JP7647366B2 - Vehicle lighting fixtures - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to vehicle lighting.

Conventionally, vehicle lamps are known that have two light sources, a semiconductor-type light source and a separate semiconductor-type light source, on a substrate. A portion of the light from the light-emitting portion of the semiconductor-type light source that is reflected by the first reflecting surface passes through an opening and is cut off, and the remaining reflected light is reflected by the second reflecting surface and passes through an optical lens to be irradiated to the outside in a predetermined basic light distribution pattern. Light from the light-emitting portion of the separate semiconductor-type light source is directly incident on the optical lens, passes through the optical lens, and is irradiated to the outside in a predetermined auxiliary light distribution pattern (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-324002 A

In conventional vehicle lamps, a separate semiconductor-type light source is disposed at a position away from the semiconductor-type light source toward the top, and light from the light-emitting portion of the separate semiconductor-type light source is directly incident on the lower half of the optical lens (see FIG. 6 of Patent Document 1). Therefore, the separate semiconductor-type light source and the lower half of the optical lens are disposed at the same height position, overlapping in the vertical direction. As a result, the semiconductor-type light source and the first reflector disposed below the separate semiconductor-type light source are disposed at a position protruding further downward from the lower end of the optical lens. For this reason, the board on the separate semiconductor-type light source side of the board on which the two semiconductor-type light sources are provided and the optical lens overlap in the front-rear direction, and the vertical dimension of the lamp is the length obtained by adding the vertical dimension of the board to the vertical dimension of the optical lens, which does not meet the demand for compact lamps and leaves room for improvement.

This disclosure was made with a focus on the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a vehicle lamp that meets the demand for compactness in a lamp that can obtain different light distribution patterns by switching light sources.

In order to achieve the above object, the vehicle lamp of the present disclosure includes a light source, a reflector that reflects light incident from the light source, and an illumination lens that illuminates the reflected light incident from the reflector to the outside. The light source includes a first light source and a second light source provided on a substrate. The illumination lens is divided into a plurality of parts and includes a second lens area with the first light source disposed at the rear and a first lens area with the second light source disposed at the rear. The reflector includes a first light source reflector that reflects light incident from the first light source toward the first lens area, and a second light source reflector that reflects light incident from the second light source toward the second lens area. The first light source is a light source for high beam, and the second light source is a light source for low beam. The first light source reflector is a first high reflector having a first reflecting surface that reflects light from the light source for high beam, and a second high reflector having a second reflecting surface that reflects reflected light from the first reflecting surface. The second light source reflector is a first low reflector having a first reflecting surface that reflects light from a low beam light source, and a second low reflector having a second reflecting surface that reflects reflected light from the first reflecting surface. The irradiation lens is divided into two lens areas, upper and lower, by a lens area boundary. The first lens area is a lower lens area below the lens area boundary, and is a high lens area into which reflected light from the second high reflector is incident. The second lens area is an upper lens area above the lens area boundary, and is a low lens area into which reflected light from the second low reflector is incident. The first high reflector, the second high reflector, the first low reflector, and the second low reflector are arranged at positions where the optical path from the high beam light source and the optical path from the low beam light source do not block each other's optical paths. The first high reflector and the second low reflector are arranged at positions in the upper space above the lens area boundary portion extending from the lens area boundary toward the substrate in the opposing space between the irradiation lens and the substrate. The first low reflector and the second high reflector are disposed in a lower space below the lens area boundary in the facing space. The first high reflector, the second high reflector, the first low reflector, and the second low reflector are disposed so as to overlap each other in the up-down direction.

Therefore, in a lighting fixture that can obtain different light distribution patterns by switching the light source, it is possible to meet the demand for compact lighting fixtures. Moreover, while satisfying the condition that the optical path of the reflected light is not blocked in the selected light distribution pattern, each reflector can be arranged compactly in the opposing space between the irradiation lens and the substrate.

2 is a front view showing the overall configuration of the unit when viewed from the lens surface side of a transparent illumination lens in the lamp unit of Example 1. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the overall configuration of the lamp unit of the first embodiment when a reflector is taken in cross section. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1 , showing the light path of a HI beam distribution pattern emitted from a high beam light source via two reflecting surfaces to the outside from a high lens area in the lamp unit of the first embodiment. 1 sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 1 showing the light path of the Lo beam light distribution pattern emitted from the low beam light source through two reflecting surfaces to the outside from the low lens area in the lamp unit of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a light distribution pattern diagram showing a HI beam light distribution pattern and a Lo beam light distribution pattern obtained by switching the light source in the lamp unit of Example 1. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the low lens focal position where the optical path of light parallel to the optical axis incident on the lens surface is focused after passing through the low lens area in the lamp unit of Example 1. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a high lens focal position where the optical path of light parallel to the optical axis incident on the lens surface is focused after passing through a high lens area in the lamp unit of Example 1. FIG.

Below, a form for implementing a vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure will be described based on Example 1 shown in the drawings.

The vehicle lamp in the first embodiment is used as a lamp unit in a vehicle such as an automobile, and is applied to, for example, a headlamp or fog lamp. The lamp unit is disposed on both the left and right sides of the front of the vehicle, and is provided in a lamp chamber formed by covering the open front end of the lamp housing with an outer lens. In the following description, in the lamp unit, the direction in which light is emitted that is the traveling direction when the vehicle is traveling straight ahead is defined as the front-rear direction (Z in the drawings), the direction that represents the up and down when mounted on the vehicle is defined as the up-down direction (Y in the drawings), and the direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the up-down direction is defined as the width direction (X in the drawings).

First, the configuration of a lamp unit 10 (an example of a vehicle lamp) that is applied to an automobile headlamp will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

The lamp unit 10 includes a high beam light source 1 (first light source), a low beam light source 2 (second light source), a first high reflector 3 (first light source reflector), a second high reflector 4 (first light source reflector), a first low reflector 5 (second light source reflector), a second low reflector 6 (second light source reflector), and an irradiation lens 7. The lamp unit 10 is configured as an integrated unit that combines a high beam light distribution unit that obtains a HI beam light distribution pattern and a low beam light distribution unit that obtains a Lo beam light distribution pattern.

