refraction phenomenon, an interference phenomenon, or a diffraction phenomenon to control the light emission direction by combining light that has passed through a plurality of paths formed by a plurality of irregularities. As a result, the light emitted by the high beam LED 3H is condensed and emitted to the front of the vehicle. In the example of FIG. 13, the light emitting surface emitted by the lens member 4 has a size substantially equal to that of the light emitting surface 31 of the high beam LED 3H.

Further, the lens member 4 can effectively collect the light of the high beam LED 3H by making the surface on which the fine irregularities are formed larger than the light emitting surface of the high beam LED 3H. , The light utilization efficiency of the high beam LED 3H can be improved.
By the way, the lens member 4 utilizes optical characteristics such as an interference phenomenon or a diffraction phenomenon of light passing through a plurality of parts, and is fine in order to simultaneously incident light on a plurality of fine convex or concave surfaces. It is necessary to make the area of the incident light larger than the area of the convex or concave surface. In the first embodiment, since the high beam LED 3H has a light emitting surface 31 and emits scattered light as shown in FIG. 13, the high beam LED 3H is larger than the area of the fine convex or concave surface of the lens member 4. The area of light incident from is larger.

Next, the reflector 5 will be described.
As described above, since the light emitting surface emitted by the lens member 4 has a size equivalent to that of the light emitting surface 31, it is a surface light source when viewed as a light source of the in-vehicle headlight 1, but it is forward to the vehicle. When viewed as a light distribution for the emitted passing lights, it is close to a point light source. Therefore, if a shadow forming member that blocks a part of the emitted light is provided within the emission range of the lens member 4 arranged in the vicinity of the low beam LED 3L, the shadow formed by blocking the light by the shadow forming member is a shadow picture. Is projected forward. That is, the shadow of the shape of the lower end side of the shadow forming member provided on the upper side of the optical axis is formed as it is in front of the vehicle without being inverted, and the cut-off line is obtained.
On the other hand, when a projection lens as shown in the reference examples of FIGS. 6A and 6B is used, the light emitted from the rear of the rear focus of the projection lens is inverted by the projection lens in the vertical and horizontal directions and projected to the front of the vehicle. To. Therefore, in the light source unit of the conventional projection type headlight, a shadow forming member is provided below the optical axis behind the rear focus of the projection lens, and the shape of the upper end side of the shadow forming member is projected to the front of the vehicle. Will form a cut-off line.
By the way, the lens member 4 formed by the above-mentioned fine irregularities is good at condensing the transmitted light to one side, but the optical characteristics for projecting a real image and a virtual image are inferior. It cannot be replaced with the projection lens of the projection type headlight.

In the first embodiment, as an example of the shadow forming member, a reflector 5 having a reflecting surface 51 formed on the lower surface is used. The reflector 5 is fixed to the holding and heat radiating member 7. The reflecting surface 51 reflects the light incident from below as shown in FIG. 4B to guide the light upward from the reflecting surface 51 downward, and as shown in FIG. 4C, the upper side is dark and the lower side is bright. Form light. The boundary between the upper dark portion and the lower bright portion is cut-off line, and the shape of the cut-off line is determined by the shape of the end side 52 on the injection side of the reflection surface 51.

