JP7567341B2 - Vehicle lighting fixtures - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp.

Conventionally, automobiles may travel between regions (countries) with different traffic lanes, with right-hand traffic and left-hand traffic. For this reason, it is preferable to be able to switch between a light distribution pattern for left-hand traffic and a light distribution pattern for right-hand traffic (so-called Dover compatibility). Thus, for example, a vehicle lamp has been proposed that forms a light distribution pattern with a cutoff line when driving on the left, and forms a light distribution pattern without a cutoff line when driving on the right, which mainly illuminates below the horizontal reference line so as not to dazzle drivers of oncoming vehicles (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-123327 A

However, the vehicle lamp described in Patent Document 1 is configured to turn off or dim the optical unit that forms the cutoff line when switching the light distribution pattern, which can result in a reduction in the overall amount of light and reduced visibility ahead of the vehicle.

The present invention was made to solve these problems, and its purpose is to provide a vehicle lamp that can prevent the decrease in visibility that accompanies a decrease in light intensity when forming a light distribution pattern according to different traffic lanes.

The vehicle lamp according to the present invention forms a first light distribution pattern having a cutoff line by light emitted from a first light source, and forms a second light distribution pattern different from the first light distribution pattern by light emitted from a second light source, and forms a low beam light distribution by the first light distribution pattern and the second light distribution pattern formed. The vehicle lamp includes an optical control unit that controls the first light source and the second light source, and when the optical control unit controls the first light source to be dimmed or turned off, the optical control unit executes control to increase the amount of light emitted from the second light source.

According to the present invention, when the first light source for forming a first light distribution pattern having a cutoff line is controlled to be dimmed or turned off, the second light source is controlled to increase the amount of emitted light. Therefore, when the first light source is controlled to be dimmed or turned off to form a light distribution pattern corresponding to a different traffic lane, the decrease in the overall amount of light can be suppressed, and the decrease in visibility due to the decrease in the amount of light can be prevented.

1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the substrate shown in FIG. 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing low beam light distribution, in which (a) shows a low beam light distribution, (b) shows a first light distribution pattern, (c) shows one of the second light distribution patterns, and (d) shows another of the second light distribution patterns. FIG. 4 is a front view of a first light guiding lens. 3 is a table showing a state of duty ratio control by the control unit shown in FIG. 2 . FIG. 11 is a front view showing a vehicle lamp according to a second embodiment.

The present invention will be described below in accordance with a preferred embodiment. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described below, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In addition, in the embodiment described below, some configurations are omitted from illustration and description, but it goes without saying that publicly known or well-known technologies are used as appropriate for the details of the omitted technologies, within the scope of not causing any contradiction with the contents described below.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle lamp according to this embodiment. The vehicle lamp 1 shown in Figure 1 is configured as a headlamp provided, for example, in the front part of the vehicle, and is disposed in a lamp chamber formed by a housing and an outer lens (not shown). This vehicle lamp 1 comprises a substrate B, first and second light guide lenses 10, 20, a shade 30, and a projection lens 40. The substrate B comprises a light source and a functional part that controls the light source. In addition, the first and second light guide lenses 10, 20 are fixedly attached to the substrate B by screws or the like.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the substrate B shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a low beam light distribution, where (a) shows a low beam light distribution, (b) shows a first light distribution pattern, (c) shows one of the second light distribution patterns, and (d) shows another of the second light distribution patterns. As shown in Figure 2, substrate B is equipped with a connector section 50, a plurality of low light sources 60, a plurality of high light sources 70, and a control section (optical control section) 80, and the plane of substrate B is inclined downward with respect to the lens axis AX (see Figure 1) of the projection lens 40.

The connector section 50 is provided, for example, at the end of the substrate B, and receives external power supply and instruction signals from a higher-level device by connecting a mating connector (not shown). The multiple low light sources 60 are for forming a low beam light distribution LD (see FIG. 3(a)), and are arranged horizontally with a space between them. These multiple low light sources 60 are composed of two first light sources 61 in the center and four second light sources 62 on either side of the first light sources 61.

