JP7616147B2 - Light emitting device for vehicle lamp, vehicle lamp - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a light-emitting device for a vehicle lamp. This invention relates to a vehicle lamp.

An example of a light-emitting device for a vehicle lamp that uses secondary light excited by excitation light and emits light is shown in Patent Document 1.

The light source unit of the vehicle lamp of Patent Document 1 includes a light source section and a light generating section having a light emitting layer. The vehicle lamp of Patent Document 1 includes the light source unit, and a lamp housing and a lamp lens that house the light source unit.

The light source unit of the vehicle lamp of Patent Document 1 and the operation of the vehicle lamp are described below. The light emitting layer of the light generating section is excited by the excitation light emitted from the light source section, and emits secondary light in a predetermined emission pattern. The secondary light is also transmitted through the lamp lens and irradiated to the outside, for example as a light distribution pattern for a tail lamp.

International Publication No. 2019/245030

However, the light source unit and vehicle lamp of Patent Document 1 are equipped with one light source section and one light generating section, so the light generating section is limited to one light emission pattern. As a result, the light source unit and vehicle lamp of Patent Document 1 cannot achieve multiple light emission functions.

The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a light-emitting device for a vehicle lamp and a vehicle lamp that can provide multiple light-emitting functions.

The light emitting device for vehicle lamps of this invention is a light emitting device for vehicle lamps, and is equipped with a plurality of light emitting units and an excitation light filter, and each of the plurality of light emitting units has an excitation light source that emits excitation light, and a light emitting panel that is excited by the excitation light and emits secondary light to emit light, and the plurality of light emitting units are arranged at least one on each of one side and the other side of the excitation light filter, and the excitation light filter does not transmit the excitation light.

In the light-emitting device of the vehicle lamp of the present invention, each of the light-emitting panels of the multiple light-emitting units has a light-emitting film formed on one side or the other side of the excitation light filter, and serves as a light conversion film that is excited by the excitation light to emit secondary light and emit light, and the light-emitting film is preferably formed in any shape.

In the light-emitting device of the vehicle lamp of this invention, it is preferable to provide an excitation light control member that controls the excitation light from the excitation light sources of the multiple light-emitting units, respectively, to prevent the excitation light from the excitation light source of one light-emitting unit from straying and entering the light-emitting panel of another light-emitting unit as stray excitation light.

In the light emitting device of the vehicle lamp of this invention, it is preferable that the excitation light control member has at least one of the following members: a reflecting member that reflects the excitation light in a predetermined direction; a lens member that refracts the excitation light at a predetermined angle at at least one of the entrance surface and the exit surface; a light guiding member that guides the excitation light incident from the entrance surface to the exit surface and emits it to the outside from the exit surface; and a shielding member that shields stray excitation light.

In the light emitting device of the vehicle lamp of this invention, it is preferable that the excitation light filter is a transparent plate that does not transmit excitation light having a wavelength in the range of at least about 300 nm to about 500 nm, and transmits secondary light emitted by the light emitting panel having a wavelength in the range of at least about 500 nm to about 780 nm with a transmittance of at least about 90%.

The vehicle lamp of the present invention is characterized by comprising a lamp chamber forming member that forms a lamp chamber, and a light-emitting device of the vehicle lamp of the present invention that is arranged within the lamp chamber.

In the vehicle lamp of this invention, it is preferable to have at least one of the following reflectors disposed in the lamp chamber: a reflector that reflects the secondary light from the light-emitting device to the outside of the lamp chamber, or a reflector that reflects the excitation light from the light-emitting device to the light-emitting panel side of the light-emitting device.

In the vehicle lamp of this invention, it is preferable that the lamp chamber forming member has an outer lens that does not transmit excitation light from the light emitting device but transmits secondary light from the light emitting device.

In the vehicle lamp of this invention, the lamp chamber forming member has an outer lens that does not transmit the excitation light from the light emitting device but transmits the secondary light from the light emitting device, and it is preferable that the outer lens is red or yellow-orange, the excitation light is blue light, and the secondary light is red light or yellow-orange light.

The vehicle lamp light emitting device and vehicle lamp of this invention can provide multiple light emitting functions.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a vehicle lamp in a non-illuminated state (light-off state, the same applies below) showing a first embodiment of a vehicle lamp, a light-emitting device for a vehicle lamp according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the vehicle lamp showing a state in which a first light-emitting panel of a first light-emitting unit is emitting light. FIG. 3 is a front view of the vehicle lamp showing a state in which the first light-emitting panel of the first light-emitting unit and the second light-emitting panel of the second light-emitting unit are simultaneously emitting light. FIG. 4 is a front view of a vehicle lamp showing a state in which the first light-emitting panel of the first light-emitting unit, the second light-emitting panel of the second light-emitting unit, and the third light-emitting panel of the third light-emitting unit are simultaneously emitting light. Fig. 5 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a light-emitting device of a vehicle lamp. (A) is an explanatory cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Fig. 1. (B) is an explanatory cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in Fig. 2. (C) is an explanatory cross-sectional view taken along line CC in Fig. 3. (D) is an explanatory cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in Fig. 4. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional explanatory diagram (a sectional explanatory diagram taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 1) showing a light emitting device of a vehicle lamp and a vehicle lamp in a non-lighted state. FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view (a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 2) showing a state in which the first light-emitting panel of the first light-emitting unit is emitting light. FIG. 8 is an explanatory vertical cross-sectional view (an explanatory cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 1) showing a light-emitting device of a vehicle lamp and a vehicle lamp in a non-lighted state. FIG. 9 is an explanatory vertical cross-sectional view (an explanatory cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 3) showing a state in which the first light-emitting panel of the first light-emitting unit and the second light-emitting panel of the second light-emitting unit are simultaneously emitting light. FIG. 10 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a light-emitting device of a vehicle lamp and a state of the vehicle lamp when not lit (an explanatory cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, and corresponding to FIG. 5(A)). Figure 11 is an explanatory vertical cross-sectional view (an explanatory cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in Figure 4, and corresponding to Figure 5 (D)) showing a state in which the first light-emitting panel of the first light-emitting unit, the second light-emitting panel of the second light-emitting unit, and the third light-emitting panel of the third light-emitting unit are emitting light simultaneously. Fig. 12A is a partially enlarged schematic vertical sectional view showing a light-emitting panel, and Fig. 12B is a partially enlarged explanatory view showing the optical path of excitation light and the optical path of secondary light in the light-emitting panel. FIG. 13 is an explanatory vertical cross-sectional view (corresponding to FIGS. 6 and 8) showing a state in which the light-emitting panel appears transparent when the light-emitting device of the vehicle lamp and the vehicle lamp are not lit. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the luminous design of the luminous film of the luminous panel. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing the luminous design of the luminous film of a luminous panel arranged within a predetermined light distribution. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a light emitting device of a vehicle lamp and a state of segment light emission of the vehicle lamp. FIG. 17 is a front view of a vehicle lamp in an unlit state, showing a second embodiment of the light emitting device for a vehicle lamp and the vehicle lamp according to the present invention. FIG. 18 is a front view of the vehicle lamp showing a state in which the first light-emitting panel of the first light-emitting unit is emitting light. Fig. 19A is a partially enlarged schematic vertical sectional view showing a light-emitting panel, and Fig. 19B is a partially enlarged explanatory view showing the optical path of excitation light and the optical path of secondary light in the light-emitting panel. FIG. 20 is an explanatory vertical cross-sectional view (corresponding to FIG. 13) showing the light-emitting device of a vehicle lamp and the state in which the light-emitting panel is visible through the outer lens when the vehicle lamp is not lit. FIG. 21 is a vertical cross-sectional view (corresponding to FIGS. 7 and 9) showing a first modified example of the light emitting device for a vehicle lamp and the excitation light control member for the vehicle lamp according to the present invention. FIG. 22 is a vertical cross-sectional view (corresponding to FIGS. 7, 9 and 21) showing a second modified example of the light emitting device and the excitation light control member of the vehicle lamp according to the present invention. FIG. 23 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view (corresponding to FIGS. 7, 9, 21 and 22) showing a modified example 3 of the light emitting device of the vehicle lamp and the excitation light control member of the vehicle lamp according to the present invention.