The high beam light source 1 is a high beam irradiation light source provided on the surface of the substrate 8. When the surface extending from the step surface 7b (lens area boundary) of the irradiation lens 7 toward the substrate 8 is called the lens area boundary portion 70, the high beam light source 1 is disposed at a position above the lens area boundary portion 70 as shown in FIG. 2. In the first embodiment, the lens area boundary portion 70 is described as a "surface" extending from the step surface 7b, but it is sufficient that a boundary is provided by a step or trim. Here, when the irradiation lens 7 has a condensing lens portion 73 and a diffusing lens portion 74, the high beam light source 1 may be provided at a position corresponding to each of the condensing side first high reflector 31 and the diffusing side first high reflector 32 described later as shown in FIG. 1 (total of two).

Here, the "lens area boundary" refers to the step surface 7b that divides the irradiation lens 7 into a first lens area (e.g., high lens area 71) and a second lens area (e.g., low lens area 72). The lens area boundary of the irradiation lens 7 in Example 1 is a horizontal step surface 7b that passes through a position slightly above the center position of the irradiation lens 7, and is set to a surface where the vertical dimension of the high lens area 71 is longer than the vertical dimension of the low lens area 72. In other words, the area of the high lens area 71 is set to be larger than the area of the low lens area 72. This is to meet the demand to increase the area of the high lens area 71. Furthermore, this is to meet the demand to increase the solid angle in order to increase the amount of light on the high beam side more than on the low beam side.

The low beam light source 2 is a low beam irradiation light source provided on the surface of the substrate 8. As shown in FIG. 2, the low beam light source 2 is disposed below the lens area boundary 70. Here, when the irradiation lens 7 has a condensing lens portion 73 and a diffusing lens portion 74, the low beam light source 2 may be provided at a position corresponding to each of the condensing side first low reflectors 51, 52, and 53 described later (a total of three), as shown in FIG. 1. Furthermore, one may be provided at a position corresponding to each of the diffusing side first low reflectors 54 and 55 (a total of two).

Here, self-luminous semiconductor light sources are used as the high beam light source 1 and the low beam light source 2, and in the first embodiment, an LED light source (LED is an abbreviation for "Light Emitting Diode") is used. The high beam light source 1 and the low beam light source 2 are provided with a heat sink (not shown) that dissipates heat generated by the light source to the outside, and the heat sink is made of a metal material with high thermal conductivity (e.g., aluminum die casting) or a resin material. Note that if the substrate 8 has the function of dissipating heat generated by the light source to the outside, a configuration without a heat sink may be used.

A light source drive circuit is connected to the high beam light source 1 and the low beam light source 2, which switches the light distribution pattern (HI beam light distribution pattern, Low beam light distribution pattern) by switching the light emitting point. Examples of methods for switching the light emitting point include a manual switching method in which the driver manually operates the switch, an automatic switching method in which the light emitting point is automatically switched by detecting a preceding vehicle or an oncoming vehicle, and a switching method that combines manual and automatic switching.

The first high reflector 3 is attached to a substrate 8 or the like and has a first reflecting surface 3a that reflects light from the high beam light source 1. The first reflecting surface 3a is a reflecting surface such as a free-form surface (e.g., a NUBRS surface) based on an ellipse or an ellipse that reflects the light in the forward and backward directions (Z-axis direction) incident from the high beam light source 1 and changes the light path direction downward (downward direction of the Y axis) toward the second high reflector 4. The first high reflector 3 is disposed in front of the high beam light source 1. Here, when the irradiation lens 7 has a condensing lens portion 73 and a diffusing lens portion 74, as shown in FIG. 1, one condensing side first high reflector 31 may be provided in the condensing lens portion 73 as the first high reflector 3, and one diffusing side first high reflector 32 may be provided in the diffusing lens portion 74. The first light-collecting high reflector 31 and the first light-diffusing high reflector 32 may be positioned at the same height above the lens area boundary extension 70.

The second high reflector 4 is attached to a substrate 8 or the like and has a second reflecting surface 4a that reflects the reflected light from the first reflecting surface 3a of the first high reflector 3. The second reflecting surface 4a is a reflecting surface such as a flat surface or a curved surface that approximates a flat surface, which receives the reflected light from the first high reflector 3 and changes the light path direction in the front-rear direction (Z-axis direction) toward the high lens area 71. The second high reflector 4 is disposed in a position near the high lens focus F1 behind the high lens area 71. Here, when the irradiation lens 7 has a condensing lens portion 73 and a diffusing lens portion 74, the second high reflector 4 is formed of a rectangular flat plate material or the like, and may be integrally provided in the vehicle width direction (X-axis direction) across the condensing lens portion 73 and the diffusing lens portion 74 as shown in FIG. 1. The second high reflector 4 may be disposed slightly below the lens area boundary portion 70, and may be disposed in a position where the entire length of the reflector in the vertical direction overlaps with the irradiation lens 7 in the vertical direction.

The first low reflector 5 is attached to a substrate 8 or the like and has a first reflecting surface 5a that reflects light from the low beam light source 2. The first reflecting surface 5a is a reflecting surface such as a free-form surface (e.g., a NUBRS surface) based on an ellipse or an ellipse that reflects the light incident from the low beam light source 2 in the forward and backward directions (Z-axis direction) and changes the light path direction in the upward direction (upward direction of the Y axis) toward the second low reflector 6. The first low reflector 5 is disposed in front of the low beam light source 2. Here, when the irradiation lens 7 has a condensing lens section 73 and a diffusing lens section 74, as shown in FIG. 1, the first low reflector 5 may be provided with three condensing side first low reflectors 51, 52, and 53 in the condensing lens section 73. And, two diffusing side first low reflectors 54 and 55 may be provided in the diffusing lens section 74. The first low reflectors 51, 52, and 53 on the light-collecting side and the first low reflectors 54 and 55 on the diffusion side may be disposed at the same height below the lens area boundary 70.