In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the light emitted from the portion of the light emitting surface 31 of the low beam LED 3L indicated by the horizontal line above the reflecting surface 51 is blocked by the reflecting plate 5 and is wasted. However, of the light emitting surface 31, the light emitted from the lower side of the reflector 5 is reflected by the reflecting surface 51, so that an apparent light emitting surface, that is, a virtual image is formed on the portion indicated by the horizontal line on the upper side of the reflecting surface 51. To. Therefore, even if the effective area of the light emitting surface 31 of the low beam LED 3L is halved by being blocked by the reflector 5, the brightness of the light emitted below the cut-off line in front of the vehicle is equivalent to that of one low beam LED 3L. Is equivalent to the brightness of. In FIG. 4C, the portion A directly under the cut-off line, that is, the far front of the vehicle is the brightest, so that the light distribution is suitable as a passing light.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the light emitting surface 31 of the low beam LED 3L is halved in size, the end edge of the light emitting surface 31 is arranged on the optical axis of the lens member 4, and the reflecting surface 51 is arranged. When a shadow forming member without a shadow (for example, the movable shading plate 5b in FIG. 18 described later) is used, the upward light is blocked by the shadow forming member and disappears. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5C, directly under the cut-off line. The part B below is the brightest. This is because the brightest illuminated portion B in the front of the vehicle is the portion where the light emitted from the center of the light emitting surface 31 in the normal direction is emitted from the lens member 4. In FIG. 5C, when the shadow forming member without the reflecting surface 51 is used, the brightest illuminated portion B shifts downward from directly below the cut-off line, so that the brightness in the front and far distance of the vehicle may be insufficient as a passing light. There is.
However, even if the light emitting surface 31 of the low beam LED 3L is halved in size, if the reflecting plate 5 having the reflecting surface 51 is used instead of the shadow forming member without the reflecting surface 51 in FIG. 5B, the light going upward is used. Is reflected by the reflecting surface 51, an imaginary image is formed on the upper side of the reflecting surface 51, and the apparent area of the light emitting surface 31 can be made similar to the configuration of FIG. Therefore, the brightness of the light emitted below the cut-off line in front of the vehicle is equivalent to the brightness of one low beam LED 3L.

FIG. 14 shows a modified example of the low beam LED 3L, the lens member 4, and the reflector 5 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14A is a front view, FIG. 14B is a side view, and FIG. 14C is emitted from the front of the vehicle. It is a figure which shows the light. The lens member 4 shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B has an elliptical shape that is long in the horizontal direction, and has different optical characteristics in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14C, a light distribution for a passing light in which the light emitted from the front of the vehicle spreads in the lateral direction is formed. By changing the shape (optical characteristics) of the lens member 4 in this way, an arbitrary light distribution is formed.

Although not shown, the light distribution for brightly illuminating an arbitrary direction in front of the vehicle or the light distribution for spot lights illuminating only the front and far distance in front of the vehicle by changing the shape of the unevenness depending on the portion of the lens member 4. Etc., an arbitrary light distribution is formed.

Further, FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a main part of a modified example of the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 15, a plurality of high beam low beam integrated light source units 110 are housed inside the front lens 2 and the outer shell case 6. Each lens member 4 of each high beam low beam integrated light source unit 110 differs in the shape of the lens member 4 or the shape of the unevenness (optical characteristics) depending on the purpose. Thereby, the light emitted from each high beam low beam integrated light source unit 110 can be combined to form an arbitrary light distribution.

Further, FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a main part of a modified example of the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 16, the high beam light source unit 111 including the high beam LED 3H and the lens member 4 and the low beam light source unit 112 including the low beam LED 3L, the lens member 4 and the reflector 5 are separately configured. May be good.

As described above, the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the first embodiment includes a high beam LED 3H having a light emitting surface 31 and a plate-shaped lens member 4 having irregularities formed on the surface facing the high beam LED 3H. .. The distance L2 from the light emitting surface 31 of the high beam LED 3H to the surface on which the unevenness of the lens member 4 is formed is equal to or less than the maximum width L1 of the light emitting surface 31. By arranging the lens member 4 having fine irregularities formed on the surface in the vicinity of the high beam LED 3H, the light emitted by the high beam LED 3H can be collected and emitted to the front of the vehicle without leaking. Therefore, it is possible to form a light distribution for a traveling light without using a projection lens. Further, since the projection lens is not used, it is possible to provide the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 having a smaller area on the front side of the vehicle and a thinner thickness in the front-rear direction of the vehicle than when the projection lens is used.

Further, the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the first embodiment includes a low beam LED 3L having a light emitting surface 31 and a plate-shaped lens member 4 having irregularities formed on a surface facing the low beam LED 3L. Further, the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 is incident from below as a shadow forming member arranged above the optical axis between the front lens 2 and the lens member 4 to form a shadow of light emitted from the lens member 4. It is provided with a reflecting surface 51 that reflects light. This makes it possible to form a light distribution for a passing lamp without using a projection lens. Further, since the projection lens is not used, it is possible to provide the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 having a smaller area on the front side of the vehicle and a thinner thickness in the front-rear direction of the vehicle than when the projection lens is used.