The following describes two embodiments (examples) of the light-emitting device for a vehicle lamp and the vehicle lamp according to the present invention with reference to the drawings. In this specification, the terms front, rear, top, bottom, left, and right refer to the front, rear, top, bottom, left, and right when the light-emitting device for a vehicle lamp and the vehicle lamp according to the present invention are installed on a vehicle.

In Figures 1 to 4, 6 to 11, 17, 18, and 21 to 23, the symbols "F" and "B" stand for "front," "rear," "U" for "up," "D" for "down," "L" for "left," and "R" for "right." Here, the front refers to the rear surface of the vehicle, and the back refers to the front surface of the vehicle.

The drawings are schematic diagrams showing the light-emitting device of the vehicle lamp and the vehicle lamp according to the present invention, so the drawings show the main components of the light-emitting device of the vehicle lamp and the vehicle lamp according to the present invention, and omit the illustration of components other than the main components. Also, some hatching has been omitted.

(Description of the configuration of the first embodiment)
1 to 16 show a light emitting device for a vehicle lamp and a vehicle lamp according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the configurations of the light emitting device for a vehicle lamp and the vehicle lamp according to the first embodiment will be described.

(Description of Vehicle Lamp 100A)
1 to 4, 6 to 11, 13, and 16, reference numeral 100A denotes a vehicle lamp according to the first embodiment. In this example, the vehicle lamp 100A is a tail lamp constituting a rear combination lamp. Note that the vehicle lamp 100A may be a stop lamp, a tail stop lamp, or a turn signal lamp other than a tail lamp.

The vehicle lamp 100A is attached to both the left and right sides of the rear of the vehicle (not shown). In this example, the vehicle lamp 100A is attached to the right side of the vehicle. Note that the vehicle lamp attached to the left side of the vehicle has a configuration that is the left-right inverted version of the vehicle lamp 100A in this example, which is attached to the right side of the vehicle. For this reason, a description of the vehicle lamp attached to the left side of the vehicle will be omitted.

The light distribution of the tail lamp of the vehicle lamp 100A has a light distribution range (illumination range) at a predetermined angle in the left-right and up-down directions with respect to a reference axis Z (see Figures 6 to 10). The reference axis Z is parallel to the vehicle's traveling direction (the vehicle's front-rear direction, the vehicle's track number).

The vehicle lamp 100A includes a lamp housing 100, a lamp lens 101 as an outer lens, an inner panel (inner housing) 102, a reflector 103, and a light-emitting device 1A of the vehicle lamp according to this embodiment 1 (hereinafter referred to as "light-emitting device 1A").

The lamp housing 100 is made of a light-impermeable material (such as a resin material). In this example, the lamp housing 100 is black. Note that it is sufficient that the inner surface of the lamp housing 100 (the surface facing the lamp chamber 104) is black. The lamp housing 100 may also be a color other than black.

The lamp lens 101 is made of a light-transmitting resin material such as PMMA or PC, or light-transmitting glass. The lamp lens 101 is a plain outer cover, outer lens, or the like. In this example, the lamp lens 101 is made of a red lens. The red lamp lens 101 absorbs the blue excitation light L11, L12, and L13 of the light-emitting device 1A, which will be described later. This allows the vehicle lamp 100A to eliminate variation in the chromaticity of the light irradiated (emitted) from the lamp lens 101 and to comply with regulations for tail lamps.

The lamp lens 101 may be composed of a colorless lens other than a red lens, or a yellow-orange lens. The lamp lens 101 is attached to the lamp housing 100. As a result, the lamp housing 100 and the lamp lens 101 form a lamp chamber 104. The lamp housing 100 and the lamp lens 101 constitute a lamp chamber forming member.

The inner panel 102 is disposed along the lamp lens 101 in the upper and lower portions from the center of the lamp chamber 104. The inner panel 102 is also disposed between the lamp lens 101 and the excitation light sources 1L, 2L, and 3L and excitation light control members 1C, 2C, and 3C of the light emitting device 1A, which will be described later. The inner panel 102 is attached to the lamp housing 100 via an attachment member (not shown).

The inner panel 102 is made of a light-impermeable material (such as a resin material). In this example, the inner panel 102 is black, like the lamp housing 100. Note that it is sufficient that the surfaces of the inner panel 102, i.e., the outer surface (the surface facing the lamp lens 101) and the inner surface (the surface facing the lamp chamber 104), are black. The inner panel 102 may be a color other than black, or at least one of the outer surface or the inner surface may be a color other than black or may be metal-vapor-deposited.

As shown in Figures 5, 8 to 11, the reflector 103 is disposed between the lamp housing 100 and the second light-emitting panel 2P of the second light-emitting unit 2U of the light-emitting device 1A, which will be described later, and the second filter portion 12F of the excitation light filter 1F, which will be described later. The reflector 103 is attached to the lamp housing 100 via an attachment member (not shown), similar to the inner panel 102. The reflector 103 reflects the second-secondary light L22 from the second light-emitting unit 2U to the outside of the lamp chamber 104, i.e., from inside the lamp chamber 104, through the lamp lens 101 and to the outside of the lamp chamber 104.

(Description of Light Emitting Device 1A)
10 and 11, the light emitting device 1A is attached to the lamp housing 100 via a bracket 105 serving as an attachment member. As shown in Fig. 5 to Fig. 11, the light emitting device 1A includes a plurality of light emitting units 1U, 2U, and 3U (three in this example), an excitation light filter 1F, and a plurality of excitation light control members 1C, 2C, and 3C (three in this example, the same number as the light emitting units 1U, 2U, and 3U).

(Explanation of light-emitting units 1U, 2U, 3U, and excitation light control members 1C, 2C, 3C)
In this example, the three light-emitting units 1U, 2U, 3U and the three excitation light control members 1C, 2C, 3C are referred to as, from the left side of the vehicle (the center of the vehicle) to the right side of the vehicle (the outside of the vehicle), the first light-emitting unit 1U, the second light-emitting unit 2U, the third light-emitting unit 3U, the first excitation light control member 1C, the second excitation light control member 2C, and the third excitation light control member 3C.

The first light-emitting unit 1U and the first excitation light control member 1C, the second light-emitting unit 2U and the second excitation light control member 2C, and the third light-emitting unit 3U and the third excitation light control member 3C each constitute three independent assemblies.

The first light-emitting unit 1U and the first excitation light control member 1C are disposed on one side of the excitation light filter 1F (the side facing the lamp lens 101) and are located on the left and lower side of the lamp chamber 104. The second light-emitting unit 2U and the second excitation light control member 2C are disposed on the other side of the excitation light filter 1F (the side facing the lamp housing 100) and are located in the center and upper side of the lamp chamber 104. The third light-emitting unit 3U and the third excitation light control member 3C are disposed on one side of the excitation light filter 1F and are located on the right and lower side of the lamp chamber 104.

(Explanation of light emitting units 1U, 2U, and 3U)
The three light-emitting units 1U, 2U, 3U respectively have excitation light sources 1L, 2L, 3L and light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, 3P. In this example, the three excitation light sources 1L, 2L, 3L and light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, 3P are referred to as the first excitation light source 1L, the second excitation light source 2L, the third excitation light source 3L, the first light-emitting panel 1P, the second light-emitting panel 2P, and the third light-emitting panel 3P, from the left side of the vehicle (the center side of the vehicle) to the right side of the vehicle (the outside of the vehicle).

(Explanation of Excitation Light Control Members 1C, 2C, and 3C)
The three excitation light control members 1C, 2C, 3C respectively control the excitation light L11, L12, L13 (see solid arrows in Figures 5, 7, 9, 11, and 12(B)) from the excitation light sources 1L, 2L, 3L of the three light-emitting units 1U, 2U, 3U, to prevent the excitation light L11 (L12, L13) from the excitation light source 1L (2L, 3L) of one light-emitting unit 1U (2U, 3U) of the three light-emitting units 1U, 2U, 3U from stray excitation light L31 (L32, L33) and entering the light-emitting panels 2P and 3P (1P and 3P, 1P and 2P) of the other light-emitting units 2U and 3U (1U and 3U, 1U and 2U), as shown by the solid arrows in Figures 7, 9, and 11. In this example, each of the three excitation light control members 1C, 2C, and 3C has a reflecting member 40 and a shielding member 41, as shown in FIGS.