The second low reflector 6 is attached to the substrate 8 or a heat sink not shown, and has a second reflecting surface 6a that reflects the reflected light from the first reflecting surface 5a. The second reflecting surface 6a is a reflecting surface such as a curved surface based on a revolution ellipsoid that receives the reflected light from the first low reflector 5 and changes the light path direction in the front-back direction (Z-axis direction) toward the low lens area 72. The second low reflector 6 is disposed at the front lower position of the first high reflector 3. Here, when the irradiation lens 7 has a condensing lens portion 73 and a diffusing lens portion 74, the second low reflector 6 is composed of a rectangular curved plate material, and may be integrally provided in the vehicle width direction (X-axis direction) across the condensing lens portion 73 and the diffusing lens portion 74 as shown in FIG. 1. In addition, in the center of the reflector on the collecting lens side, a cutoff step end surface 6b is formed as shown in FIG. 1 in order to create a cutoff line that is the boundary between light and dark when forming the Lo beam collecting area in the Lo beam light distribution pattern. The second low reflector 6 may be located above the lens area boundary 70.

Now, referring to FIG. 2, the arrangement of the reflectors 3, 4, 5, and 6 will be described. The first high reflector 3, the second high reflector 4, the first low reflector 5, and the second low reflector 6 are arranged in a space 90 between the rear surface of the projection lens 7 and the surface of the substrate 8. Here, the reflectors 3, 4, 5, and 6 are arranged in a position where the optical path from the high beam light source 1 and the optical path from the low beam light source 2 do not block each other in the HI beam light distribution pattern and the Lo beam light distribution pattern (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 4). The first high reflector 3, the second high reflector 4, the first low reflector 5, and the second low reflector 6 may be individually attached to the substrate 8 or the like. Also, the reflectors 3, 4, 5, and 6 may be integrally configured as a reflector unit with the reflectors 3, 4, 5, and 6 set on a support plate, and the support plate may be attached to the substrate 8 or the like.

The first high reflector 3 is disposed immediately before the high beam light source 1, and the second low reflector 6 is disposed in a forward lower position of the first high reflector 3. That is, the first high reflector 3 and the second low reflector 6 are disposed in a position above the lens area boundary 70 of the facing space 90 (= the position of the rear space of the low lens area 72) where the first high reflector 3 and the second low reflector 6 overlap each other in the vertical direction. The first low reflector 5 is disposed immediately before the low beam light source 2, and the second high reflector 4 is disposed in an upper position of the first low reflector 5. That is, the first low reflector 5 and the second high reflector 4 are disposed in a position below the lens area boundary 70 of the facing space 90 (= the position of the rear space of the high lens area 71) where the first low reflector 5 and the second high reflector 4 overlap each other in the vertical direction.

The illumination lens 7 is an optical lens that is attached to the substrate 8 or the like via a holder (not shown) and is disposed in front of each of the reflectors 3, 4, 5, and 6. The illumination lens 7 is made of a transparent resin (e.g., acrylic resin or polycarbonate resin) and is formed by resin molding that can accommodate a variety of lens shapes. The illumination lens 7 has a step surface 7b, which is the lens area boundary, that divides the rear surface of the lens into an upper area and a lower area, with the lower area of the illumination lens 7 being the high lens area 71 and the upper area of the illumination lens 7 being the low lens area 72.

The high lens area 71 refracts the reflected light incident from the second high reflector 4 and irradiates it to the outside, forming a HI beam light distribution pattern. The low lens area 72 refracts the reflected light incident from the second low reflector 6 and irradiates it to the outside, forming a Lo beam light distribution pattern.

The positional relationship between the high lens area 71 and the low lens area 72 and the high beam light source 1 and the low beam light source 2 will be described. The irradiation lens 7 is divided into two when it is divided into the high beam side and the low beam side without being divided by light collection and diffusion, and has a low lens area 72 with the high beam light source 1 arranged at the rear, and a high lens area 71 with the low beam light source 2 arranged at the rear. Therefore, the HI beam light distribution pattern set combining the high beam light source 1 and the high lens area 71, and the Lo beam light distribution pattern set combining the low beam light source 2 and the low lens area 72 are set in a cross arrangement that intersects vertically with the lens area boundary part 70 in between.

The illumination lens 7 has a lens front surface 7a, which is the emission surface of the illumination light, formed by a curved surface with a continuous curvature. Meanwhile, the lens back surface, which is the incidence surface of the reflected light, is divided into a first lens back surface 7c and a second lens back surface 7d with a step surface 7b as the lens area boundary, and the curvature is set individually for the first lens back surface 7c and the second lens back surface 7d. Here, if the back surface of the illumination lens 7 has a step structure as in Example 1, the step surface 7b becomes the lens area boundary that divides the lens area of the illumination lens 7. Note that if both the front and back surfaces of the illumination lens are smooth surfaces without steps, the position or area of the illumination lens where the lens curvature changes becomes the lens area boundary.

That is, the position where the light path of light parallel to the optical axis incident from the lens surface is focused after passing through the high lens area 71 becomes the high lens focus F1 (first lens focus). On the other hand, the position where the light path of light parallel to the optical axis incident from the lens surface is focused after passing through the low lens area 72 becomes the low lens focus F2 (second lens focus). The front-to-rear position of the high lens focus F1 and the front-to-rear position of the low lens focus F2 are set to different positions in the front-to-rear direction. As a result, the sunlight incident on each lens of the high lens area 71 and the low lens area 72 is focused near the respective lens focuses (high lens focus F1, low lens focus F2).

In the first embodiment, the lens curvature of the second lens back surface 7d is made larger than that of the first lens back surface 7c, so that the low lens focus F2 is located forward of the high lens focus F1 in the front-rear direction. The position of the high lens focus F1 is the position where the optical path of light parallel to the optical axis incident from the lens surface is focused after passing through the high lens area 71 (see FIG. 7). Specifically, the high lens focus F1 is set at the upper position of the reflecting surface 4a of the second high reflector 4 (see FIG. 3). On the other hand, the position of the low lens focus F2 is the position where the optical path of light parallel to the optical axis incident from the lens surface is focused after passing through the low lens area 72 (see FIG. 6). Specifically, the low lens focus F2 is set at a position approximately at the lower end of the second low reflector 6 and further forward from the surface of the substrate 8 than the position of the high lens focus F1 (see FIG. 4).