The first light source 61 is a light source for forming a first light distribution pattern P1 (see FIG. 3(b)) having a cutoff line CL (see FIG. 3(b)). The second light source 62 is a light source for forming a second light distribution pattern P2 (see FIG. 3(c) and FIG. 3(d)) different from the first light distribution pattern P1. The low beam light distribution LD is formed by combining the first light distribution pattern P1 and the second light distribution pattern P2.

Here, the second light source 62 includes two outermost light sources 62a for a diffuse light distribution pattern, and a light source 62b for a distant light distribution pattern that is sandwiched between the light source 62a for the diffuse light distribution pattern and the first light source 61. The light source 62a for the diffuse light distribution pattern is a light source for forming a diffuse light distribution pattern DP1 (see FIG. 3(d)) that is more diffuse than the first light distribution pattern P1 in a region below the first light distribution pattern P1. The light source 62b for the distant light distribution pattern is a light source for forming a distant light distribution pattern DP2 (see FIG. 3(c)) that has a narrower irradiation range than the diffuse light distribution pattern DP1 and illuminates a distant area.

The multiple high light sources 70 shown in FIG. 2 are light sources for forming a high beam light distribution, and are mounted on the same substrate B as the low light sources 60. The high light sources 70 are configured as a light source array arranged horizontally below the low light sources 60, for example as shown in FIG. 2.

Refer to FIG. 1 again. The first light guide lens 10 has a plurality of lens portions 11 to 13, which will be described later, and is configured such that one lens portion 11 to 13 is provided for each of the plurality of low light sources 60. FIG. 4 is a front view of the first light guide lens 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the first light guide lens 10 has a first lens portion 11 provided opposite the first light source 61, a second lens portion 12 provided opposite the light source 62a for a diffuse light distribution pattern, and a third lens portion 13 provided opposite the light source 62b for a distant light distribution pattern. These lens portions 11 to 13 receive light from the light sources 61, 62a, and 62b, and emit the light toward the projection lens 40.

As shown in FIG. 1, the second light guide lens 20 is formed in a substantially plate-like shape and is disposed opposite the multiple high light sources 70. This second light guide lens 20 receives light from the multiple high light sources 70 and emits it toward the projection lens 40. The shade 30 is formed, for example, from two plates attached to the upper surface of the plate-like second light guide lens 20, and blocks or reflects a portion of the light that arrives from the first light source 61 through the first lens portion 11 to form a cutoff line CL (see FIG. 3(b)).

The projection lens 40 receives and emits light from each light source 60, 70.

The control unit 80 shown in FIG. 2 controls the light sources 60 and 70, and in this embodiment in particular performs duty ratio control of the light source 60 to perform so-called Dover correspondence and the like. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the state of duty ratio control by the control unit 80 shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 5, in normal times (when Dover correspondence is not performed), the control unit 80 controls the lighting of the first light source 61 with a duty ratio of 80%, and controls the lighting of the light source 62a for the diffuse light distribution pattern and the light source 62b for the distant light distribution pattern with a duty ratio of 60%.

In response to this, the control unit 80 controls the first light source 61 to be dimmed or turned off when performing Dover correspondence. In this case, the control unit 80 controls the first light source 61 to be dimmed or turned off by reducing the duty ratio of the first light source 61 or setting it to 0%.

Here, the vehicle lamp 1 according to this embodiment forms a low beam light distribution LD with a cutoff line CL as shown in FIG. 3(a), for example in an area where traffic is on the left side. At this time, a light quantity equal to or greater than a first predetermined value is obtained at a regulation point RP1 slightly above the horizontal reference line HL-HR and slightly to the left of the vertical reference line VU-VL (left side as seen from the vehicle side). Also, a light quantity equal to or greater than a second predetermined value is obtained at a regulation point RP2 slightly below the horizontal reference line HL-HR and slightly to the right of the vertical reference line VU-VL (right side as seen from the vehicle side).