The reflecting member 40 is a reflecting surface based on a paraboloid of revolution with the excitation light sources 1L, 2L, 3L or their vicinity as its focal point. The reflecting member 40 has multiple segments divided vertically and horizontally. The multiple segments of the reflecting member 40 reflect the excitation light L11, L12, L13 from the excitation light sources 1L, 2L, 3L in a predetermined direction, in this example, toward the light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, 3P. The excitation light L11, L12, L13 reflected by the reflecting member 40 is controlled to a predetermined light distribution DL and irradiated toward the light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, 3P, as shown in FIG. 15.

As shown in FIG. 15, the predetermined light distribution DL has a substantially rectangular shape and has a light distribution range that includes, at the narrowest, the light-emitting film 510 serving as a light conversion film among the light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P. Furthermore, the predetermined light distribution DL has uniform luminous intensity (illuminance) within the light distribution range. Note that the predetermined light distribution DL may have a difference in luminous intensity (illuminance) within the light distribution range. In other words, the intensity of light within the light-emitting range may change continuously.

The shielding member 41 is made of a light-impermeable material and has a first opening 411 through which the excitation light L11, L12, and L13 from the excitation light sources 1L, 2L, and 3L pass, and a second opening 412 through which the excitation light L11, L12, and L13 reflected by the reflecting member 40 pass. The shielding member 41 mainly blocks the excitation light L11, L12, and L13 from the excitation light sources 1L, 2L, and 3L that travels to a side other than the reflecting member 40 side, i.e., stray excitation light L31, L32, and L33, at the edge of the first opening 411, and also blocks the excitation light L11, L12, and L13 reflected by the reflecting member 40 that travels to a side other than the light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P side, i.e., stray excitation light L31, L32, and L33, at the edge of the second opening 412.

(Explanation of Excitation Light Sources 1L, 2L, and 3L)
6 to 11, each of the three excitation light sources 1L, 2L, and 3L in this example has a substrate 42 and a light-emitting element 43. The substrate 42 is attached to the shielding members 41 of the excitation light control members 1C, 2C, and 3C via a mounting bracket.

The light-emitting element 43 is mounted on the surface of the substrate 42 that faces the reflecting member 40 through the first opening 411. In this example, the light-emitting element 43 is a blue LED, and a blue LED with a dominant wavelength of 450 nm is used. That is, the excitation light L11, L12, and L13 emitted in a Lambertian shape (radial shape) from the light-emitting element 43 is blue light in the range of 300 nm to 500 nm in this example. The light-emitting element 43 is composed of one or more blue LEDs. Note that, as the light-emitting element 43, other elements than a blue LED, such as an LD (semiconductor laser), may also be used. Furthermore, the excitation light L11, L12, and L13 may be violet light or ultraviolet light with a wavelength shorter than blue light.

The excitation light L11 emitted from the first excitation light source 1L is referred to as the first excitation light L11, the excitation light L12 emitted from the second excitation light source 2L is referred to as the second excitation light L12, and the excitation light L13 emitted from the third excitation light source 3L is referred to as the third excitation light L13.

(Explanation of Excitation Light Filter 1F)
The excitation light filter 1F does not transmit the excitation light L11, L12, and L13. That is, the excitation light filter 1F is a transparent plate that does not transmit the excitation light L11, L12, and L13 having a wavelength in the range of at least about 300 nm to about 500 nm among the excitation light L11, L12, and L13, and transmits the secondary light L21, L22, and L23 having a wavelength in the range of at least about 500 nm to about 780 nm among the secondary light L21, L22, and L23 emitted from the light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P (see the dashed arrows in Figs. 5, 7, 9, 11, and 12(B)), with a transmittance of at least about 90%.

The excitation light filter 1F is made of, for example, red glass, orange glass, or transparent glass coated with a blue filter layer. When the excitation light filter 1F does not transmit the excitation light L11, L12, and L13, it means that the excitation light L11, L12, and L13 are absorbed, reflected, or blocked by the excitation light filter 1F.

As shown in Figs. 6 to 9, the excitation light filter 1F is inclined so that its upper portion is located on the lamp lens 101 side and its lower portion is located on the lamp housing 100 side. As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, when viewed from above, the excitation light filter 1F has a first filter portion 11F in the left-right direction, a first connecting portion 14F in the front-rear direction, a second filter portion 12F in the left-right direction, a second connecting portion 15F in the front-rear direction, and a third filter portion 13F in the left-right direction.

The first filter section 11F is located on the left side of the vehicle (towards the centre of the vehicle) and on the rear side of the vehicle (towards the lamp lens 101). The second filter section 12F is located between the first filter section 11F and the third filter section 13F. The third filter section 13F is located on the right side of the vehicle (outside the vehicle) and on the front side of the vehicle (towards the lamp housing 100).

(Explanation of light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P)
The light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P are excited by excitation light L11, L12, and L13 emitted from the excitation light sources 1L, 2L, and 3L, and emit secondary light L21, L22, and L23, and emit light as shown in the diagonal lattice hatched areas in Figures 2 to 4. As shown in Figures 12(A) and 12(B), the light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P have a substrate (support substrate) 500, a light-emitting film (light-emitting layer, OPL) 510, a secondary light emission surface 520, a reflective film (reflective layer) 530, a reflective surface 540, and sealing materials 550 and 560.

The secondary light L21 emitted from the first light-emitting panel 1P is referred to as the 1st-2nd light L21, the secondary light L22 emitted from the second light-emitting panel 2P as the 2nd-2nd light L22, and the secondary light L23 emitted from the third light-emitting panel 3P as the 3rd-2nd light L23. A "-" is inserted between "1st" and "2nd light L21", between "2nd" and "2nd light L22", and between "3rd" and "2nd light L23", respectively, to eliminate the confusion of consecutive numbers, such as "12th light L21", "22nd light L22", and "32nd light L23".

As shown in Figures 5 to 11, the three light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P are formed (produced) on one side, the other side, and one side of the excitation light filter 1F by deposition or a wet method (spin coating, spray, etc.). That is, the first light-emitting panel 1P is formed on one side of the first filter section 11F, the second light-emitting panel 2P is formed on the other side of the second filter section 12F, and the third light-emitting panel 3P is formed on one side of the third filter section 13F. The sealing material 560 of the light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P is bonded to the excitation light filter 1F. As a result, the light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P have a light-emitting film 510 as a light conversion film (light conversion layer) formed on one side and the other side of the excitation light filter 1F. In addition, in Figures 12(A) and (B), the first light-emitting panel 1P and the third light-emitting panel 3P are formed on one side of the excitation light filter 1F (the left side in Figures 12(A) and (B)), and the second light-emitting panel 2P is formed on the other side of the excitation light filter 1F (the right side in Figures 12(A) and (B)). The excitation light filter 1F is a support substrate that supports the light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P.

The substrate 500 is made of a light-transmitting resin material such as PMMA or PC, or light-transmitting glass, which transmits the excitation light L11, L12, and L13 and the secondary light L21, L22, and L23. The substrate 500 may be flexible or rigid. The substrate 500 has a plate shape. In this example, glass is used for the substrate 500.

The luminescent film 510 is formed (deposited) on one surface of the substrate 500. The luminescent film 510 uses an organic material with a dominant wavelength of 650 nm. The material of the luminescent film 510 may be at least one of an organic fluorescent material and an organic phosphorescent material. The luminescent film 510 is sandwiched on both sides between one or more semiconductor films (semiconductor layers). The combination of semiconductor films is arbitrary.

The luminescent film 510 is excited by the excitation light L11, L12, and L13, and emits secondary light L21, L22, and L23 in all directions (see the circles in FIG. 12(B)). As a result, in this example, the luminescent film 510 emits light from the entire surface, as shown in the diagonal lattice hatched areas in FIGS. 2 to 4. Here, the intensity of the secondary light L2 can be adjusted by the film thickness of the luminescent film 510. That is, by making the film thickness of the luminescent film 510 thicker, the secondary light L2 can be adjusted to be stronger, and conversely, by making the film thickness of the luminescent film 510 thinner, the secondary light L2 can be adjusted to be weaker.

The light-emitting film 510 has any design, in this example a shape as shown in the diagonal grid hatched areas in Figures 2 to 4, and forms a light-emitting surface of this shape.