As shown in FIG. 1, the illumination lens 7 has a condensing lens section 73 and a diffusing lens section 74 integrally disposed adjacent to each other in the vehicle width direction. The condensing lens section 73 is formed in a lens shape that condenses the reflected light incident on the high lens area 71 and the low lens area 72, which are divided into upper and lower sections, and irradiates the light to the outside. The diffusing lens section 74 is formed in a lens shape that diffuses the reflected light incident on the high lens area 71 and the low lens area 72, which are divided into upper and lower sections, and irradiates the light to the outside. For each of the condensing lens section 73 and the diffusing lens section 74, the vertical area defined by the lens upper end surface 7e and the lens lower end surface 7f is divided into the high lens area 71 and the low lens area 72. Furthermore, each of the condensing lens section 73 and the diffusing lens section 74 is provided with a high beam light source 1 and a low beam light source 2. In addition, it is equipped with a first high reflector 3 having a first reflecting surface 3a, a second high reflector 4 having a second reflecting surface 4a, a first low reflector 5 having a first reflecting surface 5a, and a second low reflector 6 having a second reflecting surface 6a.

Next, the light distribution pattern formation action of the lamp unit 10 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 5. In the light distribution pattern diagram in Figure 5, V indicates a vertical line in the up-down direction that passes through the center point O, and H indicates a horizontal line in the vehicle width direction that passes through the center point O.

When the high beam light source 1 is turned on, a HI beam light distribution pattern is formed by the light irradiated from the high lens area 71 to the outside. When forming a HI beam light distribution pattern during night driving, both the high beam light source 1 and the low beam light source 2 are turned on. Therefore, when forming a Low beam light distribution pattern while driving with a HI beam light distribution pattern, the turned on high beam light source 1 is turned off.

3, the light emitted from the high beam light source 1 is reflected by the first reflecting surface 3a of the diffusion-side first high reflector 32, changes its optical path downward, and becomes reflected light toward the second high reflector 4. The reflected light from the first reflecting surface 3a is reflected by the second reflecting surface 4a of the second high reflector 4, changes its optical path to the front of the vehicle, and enters the first lens back surface 7c of the high lens area 71 of the irradiation lens 7. The reflected light that enters the first lens back surface 7c is refracted according to the lens shape of the high lens area 71, and is irradiated to the outside from the lens surface 7a. Therefore, when the high beam is turned on, the HI beam diffusion region 101 of the HI beam light distribution pattern is formed from the diffusion lens section 74 side.

When the high beam is turned on, the HI beam concentration region 100 of the HI beam light distribution pattern is formed from the focusing lens portion 73 side. Note that, although an example of high beam light distribution in which light is distributed separately into focusing and diffusion has been shown, there are also cases where the same light distribution pattern is formed without being divided into focusing and diffusion.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the condenser lens portion 73 of the irradiation lens 7 forms a horizontally elongated HI beam concentration region 100 with high illuminance that is vertically and horizontally symmetrical with respect to the center position O. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 5, the diffusing lens portion 74 of the irradiation lens 7 forms a horizontally elongated HI beam diffusion region 101 with lower illuminance than the HI beam concentration region 100 so as to surround the outer periphery of the HI beam concentration region 100. As a result, when the high beam light source 1 is selected as the light emitting location, as shown in FIG. 5, a HI beam light distribution pattern (also called a "driving light distribution pattern") that combines the HI beam concentration region 100 and the HI beam diffusion region 101 can be formed.

On the other hand, when the low beam light source 2 is turned on, a Low beam light distribution pattern is formed by the light irradiated from the low lens area 72 to the outside.

4, the light emitted from the low beam light source 2 is reflected by the first reflecting surface 5a of the first low reflector 52 on the light collecting side, changes its optical path upward, and becomes reflected light toward the second low reflector 6. The reflected light from the first reflecting surface 5a is reflected by the second reflecting surface 6a of the second low reflector 6, changes its optical path to the front of the vehicle, and enters the second lens back surface 7d of the low lens area 72 of the irradiation lens 7. The reflected light that enters the second lens back surface 7d is refracted according to the lens shape of the low lens area 72 and is irradiated to the outside from the lens surface 7a. Therefore, by using the first low reflectors 51, 52, and 53 on the light collecting side that are provided in the light collecting lens portion 73, the Lo beam light collecting area 200 of the Lo beam light distribution pattern is formed. At this time, because the cutoff step end surface 6a is formed in the second low reflector 6, the Lo beam focusing area 200 has a cutoff line that is the boundary between the dark area and the bright area, and light is not irradiated upward or is not irradiated upward.

When the low beam light source 2 is selected as the light emitting location, the low beam light source 2 in the diffusion lens unit 74 is also turned on at the same time, and the light emitted from the low beam light source 2 is reflected by the first reflecting surface 5a of the diffusion side first low reflector 54. Therefore, by using the diffusion side first low reflector 54 in the diffusion lens unit 74, the Lo beam diffusion area 201 of the Lo beam light distribution pattern is formed.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the condenser lens portion 73 of the irradiation lens 7 forms a horizontally elongated Lo beam collection area 200 having an asymmetric cutoff line in the left-right direction below the center position O, and having a lower illuminance than the HI beam collection area 100. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 5, the diffusing lens portion 74 of the irradiation lens 7 forms a horizontally elongated Lo beam collection area 201 that overlaps the lower side of the Lo beam collection area 200, is offset in the vehicle width direction, and has a lower illuminance than the Lo beam collection area 200. As a result, when the low beam light source 2 is selected as the light emitting location, as shown in FIG. 5, a Lo beam light distribution pattern (also called a "passing light distribution pattern") that combines the Lo beam collection area 200 and the Lo beam diffusion area 201 can be formed.