Further, the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the first embodiment may be configured to include a plurality of sets of a light source member and a lens member 4. In the examples of FIGS. 1A and 16, the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 includes two sets of a high beam LED 3H and a lens member 4, and a low beam LED 3L and a lens member 4. In the example of FIG. 15, the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 includes three sets of a high beam LED 3H and a lens member 4, and three sets of a low beam LED 3L and a lens member 4. By using the lens member 4, the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 can be made smaller than when a projection lens is used. Therefore, even when a plurality of sets of the light source member and the lens member 4 are used, the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 is used. Can be miniaturized. In addition, by providing a plurality of sets of a light source member and a lens member 4 and using a plurality of lens members 4 having different optical characteristics, the degree of freedom in finely adjusting the light distribution is increased, and the driver can brightly illuminate the desired direction. However, it is possible to realize an in-vehicle headlight 1 having a suitable light distribution that is dark in unnecessary directions.

Embodiment 2.
In the second embodiment, a modification of the shadow forming member will be described.
FIG. 17 shows an LED 3, a lens member 4, and a movable reflector 5a in the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 17A is a front view, FIG. 17B is a side view, and FIG. 17C is a vehicle. It is a figure which shows the light emitted forward. The basic structure of the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 is the same as the structure shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B of the first embodiment.

The LED 3 has both a function as a light source member for a traveling light (high beam) and a function as a light source member for a passing light (low beam). The movable reflector 5a rotates about the fulcrum 53 and moves the reflecting surface 51 in the vertical direction. A motor, solenoid, or the like (not shown) is used as the driving force source for the movable reflector 5a. The fulcrum 53 is installed on an outer shell case 6 or an arbitrary member such as a holding / heat radiating member 7. When the movable reflector 5a is located within the emission range of the lens member 4, that is, at the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 17B, the reflecting surface 51 reflects light from below, as shown in FIG. 17C. The light emitted in front of the vehicle is a light distribution for passing lights.

On the other hand, when the movable reflector 5a is located outside the emission range of the lens member 4, that is, when it is located at the position shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 17B, the light emitted in front of the vehicle becomes the light distribution for the traveling light. .. The amount of light of the traveling light may be increased by increasing the current energizing the LED 3 when the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 functions as a traveling light as compared with the case where the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 functions as a traveling light.

As described above, the in-vehicle headlight 1 according to the second embodiment has a function as a traveling light and a function as a passing light by providing a movable reflector 5a which is a movable shadow forming member. You can switch. Therefore, it is possible to provide an in-vehicle headlight 1 having high functionality and small size.

Embodiment 3.
In the third embodiment, a modification of the shadow forming member will be described.
FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a high beam low beam combined light source unit 113 and a movable shading plate 5b in the in-vehicle headlight 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The movable shading plate 5b is a shadow forming member. FIG. 19 shows the LED 3, the lens member 4, and the movable shading plate 5b according to the third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 19A shows a front view, FIG. 19B shows a side view, and FIG. 19C shows light emitted to the front of the vehicle. It is a figure. The basic structure of the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 is the same as the structure shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B of the first embodiment.

The LED 3 has both a function as a light source member for a traveling light (high beam) and a function as a light source member for a passing light (low beam). The movable light-shielding plate 5b rotates about the rotation shaft 54, and moves the lower end side 52 in the vertical direction. A motor, solenoid, or the like (not shown) is used as the driving force source for the movable light-shielding plate 5b. The rotating shaft 54 is installed on an outer shell case 6 or an arbitrary member such as a holding / heat radiating member 7. When the movable shading plate 5b is located within the emission range of the lens member 4, that is, when the movable shading plate 5b is located at the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 19B, the movable shading plate 5b emits light emitted above the optical axis of the lens member 4. In order to block the light, as shown in FIG. 19C, the light emitted to the front of the vehicle becomes the light distribution for the passing light. The shape of the cut-off line is determined by the shape of the lower end side 52 of the movable reflector 5a.

On the other hand, when the movable shading plate 5b is located outside the emission range of the lens member 4, that is, when it is located at the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 19B, the light emitted in front of the vehicle becomes the light distribution for the traveling light. ..