In this example, the secondary light L21, L22, and L23 are red light. The dominant wavelength of the red light is 650 nm, which is longer than 500 nm. Thus, the dominant wavelength of the secondary light L21, L22, and L23 is longer than 500 nm and longer than the dominant wavelength of 450 nm of the excitation light L11, L12, and L13. Note that the secondary light L21, L22, and L23 in this example is red light for a tail lamp. Red light is used for stop lamps and tail stop lamps in addition to tail lamps. Note that the secondary light L2 may be light of a color other than red light, for example, yellow-orange light. When the secondary light L2 is yellow-orange light, a turn signal lamp is used as the vehicle lamp.

The light-emitting film 510 has a secondary light emission surface 520. The secondary light emission surface 520 is provided on the surface of the light-emitting film 510 facing the substrate 500. The secondary light emission surface 520 emits secondary light L21, L22, and L23.

As a result, the vehicle lamp 100A can obtain surface emission by the secondary light L21, L22, and L23 emitted from the secondary light emission surface 520. The total light emission area of the secondary light emission surface 520 is 10 ^mm2 or more. This satisfies vehicle regulations regarding brightness.

The reflective film 530 is formed (deposited) on one surface of the substrate 500 so as to cover the luminescent film 510. The reflective film 530 is made of a reflective material with a reflectance of 20% or more in the wavelength range of visible light, such as a metallic material such as aluminum, silver, other metals (tungsten), or alloys of these. As a result, even if variations in reflectance occur due to manufacturing tolerances, the reflective film 530 can absorb these variations.

The reflective film 530 has a reflective surface 540. The reflective surface 540 is provided on the surface of the reflective film 530 facing the substrate 500 and the light-emitting film 510. The reflective surface 540 reflects the secondary light L21, L22, and L23 emitted from the light-emitting film 510 toward the light-emitting film 510.

The sealing materials 550 and 560 seal the light-emitting film 510 and the reflective film 530 together with the substrate 500. The sealing materials 550 and 560 are composed of a silicone resin, a SiN film, or the like 550, and an aluminum wheel 560. Note that the sealing materials 550 and 560 are not limited to this example.

(Explanation of the luminescent design of the luminescent film 510 of the luminescent panels 1P, 2P, and 3P)
The light-emitting design of the light-emitting film 510 of the light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P can be changed as desired by changing the design (pattern, shape, graphics, outline, etc.) of the light-emitting film 510 as desired.

For example, the luminescent film 510 can form different luminescent patterns in the same shape, as shown in Figures 2 to 4 and Figures 14 (A), (B), (C), and (D). Figure 14 (A) is a full-surface luminescent pattern. Figure 14 (B) is a basket weave pattern. Figure 14 (C) is an hemp leaf pattern. Figure 14 (D) is a horizontal stripe pattern (a horizontal stripe pattern in which the vertical width of the horizontal stripes is large in the center and gradually decreases toward the top and bottom). Note that Figure 14 is illustrated in grayscale, and the areas shown in dark gray are the luminescent areas.

The luminescent film 510 of the luminescent panels 1P, 2P, and 3P can form different luminescent designs (luminous shapes and luminescent patterns) within a specified light distribution DL, as shown in Figs. 15(A), (B), (C), and (D). Figs. 15(A) and (B) show the same shape, with Fig. 15(A) being a full-surface luminescent pattern and Fig. 15(B) being a luminescent pattern of a horizontally elongated group of rods. Fig. 15(C) is a horizontally elongated luminescent design with three lines on the top and bottom. Fig. 15(D) is a horizontally elongated V-shaped luminescent design with three lines on the left and right. In Fig. 15, the specified light distribution DL is represented by the blue color of excitation light L11, L12, and L13, and the parts with diagonal lattice hatching (the black parts in Fig. 15(B)) are represented by the red color of secondary light L21, L22, and L23.

Note that the above-mentioned Figures 14 and 15 are only examples of some of the light-emitting designs of the light-emitting film 510 of the light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P, and there are an infinite number of light-emitting designs of the light-emitting film 510 of the light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P.

(Description of the Function of the First Embodiment)
The light emitting device 1A and the vehicle lamp 100A according to the first embodiment are configured as described above, and their operation will be described below.

(Description of the non-light-emitting states of light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P)
First, as shown in Figures 1, 5(A), 6, 8, and 10, when the light-emitting elements 43 of the excitation light sources 1L, 2L, and 3L of the light-emitting units 1U, 2U, and 3U are turned off, the light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P are in a non-light-emitting state. Therefore, when looking into the lamp chamber 104 from the lamp lens 101, as shown in Figure 1, the light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P in a non-light-emitting state are not noticeable, and only the black color of the lamp housing 100 is visible. In Figure 1, the black color of the lamp housing 100 is shown without color.

Here, in this example, the light-emitting film 510 of the light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P of the light-emitting device 1A uses an organic material. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13, external light (external light) L41 passes through the lamp lens 101 and enters the lamp chamber 104 as incident external light L42. Then, this incident external light L42 is reflected as reflected external light L43 by the reflecting surfaces 540 of the first light-emitting panel 1P and the third light-emitting panel 3P facing the lamp lens 101. This reflected external light L43 is reflected as re-reflected external light L44 by the reflecting members 40 of the first excitation light control member 1C and the third excitation light control member 3C. This re-reflected external light L44 is again reflected as re-reflected external light L45 by the reflecting members 40 of the first excitation light control member 1C and the third excitation light control member 3C. This re-reflected external light L45 passes through the lamp lens 101 from within the lamp chamber 104 and is emitted to the outside of the lamp chamber 104 as emitted external light L46. This emitted external light L46 enters the human eye E. This makes it appear to the human eye that there is nothing inside the lamp chamber 104. In other words, the first light-emitting panel 1P and the third light-emitting panel 3P are invisible to the human eye E.

The second light-emitting panel 2P is formed on the other side of the excitation light filter 1F (the side facing the lamp housing 100), so it is not visible to the human eye E due to this excitation light filter 1F.

In addition, because the lamp lens 101 is red, it can absorb the blue light of the external light (external light) L41. This allows the blue light of the external light L41 to pass through the lamp lens 101 and excite the luminescent films 510 of the luminescent panels 1P, 2P, and 3P in the lamp chamber 104, causing them to emit secondary light L21, L22, and L23, preventing a false lighting state in which the red light is on.

(Explanation of the Light Emitting State of the First Light Emitting Panel 1P)
2, 5(B), and 7, the light-emitting element 43 of the first excitation light source 1L of the first light-emitting unit 1U is turned on. Then, the first excitation light L11 (blue light) is emitted from the light-emitting element 43. The first excitation light L11 passes through the first opening 411 of the shielding member 41 of the first excitation light control member 1C, is reflected by the reflecting member 40 of the first excitation light control member 1C, passes through the second opening 412 of the shielding member 41 of the first excitation light control member 1C, is controlled to a predetermined light distribution DL, and enters the first light-emitting panel 1P of the first light-emitting unit 1U.

At this time, the first excitation light control member 1C uses the reflecting member 40 to irradiate the first excitation light L11 from the first excitation light source 1L to the first light-emitting panel 1P of the first light-emitting unit 1U with a predetermined light distribution DL. At the same time, the first excitation light control member 1C uses the shielding member 41 to shield a portion of the stray excitation light L31 of the first excitation light L11 from the first excitation light source 1L. This allows the first excitation light control member 1C to prevent the stray excitation light L31 from straying and entering the second light-emitting panel 2P of the second light-emitting unit 2U and the third light-emitting panel 3P of the third light-emitting unit 3U. In other words, it is possible to prevent a state in which the second light-emitting panel 2P and the third light-emitting panel 3P are erroneously illuminated.

The excitation light filter 1F also absorbs the first excitation light L11 from the first excitation light source 1L that is not irradiated to the first light-emitting panel 1P of the first light-emitting unit 1U. This makes it possible for the excitation light filter 1F to prevent a situation in which the first excitation light L11 that is not irradiated to the first light-emitting panel 1P and is not used to emit light from the first light-emitting panel 1P is incident on the second light-emitting panel 2P of the second light-emitting unit 2U and the third light-emitting panel 3P of the third light-emitting unit 3U, causing the second light-emitting panel 2P and the third light-emitting panel 3P to erroneously emit light.