Next, the characteristics and functions of the lighting unit 10 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7.

In the first embodiment, the illumination lens 7 is divided into multiple parts and has a low lens area 72 in which the high beam light source 1 is disposed at the rear, and a high lens area 71 in which the low beam light source 2 is disposed at the rear. The reflector has a first high reflector 3 and a second high reflector 4 that reflect the light incident from the high beam light source 1 toward the high lens area 71, and a first low reflector 5 and a second low reflector 6 that reflect the light incident from the low beam light source 2 toward the low lens area 72.

In the background technology of vehicle lighting fixtures, progress is being made in placing various sensors in the unit and adding various functions. As vehicle lighting fixtures become more multifunctional, there is a demand for compactness, making the headlamp unit itself as small as possible so that space for mounting sensors and other components can be secured.

In contrast, if the projection lens 7 is divided into lens areas 71 and 72 by the step surface 7b, which is the lens area boundary, for the light sources 1 and 2, a combination of light distribution patterns can be created using one corresponding light source and one corresponding lens area. For example, when creating a combination of two light distribution patterns, the high beam light source 1 is arranged behind the low lens area 72, and the low beam light source 2 is arranged behind the high lens area 71. In this case, the high lens area 71 and the low beam light source 2, and the low lens area 72 and the high beam light source 1 are arranged to face each other in the front-to-rear direction, respectively, and it is possible to compact the lamp unit 10 in the vertical direction. Therefore, when the high beam light source 1 and the low beam light source 2 are arranged on the same plane of the substrate 8 and a light distribution pattern is irradiated by one projection lens 7 (with area division), a compact lamp unit 10 can be provided in the vertical and front-to-rear directions by making it thinner and more compact in the front-to-rear direction.

In Example 1, the first light source is the high beam light source 1, the second light source is the low beam light source 2, and the irradiation lens 7 is divided into two parts, upper and lower, by a step surface 7b that is the lens area boundary, into an upper low lens area 72 and a lower high lens area 71. The low lens area 72 of the irradiation lens 7 is set so that the high beam light source 1 is arranged behind it, and the high lens area 71 of the irradiation lens 7 is set so that the low beam light source 2 is arranged behind it.

For example, in Example 1, as shown in Figure 2, when combination lines C and D of the cross arrangement are drawn, the high lens area 71 and the low beam light source 2, and the low lens area 72 and the high beam light source 1 are arranged to face each other in the front-to-back direction. Therefore, the substrate 8 on which both light sources 1 and 2 are provided overlaps entirely with the illumination lens 7 in the front-to-back direction, achieving compactness in the vertical direction. Note that in Example 1, an example is shown in Figures 1 and 2 where the illumination lens vertical dimension L0 is smaller than the substrate vertical dimension L1, but the illumination lens vertical dimension L0 may be equal to the substrate vertical dimension L1, or the illumination lens vertical dimension L0 may be larger than the substrate vertical dimension L1.

The first light source reflector arranged between the irradiation lens 7 and the substrate 8 is the first high reflector 3 and the second high reflector 4, and the second light source reflector is the first low reflector 5 and the second low reflector 6. As a result, the light is reflected twice from the light source to the irradiation lens 7, including in the up and down directions, so that the distance between the irradiation lens 7 and the substrate 8 can be narrowed, and the device can be made more compact in the front-to-back direction.

Furthermore, when using a common lens as in the prior art, in designing the light distribution patterns for high beam and low beam, light distribution design is difficult. In contrast, the irradiation lens 7 has a separate high lens area 71 and low lens area 72, which makes light distribution design easier. In addition, since there is a separate lens area for high beam, the light amount of the HI beam light distribution pattern is also improved by making the high lens area 71 large. Therefore, in the lighting unit 10 in which different light distribution patterns can be obtained by switching between the high beam light source 1 and the low beam light source 2, it is possible to meet the demand for compactness in the vertical and front-rear directions of the lighting unit 10. In addition, the light distribution design of the HI beam light distribution pattern and the Low beam light distribution pattern is made easier, and the light amount of the HI beam light distribution pattern can be improved.

In the first embodiment, the first high reflector 3, the second high reflector 4, the first low reflector 5, and the second low reflector 6 are arranged in positions where the optical paths from the high beam light source 1 and the low beam light source 2 do not block each other's optical paths.

That is, when selecting the HI beam light distribution pattern in which light from the high beam light source 1 travels, the first low reflector 5 and the second low reflector 6 do not block the optical path of the reflected light passing through the first high reflector 3 and the second high reflector 4, as shown by the arrow 91 in FIG. 3. When selecting the Lo beam light distribution pattern in which light from the low beam light source 2 travels, the first high reflector 3 and the second high reflector 4 do not block the optical path of the reflected light passing through the first low reflector 5 and the second low reflector 6, as shown by the arrow 92 in FIG. 4. Therefore, each of the reflectors 3, 4, 5, and 6 can be disposed between the irradiation lens 7 and the substrate 8 while ensuring the optical path of the reflected light in the HI beam light distribution pattern and the optical path of the reflected light in the Lo beam light distribution pattern.

In Example 1, the first high reflector 3 and the second low reflector 6 are disposed in an upper space above the lens area boundary 70 in the facing space 90. The first low reflector 5 and the second high reflector 4 are disposed in a lower space below the lens area boundary 70 in the facing space 90. The first high reflector 3, the second high reflector 4, the first low reflector 5, and the second low reflector 6 are disposed so as to overlap each other in the vertical direction.

In other words, by dividing the four reflectors 3, 4, 5, and 6 into 2 (reflectors 3 and 6):2 (reflectors 4 and 5) with the lens area boundary 70 as the boundary, it is possible to form a more finely detailed light distribution than, for example, dividing them into 1 (one of reflectors 3, 4, 5, and 6):3 (the remaining three of reflectors 3, 4, 5, and 6).