In contrast, for example, in areas where traffic drives on the right side of the road, a light intensity less than a first predetermined value is required at regulation point RP1. Therefore, the control unit 80 responds to the dover by controlling the first light source 61 to dim or turn off. Note that the same rule applies in that a light intensity equal to or greater than a second predetermined value is required at regulation point RP2.

Specifically, the control unit 80 controls the first light source 61 to a duty ratio of 0% when the first dover is supported. The control unit 80 also controls the first light source 61 to a duty ratio of 40% when the second and third dover are supported. It may be possible to select which of the first to third dover responses is to be performed, or it may be possible to perform only one of them fixedly.

In this way, the control unit 80 reduces the duty ratio of the first light source 61 from normal or sets it to 0%, thereby making the amount of light at the restriction point RP1 less than the first predetermined value and implementing Dover compliance.

In this embodiment, the control unit 80 controls the light source 62a for the diffuse light distribution pattern and the light source 62b for the distant light distribution pattern to be turned on at a duty ratio of 100% when corresponding to the first dover. Also, the control unit 80 controls the light source 62a for the diffuse light distribution pattern to be turned on at a duty ratio of 70% when corresponding to the second dover, and controls the light source 62b for the distant light distribution pattern to be turned on at a duty ratio of 90%. Furthermore, the control unit 80 controls the light source 62a for the diffuse light distribution pattern to be turned on at a duty ratio of 90% when corresponding to the third dover, and controls the light source 62b for the distant light distribution pattern to be turned on at a duty ratio of 70%.

In this way, when the control unit 80 controls the first light source 61 to be dimmed or turned off, it executes control to increase the duty ratio of the second light source 62 (to a value exceeding 60%) and increase the amount of emitted light.

In particular, when the control unit 80 controls the first light source 61 to be dimmed or turned off, it is preferable to set the duty ratio of the light source 62b for the distant light distribution pattern higher than the duty ratios of the first light source 61 and the light source 62a for the diffuse light distribution pattern, as in the case of the second Dover correspondence, to make the amount of emitted light higher than these. In addition, when the control unit 80 controls the first light source 61 to be dimmed or turned off, it is preferable to set the duty ratio of the light source 62b for the distant light distribution pattern higher than the duty ratio of the first light source 61 and approximately the same as the duty ratio of the light source 62a for the diffuse light distribution pattern (for example, the difference between the two is within 5%, preferably within 3%), as in the case of the first Dover correspondence. This is because visibility in the distance is ensured.

Furthermore, the control unit 80 sets the total duty ratio during normal operation to 200% (80% + 60% + 60%). Similarly, the control unit 80 sets the total duty ratio during the first dover response to 200% (0% + 100% + 100%). The control unit 80 also sets the total duty ratio during the second dover response to 200% (40% + 90% + 70%), and also sets the total duty ratio during the third dover response to 200% (40% + 70% + 90%).

Therefore, when the power consumption according to the duty ratio is the same for the first light source 61, the light source for the diffuse light distribution pattern 62a, and the light source for the distant light distribution pattern 62b, the total power consumption of the light sources 61, 62a, and 62b will be approximately the same before and after the first light source 61 is dimmed or turned off (i.e., before and after Dover correspondence).

In addition, in this embodiment, the control unit 80 preferably also performs duty ratio control on the high light source 70 in order to dim or turn off specific locations of the high beam distribution (to perform ADB (Adaptive Driving Beam) control). In this case, the same control unit 80 can perform both the Dover-compatible duty ratio control and the duty ratio control during ADB control.

Next, we will explain the operation of a vehicle equipped with the vehicle lamp 1 according to this embodiment when it moves from a left-hand traffic area to a right-hand traffic area and performs a dover-ready operation.