The light-emitting film 510 of the first light-emitting panel 1P of the first light-emitting unit 1U emits primary-secondary light L21 (red light) in all directions when the first excitation light L11, which is controlled to a predetermined light distribution DL, is incident on the light-emitting film 510.

A portion of the primary-secondary light L21 passes through the luminescent film 510 and is reflected by the reflecting surface 540 toward the luminescent film 510. The reflected primary-secondary light L21 passes through the luminescent film 510 again and is emitted from the secondary light emission surface 520 toward the lamp lens 101. The remainder of the primary-secondary light L21 is not reflected by the reflecting surface 540 and is emitted from the secondary light emission surface 520 toward the lamp lens 101.

The first excitation light L11 that passes through the luminescent film 510 and reaches the reflecting surface 540 is reflected by the reflecting surface 540 toward the luminescent film 510, and excites the first-secondary light L21 in the luminescent film 510. The first-secondary light L21 excited by the first excitation light L11 is emitted from the luminescent film 510 and is emitted from the secondary light emission surface 520 toward the lamp lens 101.

The primary-secondary light L21 emitted from the secondary light emission surface 520 toward the lamp lens 101 passes through the substrate 500, passes through the lamp chamber 104, and passes through the lamp lens 101 to be irradiated to the outside of the vehicle lamp 100A in a predetermined tail lamp light distribution pattern. At this time, the luminous film 510 emits light from its surface, forming a luminous surface as shown in FIG. 2 (diagonal grid hatching in FIG. 2).

(Explanation of Light Emitting State of First Light Emitting Panel 1P and Second Light Emitting Panel 2P)
Next, as shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 5(C) and Fig. 9, while the light-emitting element 43 of the first excitation light source 1L of the first light-emitting unit 1U is kept on, the light-emitting element 43 of the second excitation light source 2L of the second light-emitting unit 2U is turned on. Then, the light-emitting element 43 emits the second excitation light L12 (blue light). The second excitation light L12 passes through the first opening 411 of the shielding member 41 of the second excitation light control member 2C, is reflected by the reflecting member 40 of the second excitation light control member 2C, passes through the second opening 412 of the shielding member 41 of the second excitation light control member 2C, is controlled to a predetermined light distribution DL, and enters the second light-emitting panel 2P of the second light-emitting unit 2U.

At this time, the second excitation light control member 2C, like the action of the first excitation light control member 1C, irradiates the second excitation light L12 from the second excitation light source 2L to the second light-emitting panel 2P of the second light-emitting unit 2U with a predetermined light distribution DL by the reflecting member 40. At the same time, the second excitation light control member 2C blocks a part of the stray excitation light L32 of the second excitation light L12 from the second excitation light source 2L by the shielding member 41. This allows the second excitation light control member 2C to prevent a state in which the stray excitation light L32 strays into and enters the first light-emitting panel 1P of the first light-emitting unit 1U and the third light-emitting panel 3P of the third light-emitting unit 3U. In other words, it is possible to prevent a state in which the first light-emitting panel 1P and the third light-emitting panel 3P are erroneously emitted. In this example, since the first light-emitting panel 1P is in an emitting state, there is no problem with the first light-emitting panel 1P, but it is effective for the third light-emitting panel 3P, or when only the second light-emitting panel 2P is illuminated.

The excitation light filter 1F also absorbs the second excitation light L12 from the second excitation light source 2L that is not irradiated to the second light-emitting panel 2P of the second light-emitting unit 2U. This allows the excitation light filter 1F to prevent the second excitation light L12 that is not irradiated to the second light-emitting panel 2P and is not used to emit light from the second light-emitting panel 2P from being incident on the first light-emitting panel 1P of the first light-emitting unit 1U and the third light-emitting panel 3P of the third light-emitting unit 3U, causing the first light-emitting panel 1P and the third light-emitting panel 3P to emit light erroneously. In this example, since the first light-emitting panel 1P is in an emitting state, there is no problem with the first light-emitting panel 1P, but it is effective for the third light-emitting panel 3P and when only the second light-emitting panel 2P is to be emitted.

The light-emitting film 510 of the second light-emitting panel 2P of the second light-emitting unit 2U emits second-secondary light L22 (red light) in all directions due to the incidence of the second excitation light L12 controlled to a predetermined light distribution DL. This second-secondary light L22 is emitted toward the lamp housing 100 in the opposite direction to the emission direction of the first-secondary light L21, and is reflected by the reflector 103 toward the lamp lens 101.

As a result, the 2-2nd light L22 passes through the lamp lens 101 and is irradiated to the outside of the vehicle lamp 100A in a predetermined tail lamp light distribution pattern. At this time, the luminous film 510 emits light from its surface, forming a luminous surface as shown in FIG. 3 (diagonal lattice hatching in FIG. 3).

(Explanation of the light emitting states of light emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P)
4, 5(D), and 11, while the light-emitting element 43 of the first excitation light source 1L of the first light-emitting unit 1U and the light-emitting element 43 of the second excitation light source 2L of the second light-emitting unit 2U are kept on, the light-emitting element 43 of the third excitation light source 3L of the third light-emitting unit 3U is turned on. Then, the light-emitting element 43 emits third excitation light L13 (blue light). The third excitation light L13 passes through a first opening (not shown) of the shielding member 41 of the third excitation light control member 3C, is reflected by the reflecting member 40 of the second excitation light control member 2C, passes through a second opening (not shown) of the shielding member 41 of the third excitation light control member 3C, is controlled to a predetermined light distribution DL, and enters the third light-emitting panel 3P of the third light-emitting unit 3U.

At this time, the third excitation light control member 3C, like the action of the first excitation light control member 1C and the second excitation light control member 2C, irradiates the third excitation light L13 from the third excitation light source 3L to the third light-emitting panel 3P of the third light-emitting unit 3U with a predetermined light distribution DL by the reflecting member 40. At the same time, the third excitation light control member 3C blocks a part of the stray excitation light L33 of the third excitation light L13 from the third excitation light source 3L by the shielding member 41. This allows the third excitation light control member 3C to prevent a state in which the stray excitation light L33 strays and enters the first light-emitting panel 1P of the first light-emitting unit 1U and the second light-emitting panel 2P of the second light-emitting unit 2U. In other words, it is possible to prevent a state in which the first light-emitting panel 1P and the second light-emitting panel 2P are erroneously emitted. In this example, the first light-emitting panel 1P and the second light-emitting panel 2P are in an emitting state, so there is no particular problem, but it is effective when only the third light-emitting panel 3P is emitting light.

The excitation light filter 1F also absorbs the third excitation light L13 from the third excitation light source 3L that is not irradiated to the third light-emitting panel 3P of the third light-emitting unit 3U. This allows the excitation light filter 1F to prevent the third excitation light L13 that is not irradiated to the third light-emitting panel 3P and is not used to emit light from the third light-emitting panel 3P from entering the first light-emitting panel 1P of the first light-emitting unit 1U and the second light-emitting panel 2P of the second light-emitting unit 2U, causing the first light-emitting panel 1P and the second light-emitting panel 2P to emit light erroneously. In this example, since the first light-emitting panel 1P and the second light-emitting panel 2P are in an emitting state, there is no particular problem, but this is effective when only the third light-emitting panel 3P is to be emitted.

The luminescent film 510 of the third light-emitting panel 3P of the third light-emitting unit 3U emits tertiary-secondary light L23 (red light) in all directions due to the incidence of the third excitation light L13 controlled to a predetermined light distribution DL. This tertiary-secondary light L23 is emitted toward the lamp lens 101.

As a result, the tertiary-secondary light L23 passes through the lamp lens 101 and is irradiated to the outside of the vehicle lamp 100A in a predetermined tail lamp light distribution pattern. At this time, the light-emitting film 510 emits light from its surface, forming a light-emitting surface as shown in FIG. 4 (diagonal lattice hatching in FIG. 4).

As a result, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, the vehicular lamp 100A allows the light-emitting surface of the light-emitting film 510 (diagonal grid hatching in Figures 2 to 4) to be seen through the lamp lens 101 in the central upper and lower parts of the lamp chamber 104. Note that in the upper and lower parts of the lamp chamber 104, the black color (or a color other than black) of the inner panel 102 is visible.