In addition, the four reflectors 3, 4, 5, and 6 are arranged so that they overlap each other in the vertical direction, thereby reducing the space required for arranging the reflectors. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the first low reflector 5, which has the largest shape, is used as a reference, the first high reflector 3 and the second high reflector 4 completely overlap in the vertical direction, and the second low reflector 6 partially overlaps in the vertical direction. This allows the reflectors 3, 4, 5, and 6 to be arranged compactly in the front-to-back direction of the opposing space 90 between the irradiation lens 7 and the substrate 8, while still satisfying the basic condition of a lamp equipped with a reflector that the optical path of the reflected light is not blocked in the selected light distribution pattern.

In Example 1, the forward/backward position of the high lens focus F1 by the high lens area 71 is set to a position near the substrate 8, and the forward/backward position of the low lens focus F2 by the low lens area 72 is set to a position forward of the forward/backward position of the high lens focus F1.

That is, since the forward/backward position of the high lens focus F1 is set in the vicinity of one of the substrates 8, the positions of the high beam light source 1 and the low beam light source 2 provided on one of the substrates 8 do not exceed the forward/backward position of the high lens focus F1. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the forward/backward dimension L2 of the lamp unit 10 determined by the front surface position of the irradiation lens 7 and the back surface position of the substrate 8 can be shortened. In addition, since the forward/backward position of the low lens focus F2 is set in a position forward of the forward/backward position of the high lens focus F1, it becomes possible to arrange the reflectors 3, 4, 5, and 6 on the high beam side and the low beam side in the opposing space 90 between the irradiation lens 7 and the substrate 8.

By setting the front-rear position of the low lens focus F2 to a position forward of the front-rear position of the high lens focus F1, the position of the high lens focus F1 and the position of the low lens focus F2 due to the low lens area 72 are in different positions in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the concentrated energy of the sun is dispersed to the position of the high lens focus F1 and the position of the low lens focus F2. This dispersion effect of the concentrated energy of the sun makes it possible to select materials with lower heat resistance temperatures as the material of components such as the reflectors 3, 4, 5, and 6 and the substrate 8. This allows the lamp unit 10 to be manufactured inexpensively and the front-rear dimension L2 of the lamp unit 10 to be shortened.

In Example 1, the high lens focus F1 of the high lens area 71 is located at a position (upper end side) corresponding to the second high reflector 4. The low lens focus F2 of the low lens area 72 is located at a position (lower end side) corresponding to the second low reflector 6.

That is, since the high lens focus F1 is located at a position (upper end side) corresponding to the second high reflector 4, the second high reflector 4 is located at a position behind the high lens area 71. Since the low lens focus F2 is located at a position (lower end side) corresponding to the second low reflector 6, the second low reflector 6 is located at a position behind the low lens area 72. Therefore, the reflected light from the second high reflector 4 effectively and accurately enters the high lens area 71 of the projection lens 7, and the reflected light from the second low reflector 6 effectively and accurately enters the low lens area 72 of the projection lens 7.

In the first embodiment, the first high reflector 3 is disposed behind the low lens area 72 together with the high beam light source 1, and the second high reflector 4 is disposed behind the high lens area 71. The first low reflector 5 is disposed behind the high lens area 71 together with the low beam light source 2, and the second low reflector 6 is disposed behind the low lens area 72.

That is, the low beam light source 2, the first low reflector 5, and the second high reflector 4 having the high lens focus F1 at its upper end are concentrated behind the high lens area 71 of the irradiation lens 7. The high beam light source 1, the first high reflector 3, and the second low reflector 6 having the low lens focus F2 at its lower end are concentrated behind the low lens area 72 of the irradiation lens 7 (see FIG. 2). Therefore, the high beam light source 1, the low beam light source 2, and the reflectors 3, 4, 5, and 6 are compactly concentrated and arranged in the space behind the high lens area 71 of the irradiation lens 7 and the space behind the low lens area 72 of the irradiation lens 7.

In the first embodiment, the illumination lens 7 has a condensing lens section 73 that condenses the incident reflected light and irradiates it to the outside, and a diffusing lens section 74 that diffuses the incident reflected light and irradiates it to the outside, located adjacent to each other in the vehicle width direction. Each of the condensing lens section 73 and the diffusing lens section 74 is divided into a high lens area 71 and a low lens area 72.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the HI beam light collection area 100 is obtained by the high lens area 71 of the condenser lens section 73, and the HI beam diffusion area 101 is obtained by the high lens area 71 of the diffusion lens section 74. The Lo beam light collection area 200 is obtained by the low lens area 72 of the condenser lens section 73, and the Lo beam diffusion area 201 is obtained by the low lens area 72 of the diffusion lens section 74. The HI beam light distribution pattern is obtained by an appropriate illuminance distribution by combining the HI beam light collection area 100 and the HI beam diffusion area 101. The Lo beam light distribution pattern is obtained by an appropriate illuminance distribution by combining the Lo beam light collection area 200 and the Lo beam diffusion area 201. Therefore, by switching the light emission points of the high beam light source 1 and the low beam light source 2, it is possible to obtain a HI beam light distribution pattern with an appropriate illuminance distribution and a Lo beam light distribution pattern with an appropriate illuminance distribution.

As described above, the lighting unit 10 of Example 1 provides the following advantages:

(1) A vehicle lamp (lamp unit 10) includes a light source, a reflector that reflects light incident from the light source, and an illumination lens 7 that illuminates the reflected light incident from the reflector to the outside. The light source includes a first light source (high beam light source 1) and a second light source (low beam light source 2) provided on a substrate 8. The illumination lens 7 is divided into multiple parts and includes a second lens area (low lens area 72) with the first light source (high beam light source 1) disposed at the rear, and a first lens area (high lens area 71) with the second light source (low beam light source 2) disposed at the rear. The reflector has a first light source reflector (first high reflector 3, second high reflector 4) that reflects the light incident from the first light source (high beam light source 1) toward the first lens area (high lens area 71), and a second light source reflector (first low reflector 5, second low reflector 6) that reflects the light incident from the second light source (low beam light source 2) toward the second lens area (low lens area 72). Therefore, in the lighting unit 10 in which different light distribution patterns can be obtained by switching between the first light source (high beam light source 1) and the second light source (low beam light source 2), it is possible to meet the demand for compactness of the lighting unit 10.