As described above, the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the third embodiment includes a movable light-shielding plate 5b which is a movable shadow forming member. This makes it possible to form a light distribution for a passing lamp without using a projection lens. Further, since the projection lens is not used, it is possible to provide the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 having a smaller area on the front side of the vehicle and a thinner thickness in the front-rear direction of the vehicle than when the projection lens is used. Further, since the function as a traveling light and the function as a passing light can be switched, it is possible to provide a highly functional but compact in-vehicle headlight 1.

The vehicle-mounted headlight 1 of the third embodiment has a configuration in which a movable light-shielding plate 5b is used, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a fixed light-shielding plate may be used. When the movable shading plate 5b is fixed at the position shown in FIG. 18, the high beam low beam combined light source unit 113 becomes a low beam dedicated light source unit. This low beam dedicated light source unit may be combined with, for example, the high beam light source unit 111 shown in FIG.
Further, the amount of light of the traveling light may be increased by increasing the current energizing the LED 3 when the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 functions as a traveling light as compared with the case where the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 functions as a passing light.

Embodiment 4.
In the fourth embodiment, a modification of the shadow forming member will be described.
FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a low beam light source unit 112 and a light guide member 5c in the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The light guide member 5c is a transparent member having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the inner surface of the top surface is a reflecting surface 51 due to a refraction action. The reflecting surface 51 is a shadow forming member. The basic structure of the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 is the same as the structure shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B of the first embodiment.

The reflecting surface 51 forms a light distribution for a passing lamp by reflecting the light of the low beam LED 3L incident from below. The shape of the cut-off line is determined by the shape of the end side 52 on the exit side of the reflecting surface 51.

FIG. 21 is a side view showing a modified example of the lens member 4 and the light guide member 5c according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the modified example of FIG. 21, the light guide member 5c is provided by extending the exit side portion of the lens member 4 toward the front of the vehicle. In other words, the light guide member 5c has fine irregularities formed on the incident surface facing the low beam LED 3L and functions as the lens member 4.

As described above, the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the fourth embodiment includes the reflecting surface 51 of the light guide member 5c as a shadow forming member. This makes it possible to form a light distribution for a passing lamp without using a projection lens. Further, since the projection lens is not used, it is possible to provide the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 having a smaller area on the front side of the vehicle and a thinner thickness in the front-rear direction of the vehicle than when the projection lens is used.

For example, the low beam light source unit 112 shown in FIG. 20 may be combined with the high beam light source unit 111 shown in FIG.

Embodiment 5.
In the fifth embodiment, a modification of the shadow forming member will be described.
FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a high beam / low beam combined light source unit 113 and a liquid crystal type light shielding plate 5d in the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The liquid crystal type light-shielding plate 5d is a shadow forming member that electronically controls the transmission of light. The basic structure of the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 is the same as the structure shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B of the first embodiment.

The LED 3 has both a function as a light source member for a traveling light (high beam) and a function as a light source member for a passing light (low beam). The liquid crystal type light-shielding plate 5d switches between light transmission and light-shielding depending on the presence or absence of voltage application. When a voltage is applied to the entire region of the liquid crystal light-shielding plate 5d, the liquid crystal light-shielding plate 5d transmits all the light, so that the light emitted to the front of the vehicle becomes the light distribution for the traveling light. On the other hand, when the voltage application of the light-shielding region 55 in the liquid crystal light-shielding plate 5d is stopped, the light-shielding region 55 blocks the light emitted above the optical axis of the lens member 4, so that the light emitted in front of the vehicle passes each other. Light distribution for lights. The shape of the cut-off line is determined by the shape of the lower edge 52 of the light-shielding region 55.

As described above, the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the fifth embodiment includes a liquid crystal type light-shielding plate 5d that electronically controls the transmission of light as a shadow forming member. This makes it possible to form a light distribution for a passing lamp without using a projection lens. Further, since the projection lens is not used, it is possible to provide the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 having a smaller area on the front side of the vehicle and a thinner thickness in the front-rear direction of the vehicle than when the projection lens is used. Further, since the function as a traveling light and the function as a passing light can be switched, it is possible to provide a highly functional but compact in-vehicle headlight 1.
In the above, the lower region of the liquid crystal type light-shielding plate 5d may be fixed to have a characteristic of constantly transmitting light regardless of whether or not a voltage is applied. Further, as long as it can be switched to light shielding electronically or electrically, light shielding may be performed by a method other than liquid crystal.