(Explanation of sequential lighting)
In addition, the vehicle lamp 100A can obtain sequential illumination from the non-light-emitting state of the light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P in FIG. 1, through the light-emitting state of the first light-emitting panel 1P in FIG. 2, through the light-emitting state of the first light-emitting panel 1P and the second light-emitting panel 2P in FIG. 3, through the light-emitting state of the light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P in FIG. 4, to the non-light-emitting state of the light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P in FIG. 1.

(Explanation of segment lighting)
16, the vehicle lamp 100A has one first light-emitting panel 1P in an emitting state (the state shown in FIG. 16(A)), one second light-emitting panel 2P in an emitting state (the state shown in FIG. 16(B)), one third light-emitting panel 3P in an emitting state (the state shown in FIG. 16(C)), two first light-emitting panels 1P and a second light-emitting panel 2P in an emitting state (the state shown in FIG. 16(D)), and two first light-emitting panels 1P and Segment light can be obtained by setting the third light-emitting panel 3P to an emitting state (the state shown in FIG. 16(E)), the two second light-emitting panels 2P and the third light-emitting panel 3P to an emitting state (the state shown in FIG. 16(F)), the three first light-emitting panels 1P, the second light-emitting panel 2P and the third light-emitting panel 3P to an emitting state (the state shown in FIG. 16(G)), and the three light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, 3P to a non-emitting state (the state shown in FIG. 16(H)).

(Explanation of Effects of First Embodiment)
The light emitting device 1A and the vehicle lamp 100A according to the first embodiment have the above-mentioned configuration and function, and the effects thereof will be described below.

The light emitting device 1A and vehicle lamp 100A according to this embodiment 1 have three light emitting units 1U, 2U, 3U, each of which has excitation light sources 1L, 2L, 3L that emit excitation light L11, L12, L13, and light emitting panels 1P, 2P, 3P that are excited by the excitation light L11, L12, L13 and emit secondary light L21, L22, L23, and emit light. The first light emitting unit 1U is disposed on one side of the excitation light filter 1F and on the center side of the vehicle, the second light emitting unit 2U is disposed on the other side of the excitation light filter 1F, and the third light emitting unit 3U is disposed on one side of the excitation light filter 1F and on the outside of the vehicle, and the excitation light filter 1F does not transmit the excitation light L11, L12, L13.

As a result, when the first excitation light source 1L is turned on, the light emitting device 1A and the vehicle lamp 100A according to the first embodiment absorb the first excitation light L11 from the first excitation light source 1L that is not irradiated to the first light emitting panel 1P of the first light emitting unit 1U by the excitation light filter 1F. As a result, the light emitting device 1A and the vehicle lamp 100A according to the first embodiment can prevent a state in which the first excitation light L11 that is not irradiated to the first light emitting panel 1P and is not used for the emission of the first light emitting panel 1P is incident on the second light emitting panel 2P of the second light emitting unit 2U and the third light emitting panel 3P of the third light emitting unit 3U, causing the second light emitting panel 2P and the third light emitting panel 3P to emit light erroneously.

In addition, in the light emitting device 1A and vehicle lamp 100A of this embodiment 1, when the second excitation light source 2L or the third excitation light source 3L is turned on, the excitation light filter 1F similarly absorbs the second excitation light L12 from the second excitation light source 2L that is not irradiated onto the second light emitting panel 2P of the second light emitting unit 2U, or the third excitation light L13 from the third excitation light source 3L that is not irradiated onto the third light emitting panel 3P of the third light emitting unit 3U. As a result, the light emitting device 1A and vehicle lamp 100A according to this embodiment 1 can prevent a state in which the second excitation light L12 that is not irradiated to the second light emitting panel 2P and not used to emit light from the second light emitting panel 2P is incident on the first light emitting panel 1P of the first light emitting unit 1U and the third light emitting panel 3P of the third light emitting unit 3U, causing the first light emitting panel 1P and the third light emitting panel 3P to emit light erroneously, or a state in which the third excitation light L13 that is not irradiated to the third light emitting panel 3P and not used to emit light from the third light emitting panel 3P is incident on the first light emitting panel 1P of the first light emitting unit 1U and the second light emitting panel 2P of the second light emitting unit 2U, causing the first light emitting panel 1P and the second light emitting panel 2P to emit light erroneously.

As a result, the light emitting device 1A and vehicle lamp 100A according to this embodiment 1 can achieve sequential light emission and segment light emission as explained above, and can also achieve multiple light emitting functions, in this example, three light emitting functions, such as a tail lamp function and a stop lamp function, lamp functions with different patterns, and lamp functions with different light emitting surfaces and brightness of the emitted light. In other words, the light emitting device 1A and vehicle lamp 100A according to this embodiment 1 can achieve multiple light emitting functions.

In the light-emitting device 1A and vehicle lamp 100A according to this embodiment 1, the light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P of the three light-emitting units 1U, 2U, and 3U are each formed on one or the other surface of the excitation light filter 1F, and have a light-emitting film 510 as a light conversion film that is excited by excitation light L11, L12, and L13 to emit secondary light L21, L22, and L23, and this light-emitting film 510 is formed in an arbitrary shape.

As a result, the light emitting device 1A and vehicle lamp 100A according to this embodiment 1 can obtain various sequential lighting, segment lighting, and three lighting functions in addition to the sequential lighting, segment lighting, and three lighting functions described above. For example, if the light emitting film 510 is formed into characters such as "STOP" or "Stopping", communication lighting can be obtained in a tail lamp or stop lamp.

The light-emitting device 1A and vehicle lamp 100A according to this embodiment 1 are equipped with excitation light control members 1C, 2C, and 3C that respectively control the excitation light L11, L12, and L13 from the excitation light sources 1L, 2L, and 3L of the three light-emitting units 1U, 2U, and 3U, and prevent the excitation light L11 (L12, L13) from the excitation light source 1L (2L, 3L) of one light-emitting unit 1U (2U, 3U) from stray excitation light L31 (L32, L33) from entering the light-emitting panels 2P and 3P (1P and 3P, 1P and 2P) of the other light-emitting units 2U and 3U (1U and 3U, 1U and 2U).

As a result, the light emitting device 1A and vehicle lamp 100A according to this embodiment 1 can prevent stray excitation light L31 (L32, L33) from one light emitting unit 1U (2U, 3U) from strayly entering the light emitting panels 2P and 3P (1P and 3P, 1P and 2P) of other light emitting units 2U and 3U (1U and 3U, 1U and 2U) by using the excitation light control members 1C, 2C, and 3C, thereby achieving multiple light emitting functions that are controlled with high precision.

In the light-emitting device 1A and vehicle lamp 100A according to this embodiment 1, the excitation light control members 1C, 2C, and 3C have a reflecting member 40 that irradiates the excitation light L11, L12, and L13 from the excitation light sources 1L, 2L, and 3L to the light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P of the light-emitting units 1U, 2U, and 3U with a predetermined light distribution DL, and a shielding member 41 that shields some stray excitation light L31, L32, and L33 of the excitation light L11, L12, and L13 from the excitation light sources 1L, 2L, and 3L.

As a result, the light-emitting device 1A and vehicle lamp 100A according to this embodiment 1 can irradiate the excitation light L11, L12, and L13 from the excitation light sources 1L, 2L, and 3L to the light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P of the light-emitting units 1U, 2U, and 3U with a predetermined light distribution DL by the reflecting member 40, and at the same time, can block stray excitation light L31, L32, and L33 that is a part of the excitation light L11, L12, and L13 from the excitation light sources 1L, 2L, and 3L by the shielding member 41.

As a result, the light-emitting device 1A and vehicle lamp 100A according to this embodiment 1 can prevent stray excitation light L31 (L32, L33) from one light-emitting unit 1U (2U, 3U) from strayly entering the light-emitting panels 2P and 3P (1P and 3P, 1P and 2P) of other light-emitting units 2U and 3U (1U and 3U, 1U and 2U), thereby achieving multiple light-emitting functions that are controlled with high precision.

The excitation light filter 1F of the light emitting device 1A and vehicle lamp 100A according to this embodiment 1 is a transparent plate that does not transmit the excitation light L11, L12, L13 having a wavelength in the range of at least about 300 nm to about 500 nm, but transmits the secondary light L21, L22, L23 having a wavelength in the range of at least about 500 nm to about 780 nm, among the secondary light L21, L22, L23 emitted by the light emitting panels 1P, 2P, 3P, with a transmittance of at least about 90%.