First, when the vehicle is traveling in an area where traffic is on the left side of the road, for example as shown in normal conditions in FIG. 5, the control unit 80 controls the duty ratio of the first light source 61 to 80%, and controls the duty ratio of the light source for the distant light distribution pattern 62b and the light source for the diffuse light distribution pattern 62a to 60%.

If the vehicle then moves into an area where traffic drives on the right, the vehicle will respond to a right-hand traffic signal in response to an instruction from the vehicle or an external source. At this time, the control unit 80 controls the first light source 61 to be dimmed or turned off by reducing the duty ratio of the first light source 61 or setting it to 0%. Furthermore, the control unit 80 increases the amount of light emitted from the second light source 62 by increasing the duty ratio of the second light source 62. This suppresses the overall decrease in light amount caused by the dimming or turning off control of the first light source 61, and prevents the decrease in visibility that accompanies the decrease in light amount.

In particular, when the control unit 80 performs the first or second Dover adaptation, the light source 62b for the distant light distribution pattern emits a greater amount of light than the first light source 61, and emits a greater amount of light than or about the same as the light source 62a for the diffuse light distribution pattern, thereby ensuring better visibility at a distance and ensuring even greater visibility at a distance.

As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 80 has the same total duty ratio before and after dimming or turning off the first light source 61. Therefore, if the power consumption according to the duty ratio is the same for the first light source 61, the light source for the diffuse light distribution pattern 62a, and the light source for the distant light distribution pattern 62b, the total power consumption is also the same.

In addition, the control unit 80 also performs ADB control (duty ratio control) of the high beam distribution, so that the same control unit 80 performs both Dover response and ADB control.

In this way, according to the vehicle lamp 1 of this embodiment, when the first light source 61 for forming the first light distribution pattern P1 having the cutoff line CL is controlled to be dimmed or turned off, the second light source 62 is controlled to increase the amount of emitted light, so that when the first light source 61 is controlled to be dimmed or turned off to form a light distribution pattern corresponding to a different traffic lane, the overall decrease in the amount of light can be suppressed, and the decrease in visibility due to the decrease in the amount of light can be prevented.

The second light source 62 includes a light source 62a for a diffuse light distribution pattern and a light source 62b for a distant light distribution pattern. When the first light source 61 is dimmed or turned off, if the amount of light emitted by the light source 62b for the distant light distribution pattern is higher than the amount of light emitted by the first light source 61 and is equal to or higher than the amount of light emitted by the light source 62a for the diffuse light distribution pattern, distant visibility is ensured when the first light source 61 is dimmed or turned off. This makes it possible to more appropriately prevent a decrease in visibility.

In addition, since the total power consumption of the first light source 61 and the second light source 62 is approximately the same before and after the first light source 61 is dimmed or turned off, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the power consumption when forming a light distribution pattern according to one traffic lane becomes higher than the power consumption when forming a light distribution pattern according to the other traffic lane.

In addition, since the low light source 60, the high light source 70, and the control unit 80 are mounted on the same board B, the duty ratio control performed to achieve, for example, ADB, which dims or turns off specific locations of the high beam distribution, and the duty ratio control performed to form light distribution patterns according to different traffic lanes can be achieved by the same control unit 80 while still achieving compactness, and an increase in the number of control units 80 can be suppressed, achieving even more compactness.

Next, a vehicle lamp according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The vehicle lamp according to the second embodiment is similar to the vehicle lamp 1 according to the first embodiment, but has a partially different configuration. The differences from the first embodiment will be described below.

Figure 6 is a front view showing a vehicle lamp 2 according to the second embodiment. The vehicle lamp 2 according to the second embodiment is mounted, for example, on the right front of the vehicle as a headlamp, and as shown in Figure 6, the first light source 61, the light source for the diffuse light distribution pattern 62a, and the light source for the distant light distribution pattern 62b are each mounted on a separate board, each of which is provided with an optical lens 90, and these components are arranged in a lamp chamber formed by a housing and an outer lens (not shown).