Embodiment 6.
In the sixth embodiment, a modification of the shadow forming member will be described.
FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing an example of a reflector 5 in the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The reflector 5 of the sixth embodiment has a configuration in which a step portion 56 is formed with respect to the end side 52 of the reflector 5 described in the first embodiment. Due to the formation of the stepped portion 56, the end side 52 of the reflector 5 has a shape in which the sidewalk side is higher than the oncoming lane side. Although not shown, the stepped portion 56 may be formed on the end side 52 of the movable reflector 5a described in the second embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing light emitted to the front of the vehicle in the sixth embodiment of the present invention. Since the stepped portion 56 is formed on the end side 52 as shown in FIG. 23, the cut-off line in the light distribution for the passing light has a shape in which the sidewalk side illuminates to a position higher than the oncoming lane side.

Hereinafter, an example in which the step portion 56 is formed on the shadow forming member other than the reflector 5 will be described.
FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing an example of a movable light-shielding plate 5b in the in-vehicle headlight 1 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The movable light-shielding plate 5b has a configuration in which a step portion 56 is formed with respect to an end side 52 of the movable light-shielding plate 5b described in the third embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing an example of a light guide member 5c in the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The light guide member 5c has a configuration in which a step portion 56 is formed with respect to the end side 52 of the light guide member 5c described in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing an example of the liquid crystal type light-shielding plate 5d in the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The liquid crystal type light-shielding plate 5d has a configuration in which a step portion 56 is formed with respect to the end side 52 of the light-shielding region 55 of the liquid crystal type light-shielding plate 5d described in the fifth embodiment.

As described above, the end side 52 of the shadow forming member in the sixth embodiment has a shape in which the sidewalk side is higher than the oncoming lane side. As a result, light can be emitted at a height that does not dazzle the driver driving the oncoming vehicle while illuminating a high position on the sidewalk side. Therefore, it is possible to provide an in-vehicle headlight 1 having a preferable light distribution characteristic as a passing light.

Embodiment 7.
In the seventh embodiment, a modification of the shadow forming member will be described.
FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing an example of a movable light-shielding plate 5b in the in-vehicle headlight 1 according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. The movable shading plate 5b has a portion through which light is transmitted. In the example of FIG. 28, a plurality of perforations 57 are formed in the movable shading plate 5b, and each of the perforations 57 transmits light. The basic structure of the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 is the same as the structure shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B of the first embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing light emitted to the front of the vehicle in the seventh embodiment of the present invention. Since the perforation 57 is formed in the movable light-shielding plate 5b as shown in FIG. 28, the light C transmitted through the perforation 57 illuminates a part of the dark portion above the cut-off line in the light distribution for the passing lamp. For example, the light C transmitted through the perforation 57 illuminates a road sign, a guide sign, or the like, so that a light distribution that makes it easy for the driver to see the road sign or the like is formed. The position where the perforation 57 is formed in the movable light-shielding plate 5b is not limited to the position shown in FIG. 28, and the size and shape of the perforation 57 and the ratio of the light-transmitting region to the light-shielding region are appropriately set. Then, it is possible to illuminate an arbitrary area in front of the vehicle with an arbitrary brightness.

Although not shown, it is not limited to the movable light-shielding plate 5b, and for example, a fixed shadow forming member may be formed with a portion through which light is transmitted.

As described above, the shadow forming member according to the seventh embodiment has a portion through which light is transmitted. As a result, it is possible to illuminate a part of the dark part above the cut-off line in the light distribution for the passing light. Therefore, it is possible to illuminate, for example, a road sign or a guide sign above the cut-off line, while limiting the light to a height that does not dazzle the driver who has the cut-off line and drives the oncoming vehicle. It is possible to provide an in-vehicle headlight 1 having preferable light distribution characteristics as a light.