(2) The first light source is the high beam light source 1, and the second light source is the low beam light source 2. The first light source reflector is the first high reflector 3 having a first reflecting surface 3a that reflects light from the high beam light source 1, and the second high reflector 4 having a second reflecting surface 4a that reflects the reflected light from the first reflecting surface 3a. The second light source reflector is the first low reflector 5 having a first reflecting surface 5a that reflects light from the low beam light source 2, and the second low reflector 6 having a second reflecting surface 6a that reflects the reflected light from the first reflecting surface 5a. The irradiation lens 7 is divided into two lens areas, upper and lower, by the lens area boundary (step surface 7b). The first lens area is the lower lens area below the lens area boundary (step surface 7b), and is the high lens area 71 into which the reflected light from the second high reflector 4 is incident. The second lens area is the upper lens area above the lens area boundary (step surface 7b), and is the low lens area 72 into which reflected light from the second low reflector 6 is incident. Therefore, in the lighting unit 10 in which a HI beam light distribution pattern and a Lo beam light distribution pattern can be obtained by switching between the high beam light source 1 and the low beam light source 2, it is possible to meet the demand for compact vertical dimensions of the unit.

(3) The first high reflector 3, the second high reflector 4, the first low reflector 5, and the second low reflector 6 are arranged in positions where the optical paths from the high beam light source 1 and the low beam light source 2 do not block each other's optical paths. Therefore, each of the reflectors 3, 4, 5, and 6 can be arranged between the irradiation lens 7 and the substrate 8 while ensuring the optical paths of the reflected light in the HI beam light distribution pattern and the optical paths of the reflected light in the Lo beam light distribution pattern.

(4) The first high reflector 3 and the second low reflector 6 are disposed in an upper space above the lens area boundary 70 that extends from the lens area boundary (step surface 7b) toward the substrate 8 in the facing space 90 between the irradiation lens 7 and the substrate 8. The first low reflector 5 and the second high reflector 4 are disposed in a lower space below the lens area boundary 70 in the facing space 90. The first high reflector 3, the second high reflector 4, the first low reflector 5, and the second low reflector 6 are disposed so as to overlap each other in the vertical direction. Therefore, while satisfying the condition that the optical path of the reflected light is not blocked in the selected light distribution pattern, each of the reflectors 3, 4, 5, and 6 can be disposed compactly in the facing space 90 between the irradiation lens 7 and the substrate 8.

(5) The front-rear direction position of the first lens focus (high lens focus F1) of the first lens area (high lens area 71) is set to a position near the substrate 8. The front-rear direction position of the second lens focus (low lens focus F2) of the second lens area (low lens area 72) is set to a position forward of the front-rear direction position of the first lens focus. Therefore, there is no need to use highly heat-resistant materials for the parts, the lamp unit 10 can be manufactured inexpensively, and the front-rear direction dimension L2 of the lamp unit 10 can be shortened.

(6) The first lens focus (high lens focus F1) of the first lens area (high lens area 71) is disposed at a position corresponding to the second high reflector 4 of the first light source reflector. The second lens focus (low lens focus F2) of the second lens area (low lens area 72) is disposed at a position corresponding to the second low reflector 6 of the second light source reflector. Therefore, the reflected light from the second high reflector 4 can be effectively and accurately incident on the high lens area 71 of the projection lens 7, and the reflected light from the second low reflector 6 can be effectively and accurately incident on the low lens area 72 of the projection lens 7.

(7) The first high reflector 3 of the first light source reflector is arranged behind the second lens area (low lens area 72) together with the first light source (high beam light source 1), and the second high reflector 4 is arranged behind the first lens area (high lens area 71). The first low reflector 5 of the second light source reflector is arranged behind the first lens area (high lens area 71) together with the second light source (low beam light source 2), and the second low reflector 6 is arranged behind the second lens area (low lens area 72). Therefore, the high beam light source 1, the low beam light source 2, and the reflectors 3, 4, 5, and 6 can be arranged compactly and concentrated in the space behind the high lens area 71 of the irradiation lens 7 and the space behind the low lens area 72 of the irradiation lens 7.

(8) The first light source (high beam light source 1) and the second light source (low beam light source 2) are provided on the same plane. Therefore, the front-to-rear dimension L2 of the lamp unit 10 can be made shorter than when the two light sources are provided on different planes.

(9) The illumination lens 7 has a condensing lens section 73 that condenses the incident reflected light and irradiates it to the outside, and a diffusing lens section 74 that diffuses the incident reflected light and irradiates it to the outside, located adjacent to each other in the vehicle width direction. Each of the condensing lens section 73 and the diffusing lens section 74 is divided into a high lens area 71 and a low lens area 72. Therefore, by switching the light emission points of the high beam light source 1 and the low beam light source 2, it is possible to obtain a HI beam light distribution pattern with an appropriate illuminance distribution that combines a concentrated area and a diffused area, and a Lo beam light distribution pattern with an appropriate illuminance distribution that combines a concentrated area and a diffused area.

The vehicle lamp of the present disclosure has been described above based on Example 1, but the specific configuration is not limited to Example 1, and design changes and additions are permitted as long as they do not deviate from the gist of the invention according to each claim in the scope of the claims.

In the first embodiment, an example is shown in which the illumination lens 7 is divided into two areas by a lens area boundary 70 on the rear surface of the lens. However, the illumination lens may be divided into two areas by a lens dividing surface on the front surface of the lens, or may be divided into two areas by lens dividing surfaces on the front surface and the rear surface of the lens. Furthermore, the illumination lens may be divided into three or more areas.

In the first embodiment, an example was shown in which the lens area boundary is a horizontal surface that divides the illumination lens 7 into a high lens area 71 and a low lens area 72. However, the lens area boundary of the illumination lens is not limited to being divided by a horizontal surface, and may be divided by a vertical surface, in which case the width dimension can be shortened. Furthermore, the illumination lens may be divided by an inclined surface having an inclination angle from the horizontal or vertical surface.