The first lens 91 is attached in front of the first light source 61, and receives light from the first light source 61 and emits it toward the outer lens. The first light source 61 and the first lens 91 form a first optical unit U1.

The second lens 92 is a lens component separate from the first lens 91 and is attached in front of the second light source 62. It receives light from the second light source 62 and emits it toward the outer lens. The second light source 62 and the second lens 92 form a second optical unit U2.

Here, the second lens 92 includes a lens 92a for a diffuse light distribution pattern and a lens 92b for a distant light distribution pattern. The lens 92a for a diffuse light distribution pattern is attached in front of the light source 62a for a diffuse light distribution pattern, receives light from the light source 62a for a diffuse light distribution pattern, and emits it to the outer lens side. The light source 62a for a diffuse light distribution pattern and the lens 92a for a diffuse light distribution pattern form a diffuse optical unit U21. The lens 92b for a distant light distribution pattern is attached in front of the light source 62b for a distant light distribution pattern, and receives light from the light source 62b for a distant light distribution pattern, and emits it to the outer lens side. The light source 62b for a distant light distribution pattern and the lens 92b for a distant light distribution pattern form a distant optical unit U22.

Here, the first optical unit U1 forms a first light distribution pattern P1 having a cutoff line CL as shown in FIG. 3(b). The diffusion optical unit U21 forms a diffusion light distribution pattern DP1 as shown in FIG. 3(d). Furthermore, the far optical unit U22 forms a far light distribution pattern DP2 as shown in FIG. 3(c).

As in the first embodiment, when the vehicle lamp 2 is operated in response to a door stop, the first light source 61 is dimmed or turned off, and the amount of light emitted by the second light source 62 is increased.

In this way, with the vehicle lamp 2 according to the second embodiment, as with the first embodiment, it is possible to prevent a decrease in visibility due to a decrease in the amount of light. Furthermore, it is possible to ensure visibility at a distance and more appropriately prevent a decrease in visibility. In addition, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the power consumption when forming a light distribution pattern according to one traffic lane is higher than the power consumption when forming a light distribution pattern according to the other traffic lane.

Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, the first optical unit U1 has a first light source 61 and a first lens 91 that emits light from the first light source 61, and the second optical unit U2 has a second light source 62 and a second lens 92 that emits light from the second light source 62. Therefore, the first light distribution pattern P1 can be formed by the first optical unit U1, and the second light distribution pattern P2 can be formed by the second optical unit U2. Compared to the case where the first light source 61 and the second light source 62 are provided in the same unit, it is easier to form each light distribution pattern, and the efficiency of luminous flux utilization can be improved.

The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and modifications may be made or known technologies may be combined without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Note that the vehicle lamps 1 and 2 according to this embodiment are designed to distribute light for left-hand traffic under normal circumstances and for right-hand traffic when crossing the border, but this is not limiting and may be reversed.

Furthermore, although the vehicle lamps 1 and 2 according to this embodiment control the amount of light by duty ratio control, this is not limited thereto, and the amount of light may be controlled by controlling the magnitude of the current supplied to the first and second light sources 61 and 62, or, if multiple first and second light sources 61 and 62 are provided, the number of lighted light sources may be controlled.

In addition, the first light distribution pattern P1, the diffuse light distribution pattern DP1, and the distant light distribution pattern DP2 that constitute the low beam light distribution LD are not limited to the shapes shown in FIG. 3, and the shapes can be changed as appropriate within the range in which the low beam light distribution LD can be formed.

In addition, while this embodiment has been described assuming a headlamp, the present invention is not limited to this and may be applied to vehicle lamps that illuminate in other directions if applicable.