Embodiment 8.
In the eighth embodiment, a modification of the shadow forming member will be described.
FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing an example of a movable light-shielding plate 5b in the in-vehicle headlight 1 according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention. The basic structure of the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 is the same as the structure shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B of the first embodiment. The movable light-shielding plate 5b is composed of five subdivided light-shielding plates 5b1 to 5b5, and the subdivided light-shielding plates 5b1 to 5b5 are individually movable. For example, when the subdivided light-shielding plate 5b4 is located outside the emission range of the lens member 4, the light in the region through which the subdivided light-shielding plate 5b4 has passed is transmitted to illuminate the region in front of the vehicle corresponding to this region.
The number of subdivided light-shielding plates is not limited to five, and may be any number. Further, the subdivided light-shielding plates do not have to have the same shape, and may have any shape.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing light emitted to the front of the vehicle in the eighth embodiment of the present invention. When the subdivided light-shielding plate 5b4 is located outside the emission range of the lens member 4 as shown in FIG. 30, a part of the dark portion above the cut-off line in the light distribution for the passing light is a region where the subdivided light-shielding plate 5b4 is removed. The light D transmitted through the lens illuminates. For example, when the preceding vehicle is running in front of the own vehicle and the traveling light cannot be turned on and there is no oncoming vehicle, the oncoming lane side is illuminated with light D so that the driver can easily see ahead. Light is formed.

The shadow forming member other than the movable shading plate 5b may also be subdivided and individually movable like the subdivided shading plates 5b1 to 5b5.
Hereinafter, a configuration for subdividing the liquid crystal type light-shielding plate 5d will be described. FIG. 32 is a perspective view showing an example of the liquid crystal type light-shielding plate 5d according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention. The light-shielding region 55 of the liquid crystal type light-shielding plate 5d is composed of eight subdivided light-shielding regions 5d1 to 5d8, and by controlling the application of voltage for each of the subdivided light-shielding regions 5d1 to 5d8, the subdivided light-shielding regions 5d1 to 5d8 Light transmission and shading are switched as appropriate.
The number of subdivided shading regions is not limited to eight, and may be any number. Further, the subdivided light-shielding regions do not have to have the same shape, and may have any shape. Further, the lower region of the liquid crystal type light-shielding plate 5d may be fixed to have a characteristic of constantly transmitting light regardless of whether or not a voltage is applied. Further, as long as it can be switched to light shielding electronically or electrically, light shielding may be performed by a method other than liquid crystal.

As described above, the shadow forming member according to the eighth embodiment has a portion through which light is transmitted. As a result, it is possible to illuminate a part of the dark part above the cut-off line in the light distribution for the passing light. Therefore, it is possible to provide an in-vehicle headlight 1 having a preferable light distribution characteristic as a passing light. Further, in the eighth embodiment, since the portion of the shadow forming member through which light is transmitted is made variable, it is possible to provide an in-vehicle headlight 1 for ADB (Adaptive Driving Beam), that is, a so-called variable light distribution headlamp.

Embodiment 9.
In the ninth embodiment, an ADB light source unit composed of a plurality of ADB LEDs 3a to 3f and a plurality of lens members 4 will be described.
FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing a main part of a configuration example of the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the ninth embodiment includes a high beam light source unit 111, a low beam light source unit 112, and an ADB light source unit 114. Since the high beam light source unit 111 and the low beam light source unit 112 shown in FIG. 33 have the same configuration as the high beam light source unit 111 and the low beam light source unit 112 shown in FIG. 16, description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of the ADB light source unit 114 and the projection lens 9 in the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 35 is a plan view of the projected lights 13a to 13f of the ADB LEDs 3a to 3f according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above the in-vehicle headlight 1. Since each lens member 4 arranged opposite to the ADB LEDs 3a to 3f has an optical characteristic of condensing and emitting the light emitted by the ADB LEDs 3a to 3f in the direction of the projection lens 9, the ADB LEDs 3a to 3f It is possible to efficiently guide the light to the projection lens 9 by suppressing the leakage of the light emitted by each of them.
Further, as described in the first embodiment, when the light emitted from each lens member 4 is viewed from the front, it generally corresponds to the shape of the light emitting surface 31 of the ADB LEDs 3a to 3f. Therefore, for example, if the ADB LEDs 3a to 3f having a rectangular light emitting surface 31 are used and the light emitted by the ADB LEDs 3a to 3f is projected from the projection lens 9 to the front of the vehicle via each lens member 4, the front of the vehicle can be seen. Square projected lights 13a to 13f corresponding to the shape of the light emitting surface 31 are projected.