As a result, the light emitting device 1A and vehicle lamp 100A according to this embodiment 1 can use blue light as the excitation light L11, L12, and L13 by the excitation light filter 1F, and can obtain red light or yellow-orange light as the secondary light L21, L22, and L23. Moreover, the light emitting device 1A and vehicle lamp 100A according to this embodiment 1 can minimize the loss of the red light or yellow-orange secondary light L21, L22, and L23 by the excitation light filter 1F, and can therefore use the red light or yellow-orange secondary light L21, L22, and L23 with high efficiency.

The excitation light filter 1F of the light-emitting device 1A and vehicle lamp 100A according to this embodiment 1 has three stages in the left-right direction, a first filter section 11F, a second filter section 12F, and a third filter section 13F, and two stages in the front-rear direction, a first connecting section 14F, and a second connecting section 15F. As a result, the excitation light filter 1F of the light-emitting device 1A and vehicle lamp 100A according to this embodiment 1 can prevent a state in which stray excitation light L31 (L32, L33) of one light-emitting unit 1U (2U, 3U) strays and enters the light-emitting panels 2P and 3P (1P and 3P, 1P and 2P) of other light-emitting units 2U and 3U (1U and 3U, 1U and 2U).

In the vehicle lamp 100A according to the first embodiment, a reflector 103 is disposed within the lamp chamber 104 between the lamp housing 100 and the second light-emitting panel 2P of the second light-emitting unit 2U of the light-emitting device 1A and the second filter portion 12F of the excitation light filter 1F. This reflector 103 reflects the second-secondary light L22 from the second light-emitting unit 2U to the outside of the lamp chamber 104, i.e., from within the lamp chamber 104, through the lamp lens 101 and to the outside of the lamp chamber 104.

As a result, in the vehicle lamp 100A according to the first embodiment, the reflector 103 reflects the 2-2nd light L22 emitted toward the lamp housing 100 toward the lamp lens 101, and the 2-2nd light L22 can be transmitted through the lamp lens 101 and irradiated from inside the lamp chamber 104 to the outside, thereby making effective use of the 2-2nd light L22.

The vehicle lamp 100A according to this embodiment 1 has a lamp lens 101 as an outer lens that does not transmit the excitation light L11, L12, and L13 from the light-emitting device 1A, but transmits the secondary light L21, L22, and L23 from the light-emitting device 1A, as a lamp chamber forming member.

As a result, in the vehicle lamp 100A according to the first embodiment, the lamp lens 101 does not transmit the excitation light L11, L12, and L13, but transmits the secondary light L21, L22, and L23, so there is no variation in chromaticity in the lamp lens 101 and the regulations for vehicle lamps can be met.

The vehicle lamp 100A according to this embodiment 1 has a lamp lens 101 as an outer lens that does not transmit the excitation light L11, L12, and L13 from the light-emitting device 1A and transmits the secondary light L21, L22, and L23 from the light-emitting device 1A, and is red or yellow-orange in color, the excitation light L11, L12, and L13 are blue light, and the secondary light L21, L22, and L23 are red light or yellow-orange light.

As a result, in the vehicle lamp 100A according to the first embodiment, the red or yellow-orange lamp lens 101 does not transmit the excitation light L11, L12, and L13, which is blue light, and transmits the secondary light L21, L22, and L23, which is red light or yellow-orange light, so there is no variation in chromaticity in the lamp lens 101 and the regulations for vehicle lamps (stop lamps, tail lamps, turn signal lamps) can be met.

(Description of the configuration, operation, and effects of the second embodiment)
17 to 20 show a light emitting device for a vehicle lamp and a vehicle lamp according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The configurations, functions, and effects of a light emitting device 1B for a vehicle lamp and a vehicle lamp 100B according to the second embodiment will be described below. In the drawings, the same reference numerals as those in Figs. 1 to 16 indicate the same parts.

The light emitting device 1A and vehicle lamp 100A of the vehicle lamp according to the first embodiment use light emitting panels 1P, 2P, and 3P made of organic light emitting material. In contrast, the light emitting device 1B and vehicle lamp 100B of the vehicle lamp according to the second embodiment use light emitting panels 10P, 20P, and 30P made of inorganic light emitting material.

The luminescent film (luminescent layer) of the inorganic luminescent panels 10P, 20P, and 30P is made by heat treating a light-transmitting binder material 570 containing inorganic phosphor particles 580 at 150°C or 500°C, as shown in FIG. 19. The binder material 570 may be, for example, a transparent resin such as silicone or transparent SiO2. The inorganic phosphor particles 580 may be, for example, a powdered red phosphor such as CASN:Eu.

The inorganic light-emitting panels 10P, 20P, and 30P are formed by applying the binder material 570 of the light-emitting film (light-emitting layer) and the inorganic phosphor particles 580 to the substrate 500 using a squeegee through a design mask, or by using a doctor blade.

The luminescent film (binder material 570 and inorganic phosphor granules 580) of the luminescent panels 10P, 20P, and 30P of the light-emitting device 1B of the second embodiment uses an inorganic luminescent material. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 20, external light (external light) L41 passes through the lamp lens 101 and enters the lamp chamber 104 as incident external light L42. Then, this incident external light L42 is diffusely reflected as diffusely reflected light L47 by the inorganic phosphor granules 580 of the luminescent film of the first luminescent panel 10P and the third luminescent panel 30P facing the lamp lens 101. This diffusely reflected light L47 passes through the lamp lens 101 from within the lamp chamber 104 and is emitted to the outside of the lamp chamber 104 as emitted external light L48. This emitted external light L48 enters the human eye E. As a result, as shown by the dashed lines in Figures 17 and 18, a person can see the first light-emitting panel 10P and the third light-emitting panel 30P within the lamp chamber 104. The second light-emitting panel 20P can also be seen through the excitation light filter 1F.

The light emitting device 1B and the vehicle lamp 100B of the second embodiment can achieve the same effects as the light emitting device 1A and the vehicle lamp 100A of the first embodiment.

(Description of Modification 1 of Excitation Light Control Member)
FIG. 21 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a first modified example of the excitation light control member 1C (2C, 3C) of the light emitting device 1A, 1B and the vehicle lamp 100A, 100B according to the present invention.

The excitation light control member 1C (2C, 3C) has a reflecting member 40 and a shielding member 41. In contrast, the excitation light control member 1C (2C, 3C) of this modified example 1 has a lens member 45 having an incident surface 450 and an exit surface 451, and a shielding member 410 having an opening 413. The lens member 45 allows the excitation light L11 (L12, L13) to enter from the incident surface 450 and exit from the exit surface 451, and refracts the excitation light L11 (L12, L13) at a predetermined angle at at least one surface (in this example, the incident surface 450) of the incident surface 450 and the exit surface 451. The opening 413 of the shielding member 410 irradiates the excitation light L11 (L12, L13) emitted from the emission surface 451 of the lens member 45 to the light-emitting panels 1P, 10P (2P, 20P, 3P, 30P) with a predetermined light distribution DL.

The excitation light control member 1C (2C, 3C) of this modified example 1 can achieve the same effect as the excitation light control member 1C (2C, 3C) described above.

(Description of Modification 2 of Excitation Light Control Member)
FIG. 22 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a second modified example of the excitation light control member 1C (2C, 3C) of the light emitting device 1A, 1B and the vehicle lamp 100A, 100B according to the present invention.

The excitation light control member 1C (2C, 3C) has a reflecting member 40 and a shielding member 41, and the excitation light control member 1C (2C, 3C) of the modified example 1 has a lens member 45 and a shielding member 410. In contrast, the excitation light control member 1C (2C, 3C) of the modified example 2 has a reflecting member 40, a shielding member 410, and a lens member 45. The reflecting member 40 reflects the excitation light L11 (L12, L13) to the incident surface 450 side of the lens member 45.

The excitation light control member 1C (2C, 3C) of this modified example 2 can achieve the same effects as the excitation light control member 1C (2C, 3C) and the excitation light control member 1C (2C, 3C) of modified example 1.