In the first embodiment, a high beam light source 1 is shown as the first light source, and a low beam light source 2 is shown as the second light source. However, the first light source and the second light source are not limited to a high beam light source and a low beam light source used for creating a HI beam light distribution pattern and a Lo beam light distribution pattern, and may have at least two types of light sources according to different applications.

In the first embodiment, an example is shown in which the illumination lens 7 has a condensing lens portion 73 and a diffusing lens portion 74 integrally disposed adjacent to each other in the vehicle width direction. However, the illumination lens is not limited to this, and may have a condensing lens portion and a diffusing lens portion separately disposed adjacent to each other in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, it may have another lens portion sandwiched between the condensing lens portion and the diffusing lens portion.

In the first embodiment, an example of a unit that switches between a HI beam light distribution pattern and a Lo beam light distribution pattern is shown as the lighting unit 10. The lighting unit is not limited to a unit that switches between a HI beam light distribution pattern and a Lo beam light distribution pattern, and may be a unit that switches between various light distribution patterns other than a HI beam and a Lo beam.

10. Lighting unit (vehicle lighting)
1. High beam light source (first light source)
2. Low beam light source (second light source)
3. First high reflector (first light source reflector)
3a: First reflecting surface 4: Second high reflector (first light source reflector)
4a: Second reflecting surface 5: First low reflector (second light source reflector)
5a: First reflecting surface 6: Second low reflector (second light source reflector)
6a Second reflecting surface 7 Irradiation lens 70b Step surface (lens area boundary)
70 Lens area boundary portion 71 High lens area (first lens area)
72 Low lens area (second lens area)
73 Condenser lens section 74 Diffuser lens section 8 Substrate 90 Opposite space F1 High lens focus (first lens focus)
F2 Low lens focus (second lens focus)
L0: Vertical dimension of the irradiation lens 7 L1: Vertical dimension of the substrate 8 L2: Front-rear dimension of the lamp unit 10 100: HI beam condensing area 101: HI beam diffusing area 200: Lo beam condensing area 201: Lo beam diffusing area

Claims (7)

A vehicle lamp including a light source, a reflector that reflects light incident from the light source, and an illumination lens that illuminates the reflected light incident from the reflector to an outside,
The light source includes a first light source and a second light source provided on a substrate,
the illumination lens is divided into a plurality of parts, and has a second lens area in which the first light source is disposed at a rear thereof, and a first lens area in which the second light source is disposed at a rear thereof,
The reflector includes a first light source reflector that reflects light incident from the first light source toward the first lens area;
a second light source reflector that reflects light incident from the second light source toward the second lens area ;
The first light source is a high beam light source,
The second light source is a low beam light source,
the first light source reflector is a first high reflector having a first reflecting surface that reflects light from the high beam light source, and a second high reflector having a second reflecting surface that reflects the light reflected from the first reflecting surface,
the second light source reflector is a first low reflector having a first reflecting surface that reflects light from the low beam light source, and a second low reflector having a second reflecting surface that reflects the reflected light from the first reflecting surface,
The illumination lens is divided into two upper and lower lens areas by a lens area boundary,
the first lens area is a lower lens area below the lens area boundary, and is a high lens area into which reflected light from the second high reflector is incident;
the second lens area is an upper lens area above the lens area boundary, and is a low lens area into which reflected light from the second low reflector is incident;
the first high reflector, the second high reflector, the first low reflector, and the second low reflector are disposed at positions where an optical path from the high beam light source and an optical path from the low beam light source do not block each other,
the first high reflector and the second low reflector are disposed in an upper space above a lens area boundary portion extending from the lens area boundary toward the substrate in a facing space between the illumination lens and the substrate,
the first low reflector and the second high reflector are disposed in a lower space below the lens area boundary portion in the facing space,
The first high reflector, the second high reflector, the first low reflector, and the second low reflector are arranged to overlap each other in the vertical direction.
A vehicle lamp characterized by the above. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1 ,
a front-rear direction position of a first lens focus by the first lens area is set to a position near the substrate, and a front-rear direction position of a second lens focus by the second lens area is set to a position forward of the front-rear direction position of the first lens focus. 3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 2 ,
the first lens focal point of the first lens area is disposed at a position corresponding to a second high reflector of the first light source reflector,
The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the second lens focal point of the second lens area is disposed at a position corresponding to a second low reflector of the second light source reflector. 4. The vehicular lamp according to claim 3 ,
a first high reflector of the first light source reflector is disposed behind the second lens area together with the first light source, and the second high reflector is disposed behind the first lens area;
a first low reflector of the second light source reflector is disposed rearward of the first lens area together with the second light source, and the second low reflector is disposed rearward of the second lens area. The vehicular lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
The vehicle lamp, wherein the first light source and the second light source are provided on the same plane. The vehicular lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
The illumination lens includes a condensing lens portion that condenses the incident reflected light and irradiates it to the outside, and a diffusing lens portion that diffuses the incident reflected light and irradiates it to the outside, the condensing lens portion being adjacent to the condensing lens portion in a vehicle width direction;
The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein each of the condensing lens portion and the diffusing lens portion is divided into the high lens area and the low lens area. A vehicle lamp including a light source, a reflector that reflects light incident from the light source, and an illumination lens that illuminates the reflected light incident from the reflector to an outside,
The light source includes a first light source and a second light source provided on a substrate,
the illumination lens is divided into a plurality of parts, and has a second lens area in which the first light source is disposed at a rear thereof, and a first lens area in which the second light source is disposed at a rear thereof,
The reflector includes a first light source reflector that reflects light incident from the first light source toward the first lens area;
a second light source reflector that reflects light incident from the second light source toward the second lens area ;
A position of a first lens focal point in the front-rear direction by the first lens area is set to a position near the substrate, and a position of a second lens focal point in the front-rear direction by the second lens area is set to a position forward of the position of the first lens focal point in the front-rear direction.
A vehicle lamp characterized by the above.