By individually turning on or off the ADB LEDs 3a to 3f, the ADB light source unit 114 that illuminates an arbitrary direction can be configured. For example, the low beam light source unit 112 shown in FIG. 33 forms the light distribution for the passing lamp shown in FIG. 31, and the ADB light source unit 114 forms the light distribution for ADB in the upper dark portion of the cut-off line (FIG. 31). D) is formed.

As described above, the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the ninth embodiment has a configuration including a plurality of ADB LEDs 3a to 3f and a plurality of lens members 4. By providing the lens members 4 facing the respective ADB LEDs 3a to 3f, each lens member 4 can suppress the leakage of the light emitted by the ADB LEDs 3a to 3f and efficiently guide the light to the projection lens 9. .. As a result, it is possible to provide the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 provided with the ADB light source unit 114 having high light utilization efficiency.

Embodiment 10.
In the tenth embodiment, a modification of the light source member will be described.
In the above-described first to ninth embodiments, a white LED is used as the light source member. The white LED includes a blue LED that emits blue light and a fluorescent member that is a wavelength conversion member that converts blue light into yellow light, and mixes the remaining blue light that has not been wavelength-converted and the wavelength-converted yellow light. By doing so, white light is generated and emitted. The light emitting surface 31 of the first to ninth embodiments corresponds to the emitting surface of the fluorescent member. On the other hand, in the tenth embodiment, a laser light source such as LD is used as the light source member.

FIG. 36 shows an example of the light source member of the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 36A is a side view, and FIG. 36B is an enlarged view of the LD and the blue laser light emitted by the LD. is there. In the example of FIGS. 36A and 36B, the light source member is composed of a blue LD301 that emits light having an elliptical cross section and a fluorescent member 302. The surface of the fluorescent member 302 facing the lens member 4 corresponds to the light emitting surface of the white LED. The blue laser light having an elliptical cross section emitted by the blue LD301 is converted into yellow light by the fluorescent member 302. The white light, which is a mixture of the blue laser light remaining without wavelength conversion and the wavelength-converted yellow light, is incident on the lens member 4. By setting the installation direction of the blue LD301 so that the stretching direction of the joint surface 301a of the semiconductor faces up and down, the long axis side of the white light having an elliptical cross section incident on the lens member 4 faces the left and right direction, which is short. Make sure that the shaft side faces up and down.

As described above, the light source member of the tenth embodiment is a wavelength conversion member that receives light emitted by a semiconductor light source such as an LED or LD and the light emitted by the semiconductor light source and converts the wavelength of the received light into a different wavelength. Has a member. The semiconductor light source has a long life, can secure the required brightness with a small amount of electric power, and can emit a stable brightness by simple control of supplying a constant current. Therefore, the light source member of the in-vehicle headlight 1 Is suitable as.

The light source member shown in FIGS. 37 and 38 can also be used as the light source member of the vehicle-mounted headlight 1.
FIG. 37 is a side view showing another example of the light source member of the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention. In the example of FIG. 37, the light source member is composed of a red laser light source 311R that emits beam-shaped light, a green laser light source 311G, a blue laser light source 311B, three prisms 312, and a diffusion member 313.

As described in the first embodiment, the lens member 4 has a configuration that utilizes optical characteristics such as a refraction phenomenon, an interference phenomenon, or a diffraction phenomenon due to fine irregularities, and synthesizes light that has passed through a plurality of irregularities. In order to secure the optical characteristics, it is necessary that the area of the light incident from the light source member is larger than the area of each fine convex or concave surface. Therefore, the light source member of FIGS. 37 and 38 diffuses the beam-shaped laser beam by using the diffusing member 313 to emit light having a sufficiently large area with respect to the area of each fine convex or concave surface. Generate.

The surface of the diffusion member 313 facing the lens member 4 corresponds to the light emitting surface of the white LED. The red laser light emitted by the red laser light source 311R, the green laser light emitted by the green laser light source 311G, and the blue laser light emitted by the blue laser light source 311B are mixed by the prism 312 to generate white laser light and guide it to the diffusion member 313. It glows. The white laser light is diffused by the diffusing member 313, converted from beam-shaped light into light having an area, and incident on the lens member 4.