(Description of Modification 3 of Excitation Light Control Member)
FIG. 23 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a third modified example of the excitation light control member 1C (2C, 3C) of the light emitting device 1A, 1B and the vehicle lamp 100A, 100B according to the present invention.

The excitation light control member 1C (2C, 3C) has a reflecting member 40 and a shielding member 41, the excitation light control member 1C (2C, 3C) of the modified example 1 has a lens member 45 and a shielding member 410, and the excitation light control member 1C (2C, 3C) of the modified example 2 has a reflecting member 40, a shielding member 410, and a lens member 45. In contrast, the excitation light control member 1C (2C, 3C) of the modified example 3 has a light guide member 46 having an incident surface 460 and an exit surface 461, and a shielding member 410. The light guide member 46 guides the excitation light L11 (L12, L13) from the incident surface 460 to the exit surface 461 and emits it from the exit surface 461 to the opening 413 of the shielding member 410. The opening 413 of the shielding member 410 irradiates the excitation light L11 (L12, L13) emitted from the emission surface 461 of the light-guiding member 46 to the light-emitting panels 1P, 10P (2P, 20P, 3P, 30P) with a predetermined light distribution DL.

The excitation light control member 1C (2C, 3C) of this modified example 3 can achieve the same effects as the excitation light control member 1C (2C, 3C), the excitation light control member 1C (2C, 3C) of modified example 1, and the excitation light control member 1C (2C, 3C) of modified example 2.

(Explanation of Examples Other than the First and Second Embodiments and the First, Second, and Third Modifications)
In the above-mentioned first and second embodiments and first, second and third modifications, the vehicle lamps 100A and 100B are tail lamps constituting a rear combination lamp, and the secondary light L2 is red light. However, in the present invention, the vehicle lamps 100A and 100B may be stop lamps, tail/stop lamps or turn signal lamps other than tail lamps. In the case of a stop lamp or tail/stop lamp, the secondary light L2 is red light, and in the case of a turn signal lamp, the secondary light L2 is yellow-orange light.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiments 1 and 2 and variations 1, 2 and 3, the excitation light control members 1C, 2C and 3C include those having a reflecting member 40 and a shielding member 41, those having a lens member 45 and a shielding member 410, those having a reflecting member 40, a shielding member 410 and a lens member 45, and those having a light-guiding member 46 and a shielding member 410. However, in this invention, the reflecting member 40, the shielding members 41 and 410, the lens member 45 and the light-guiding member 46 may be combined in any manner or used alone.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiments 1 and 2 and variants 1, 2 and 3, three light-emitting panels 1P, 2P and 3P of three light-emitting units 1U, 2U and 3U are used. However, in this invention, two, four or more light-emitting panels of a light-emitting unit may be used. Moreover, by using a large number of panels, detailed and diverse sequential lighting, segment lighting, communication lighting, etc. can be obtained.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiments 1 and 2 and modified examples 1, 2, and 3, a reflector 103 is arranged in the lamp chamber 104 between the lamp housing 100 and the second light-emitting panel 2P of the second light-emitting unit 2U of the light-emitting device 1A and the second filter portion 12F of the excitation light filter 1F, and this reflector 103 reflects the second-secondary light L22 from the second light-emitting unit 2U to the outside of the lamp chamber 104, that is, from inside the lamp chamber 104 through the lamp lens 101 to the outside of the lamp chamber 104. However, in this invention, a reflector that reflects the secondary light L21, L22, and L23 from the light-emitting devices 1A and 1B to the light-emitting panels 1P, 2P, 3P, 10P, 20P, and 30P of the light-emitting devices 1A and 1B may be arranged in the lamp chamber 104. In addition, both this reflector and the above-mentioned reflector 103 may be arranged.

Note that this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments 1 to 5.

Reference Signs List 1A, 1B Light emitting device 1U, 2U, 3U Light emitting unit 1U First light emitting unit 2U Second light emitting unit 3U Third light emitting unit 1F Excitation light filter 11F First filter section 12F Second filter section 13F Third filter section 14F First connecting section 15F Second connecting section 1C, 2C, 3C Excitation light control member 1C First excitation light control member 2C Second excitation light control member 3C Third excitation light control member 40 Reflecting member 41, 410 Shielding member 411 First opening 412 Second opening 413 Opening 1L, 2L, 3L Excitation light source 1L First excitation light source 2L Second excitation light source 3L Third excitation light source 42 Substrate 43 Light emitting element 45 Lens member 450 Incident surface 451 Exit surface 46 Light guiding member 460 Incident surface 461 Emission surface 1P, 2P, 3P, 10P, 20P, 30P Light-emitting panel 1P, 10P First light-emitting panel 2P, 20P Second light-emitting panel 3P, 30P Third light-emitting panel 500 Substrate 510 Light-emitting film (light-emitting layer, OPL)
520 Secondary light exit surface 530 Reflective film (reflective layer)
540 Reflective surface 550 Sealant 560 Sealant 570 Binder material 580 Inorganic phosphor granules 100A, 100B Vehicle lamp 100 Lamp housing 101 Lamp lens (outer lens)
102 Inner panel 103 Reflector 104 Lamp chamber 105 Bracket B Rear D Bottom DL Light distribution E Eye F Front L Left L11, L12, L13 Excitation light L11 First excitation light L12 Second excitation light L13 Third excitation light L21, L22, L23 Secondary light L21 First-secondary light L22 Second-secondary light L23 Third-secondary light L31, L32, L33 Stray excitation light L41, L42, L43, L44, L45, L46, L47, L48 External light R Right U Top Z Reference axis

Claims (9)

A light emitting device for a vehicle lamp, comprising a plurality of light emitting units and an excitation light filter,
Each of the plurality of light-emitting units includes an excitation light source that emits excitation light, and a light-emitting panel that is excited by the excitation light and emits secondary light to emit light;
At least one of the light-emitting units is disposed on each of one side and the other side of the excitation light filter,
The excitation light filter does not transmit the excitation light.
A light emitting device for a vehicle lamp. Each of the light-emitting panels of the plurality of light-emitting units has a light-emitting film as a light conversion film that is formed on one surface or the other surface of the excitation light filter and is excited by the excitation light to emit the secondary light and emit light;
The light-emitting film is formed in any shape.
2. The light emitting device for a vehicle lamp according to claim 1. and an excitation light control member that controls the excitation light from the excitation light source of each of the plurality of light-emitting units to prevent the excitation light from the excitation light source of one of the light-emitting units from straying and entering the light-emitting panel of another of the light-emitting units as stray excitation light.
2. The light emitting device for a vehicle lamp according to claim 1. The excitation light control member is
A reflecting member that reflects the excitation light in a predetermined direction;
a lens member that refracts the excitation light at a predetermined angle at at least one of an incident surface and an exit surface;
a light guiding member that guides the excitation light incident from an incident surface to an exit surface and emits the excitation light to the outside from the exit surface;
a shielding member for shielding the stray excitation light;
having at least one member selected from the group consisting of
4. The light emitting device for a vehicle lamp according to claim 3. The excitation light filter is a transparent plate that does not transmit the excitation light having a wavelength in the range of at least about 300 nm to about 500 nm, and transmits the secondary light having a wavelength in the range of at least about 500 nm to about 780 nm, among the secondary light emitted by the light-emitting panel, with a transmittance of at least about 90%.
2. The light emitting device for a vehicle lamp according to claim 1. A lamp chamber forming member that forms a lamp chamber;
The light emitting device of the vehicle lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is disposed in the lamp chamber;
Equipped with
A vehicle lamp characterized by the above. and at least one of a reflector disposed in the lamp chamber, which reflects the secondary light from the light-emitting device to the outside of the lamp chamber, and a reflector which reflects the excitation light from the light-emitting device to a light-emitting panel side of the light-emitting device.
7. A vehicle lamp according to claim 6. The lamp chamber forming member has an outer lens that does not transmit excitation light from the light emitting device and transmits secondary light from the light emitting device.
7. A vehicle lamp according to claim 6. the lamp chamber forming member has an outer lens that does not transmit excitation light from the light emitting device and transmits secondary light from the light emitting device,
The outer lens is red or yellow-orange,
the excitation light is blue light,
The secondary light is red light or yellow-orange light.
9. A vehicle lamp according to claim 8.

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