Reference Signs List 1, 2: Vehicle lamp 10: First light guide lens 11: First lens section 12: Second lens section 13: Third lens section 20: Second light guide lens 30: Shade 40: Projection lens 50: Connector section 60: Low light source 61: First light source 62: Second light source 62a: Light source for diffuse light distribution pattern 62b: Light source for distant light distribution pattern 70: High light source 80: Control section (optical control section)
90: Optical lens 91: First lens 92: Second lens 92a: Lens for diffuse light distribution pattern 92b: Lens for distant light distribution pattern AX: Lens axis B: Substrate CL: Cut-off line DP1: Diffuse light distribution pattern DP2: Distant light distribution pattern LD: Low beam light distribution P1: First light distribution pattern P2: Second light distribution pattern RP1, RP2: Restriction point U1: First optical unit U2: Second optical unit U21: Diffusion optical unit U22: Distant optical unit

Claims (6)

A vehicle lamp that forms a first light distribution pattern having a cutoff line by light emitted from a first light source, and forms a second light distribution pattern different from the first light distribution pattern by light emitted from a second light source, and forms a low beam light distribution by the first light distribution pattern and the second light distribution pattern that are formed,
an optical control unit for controlling the first light source and the second light source;
the optical control unit, when controlling the first light source to be dimmed or turned off, executes control for increasing an amount of emitted light of the second light source ;
The second light source includes a light source for a diffuse light distribution pattern for forming a diffuse light distribution pattern that is more diffuse than the first light distribution pattern in a region below the first light distribution pattern, and a light source for a far light distribution pattern for forming a far light distribution pattern that has a narrower irradiation range than the diffuse light distribution pattern and illuminates a far distance,
When the optical control unit controls the first light source to be dimmed or turned off, the optical control unit controls the amount of light emitted from the light source for the far-field light distribution pattern to be higher than the amount of light emitted from the first light source and to be equal to or higher than the amount of light emitted from the light source for the diffuse light distribution pattern.
A vehicle lamp characterized by the above. A vehicle lamp that forms a first light distribution pattern having a cutoff line by light emitted from a first light source, and forms a second light distribution pattern different from the first light distribution pattern by light emitted from a second light source, and forms a low beam light distribution by the first light distribution pattern and the second light distribution pattern that are formed,
an optical control unit for controlling the first light source and the second light source;
When the optical control unit controls the first light source to be dimmed or turned off, the optical control unit controls the second light source to increase the amount of emitted light, and the total power consumption of the first light source and the second light source is substantially the same before and after the control to dim or turn off the first light source.
A vehicle lamp characterized by the above. A vehicle lamp that forms a first light distribution pattern having a cutoff line by light emitted from a first light source, and forms a second light distribution pattern different from the first light distribution pattern by light emitted from a second light source, and forms a low beam light distribution by the first light distribution pattern and the second light distribution pattern that are formed,
an optical control unit for controlling the first light source and the second light source;
the optical control unit, when controlling the first light source to be dimmed or turned off, executes control for increasing an amount of emitted light of the second light source ;
Further comprising a high light source for forming a high beam light distribution,
The first light source, the second light source, the high light source, and the optical control unit are mounted on a same substrate,
The optical control unit performs duty ratio control on the high light source to dim or turn off a specific portion of the high beam distribution, and also performs duty ratio control on the first light source and the second light source, thereby controlling the amount of emitted light.
A vehicle lamp characterized by the above. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the optical control unit controls the first light source to have a substantially equal total power consumption as the first light source and the second light source before and after the first light source is dimmed or turned off. Further comprising a high light source for forming a high beam light distribution,
The first light source, the second light source, the high light source, and the optical control unit are mounted on a same substrate,
3. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the optical control unit performs a duty ratio control on the high light source to dim or turn off a specific portion of the high beam distribution, and also performs a duty ratio control on the first light source and the second light source, thereby controlling the amount of emitted light. a first optical unit having the first light source and a first lens that emits light from the first light source;
a second optical unit including the second light source and a second lens separate from the first lens that emits light from the second light source;
The vehicular lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising:

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