FIG. 38 is a side view showing another example of the light source member of the vehicle-mounted headlight 1 according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention. In the example of FIG. 38, the light source member is composed of a monochromatic laser light source 321 that emits beam-shaped light, a nonlinear medium 322, and a diffusion member 313. The monochromatic laser light emitted by the monochromatic laser light source 321 passes through a non-linear medium 322 such as a non-linear fiber, and becomes SC (Supercontinuum) light having a continuous and wide band spectrum. The SC light is diffused by the diffusing member 313, converted from beam-shaped light into light having an area, and incident on the lens member 4.

As shown in FIGS. 36 to 38, by incident white light having a small area on the lens member 4, the optical characteristics such as the refraction phenomenon, the interference phenomenon, or the diffraction phenomenon of the lens member 4 are effectively exerted. It can be focused and the utilization efficiency of laser light can be improved. By the way, the coherent laser light becomes incoherent light by passing through the lens member 4 on which fine irregularities are formed and being mixed. Since this incoherent light does not return to coherent light again, it is possible to suppress leakage of laser light due to an unexpected situation even if, for example, a vehicle accident occurs and the in-vehicle headlight 1 is damaged. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a dangerous situation peculiar to the laser beam, and to ensure eye safety (Eye safety).

It should be noted that, within the scope of the present invention, it is possible to freely combine each embodiment, modify any component of each embodiment, or omit any component of each embodiment.

1 Automotive headlight, 2 Front lens, 3 LED, 3a to 3f ADB LED, 3H high beam LED (light source member), 3L low beam LED (light source member), 4 lens member, 5 reflector, 5a movable Reflector, 5b Movable shading plate (shadow forming member), 5b1 to 5b5 Subdivided shading plate, 5c Light source member, 5d Liquid source shading plate (shading forming member), 5d1 to 5d8 Subdivided shading area, 6 Outer shell case , 7 Retaining and heat dissipation member, 8 Optical axis adjustment member, 9 Projection lens, 13a to 13f Projected light of LEDs 3a to 3f for ADB, 31 Light source, 41 Legs, 51 Reflection surface (shadow forming member), 52 Edges, 53 fulcrum, 54 rotation axis, 55 shading area, 56 stepped part, 57 perforation, 100 LED, 101 convex lens, 102 Frenel lens, 110 high beam low beam integrated light source unit, 111 high beam light source unit, 112 low beam light source unit, 113 high beam low beam Combined light source unit, 114 ADB light source unit, 301 blue LD, 301a junction surface, 302 fluorescent member (light emitting surface), 311R red laser light source, 311G green laser light source, 311B blue laser light source, 312 prism, 313 diffuser member (light emitting surface) ), 321 Monochromatic laser light source, 322 Non-linear medium.

Claims (10)

A light source member having a light emitting surface and
A plate-shaped lens member having unevenness smaller than the size of the light emitting surface formed on the surface facing the light source member and having a light-collecting property .
A front lens that transmits light emitted from the lens member to the front of the vehicle ,
A shadow forming member arranged on the upper side of the optical axis between the lens member and the front lens is provided.
An in-vehicle headlight characterized in that the distance from the light emitting surface of the light source member to the surface on which the unevenness of the lens member is formed is equal to or less than the maximum width of the light emitting surface. The vehicle-mounted headlight according to claim 1 , wherein the shadow forming member is a light-shielding plate. The vehicle-mounted headlight according to claim 1 , wherein the shadow forming member is a reflecting surface that reflects light incident from below. The vehicle-mounted headlight according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein the shadow forming member is movable. The vehicle-mounted headlight according to claim 1 , wherein the shadow forming member is a member that electronically controls the transmission of light. The vehicle-mounted headlight according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the end side of the shadow forming member has a shape higher on the sidewalk side than on the oncoming lane side. The vehicle-mounted headlight according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the shadow forming member has a portion through which light is transmitted. The vehicle-mounted headlight according to claim 1, wherein the light source member is a semiconductor light source. The light source member is
With a semiconductor light source
The vehicle-mounted headlight according to claim 1, further comprising a fluorescent member that receives light emitted by the semiconductor light source and emits light having a wavelength different from the received light. The vehicle-mounted headlight according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of sets of the light source member and the lens member are provided.

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