JP7709869B2 - Vehicle lamp unit, vehicle lighting fixture - Google Patents

Description

This relates to a lamp unit for vehicles that alerts pedestrians and others to the approach of a vehicle, and a vehicle lamp equipped with the lamp unit.

Conventionally, there is known technology for vehicle lighting that can notify pedestrians and the like of the vehicle's driving state. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a vehicle headlamp that can detect when the brake is switched from on to off and draw a departure notification display on the road surface based on the detection result.

JP 2020-55519 A

In vehicle headlamps, a uniform distribution pattern without streaks or unevenness is generated regardless of whether the headlamp is low beam or high beam in order to prevent annoyance to the driver. However, when a uniform distribution pattern is generated, it may be difficult for nearby pedestrians and cyclists (hereinafter referred to as pedestrians, etc.) to notice an approaching vehicle, especially in bright environments such as urban areas or illuminated intersections. For this reason, there has been a demand for a way to make pedestrians, etc. passing by the vehicle aware of an approaching vehicle.

The objective of this disclosure is to provide a lamp unit that can alert pedestrians passing by the vehicle of an approaching vehicle, and a vehicle lamp equipped with the lamp unit.

To solve the above problem, the lamp unit disclosed herein is a lamp unit that is disposed in a vehicle lamp as a second lighting means, the vehicle lamp including a first lighting means that illuminates a predetermined first area around the vehicle, and the lamp unit illuminates a second area that includes an area closer to the vehicle body than the first area with a predetermined projection pattern.

The vehicle lamp disclosed herein is equipped with the above lamp unit.

The lamp unit disclosed herein and the vehicle lamp equipped with the lamp unit illuminate the area near the vehicle body beyond the illumination range of the vehicle lamp with a predetermined projection pattern, making it possible to alert nearby pedestrians and others of an approaching vehicle and to draw their attention without obstructing the driver's view.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a lamp unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is used; 2 is a schematic diagram showing a first area which is an illumination range of a headlamp and a second area which is an illumination range of a lamp unit; FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the arrangement of a lamp unit in a headlamp. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a headlamp taken along line AA when a rotating shade is used. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a headlamp taken along line AA when a planar shape is used. 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing the configuration of a headlamp, in which (a) a MEMS is used and (b) a rotating reflector is used. 10A to 10C are schematic diagrams showing variations of projection patterns.

Below, an embodiment of the present disclosure embodied in a vehicle headlamp will be described with reference to the drawings.

The headlamp 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an HL (headlamp) unit 11 (see FIG. 3) as a first lighting means for illuminating a predetermined first area A1 in front of the vehicle, and a lamp unit 12 (see FIG. 3) as a second lighting means for illuminating a second area A2 including an area closer to the vehicle body than the first area A1 with a predetermined projection pattern 31. An example of the predetermined projection pattern 31 is a striped projection pattern 31 composed of light areas 32 and dark areas 33. In the following description, the image projected onto the road surface by the HL unit 11 is referred to as S1, and the image projected onto the road surface by the lamp unit 12 is referred to as S2.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the first area A1 is the normal illumination range illuminated by the headlamp 1 with low beam or high beam. The second area A2 is included in the area A3 that is invisible to the driver 52, and indicates a position that is blocked by the vehicle body such as the bonnet and cannot be seen by the driver 52, that is, the area from the closest point P of the driver's 52 field of vision to the vehicle body. In this case, the first and second areas A1 and A2 include not only the road surface but also areas in the air. Note that the "area A3 that is invisible to the driver 52" does not include blind spots caused by obstacles such as pillars.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lamp unit 12 is preferably disposed on the center side of the headlamp 1 in the vehicle width direction. Disposing the lamp unit 12 in this manner makes it easy to form (combine) a single projection pattern 31 using the left and right lamp units 12R and 12L. Note that, although the lamp unit 12 is mounted on the headlamp 1 in this embodiment, it is also possible to mount the lamp unit 12 on a tail lamp or fog lamp instead of or together with the headlamp 1.

As shown in FIG. 4(a), the headlamp 1 includes a lamp body 17 that is attached to the vehicle body, and a translucent cover 16 made of a transparent resin material. A lamp chamber 18 is formed inside both the lamp body 17 and the translucent cover 16.

The HL unit 11 and the lamp unit 12 for road surface drawing are arranged in the lamp chamber 18. The HL unit 11 includes a light source 111 such as an LED, a circuit board 112 on which the light source 111 is mounted, a reflector 113 that reflects light L1 from the light source 111 toward a projection lens 114, and a projection lens 114 that projects the reflected light L1 outside the headlamp 1. The lamp unit 12 also includes a light source 121 such as an LED, a circuit board 122 on which the light source 121 is mounted, a reflector 123 that reflects light L2 from the light source 121 toward a projection lens 124, and a projection lens 124 that projects the reflected light L2 outside the headlamp 1. The HL unit 11 and the lamp unit 12 are each supported by the lamp body 17 so as to be tiltable via an aiming mechanism (not shown). In the example of FIG. 4, parabolic reflectors 113, 123 and a projection lens 114 are used to project light L1, L2, but it is also possible to use a projector.

As shown in FIG. 4(b), the light source 111 of the HL unit 11 can be used as the light source 121 of the lamp unit 12, and the reflected light L2 from the reflector 113 can be directed toward the projection lens 124 to illuminate the second area A2. In this case, a part of the reflector 113 can be extended toward the front of the headlamp 1, and the light L2 can be reflected by the reflective surface of the extended area 113a.

The lamp unit 12 has a configuration for forming a predetermined projection pattern 31. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a rotating shade 13 with multiple shielding walls 13a is placed on the optical path of the light L2, and the shielding walls 13a form dark areas 33, and the light L2 passing through the gaps in the shielding walls 13a forms bright areas 32, thereby forming a striped projection pattern 31.

Figures 5 and 6 show modified examples of the configuration for forming the projection pattern 31. In the example of Figure 5, the reflector 113 has a predetermined surface shape 113b that forms a predetermined projection pattern 31 on the reflective surface of the extension area 113a. In this case, it is also possible to change the projection pattern 31 by changing the surface shape 113b. In this example, the light L2 is projected onto the second area A2 using the projection lens 114. A portion of the light that passes through the projection lens 114 is projected onto the first area A1 and the second area A2, but the light L2 is configured to be projected onto the second area A2.

In the example of FIG. 6(a), a MEMS 14 (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) consisting of multiple rows of LEDs is used as the light source 111 of the HL unit 11, and some of the LEDs 14a are assigned as the light source 121 of the lamp unit 12. A striped projection pattern 31 can be formed by turning off a predetermined number of the LEDs 14a to form dark areas 33.

In the example of FIG. 6(b), light L1 from the light source 111 of the HL unit 11 is reflected by a rotating reflector 153 to scan the area in front of the vehicle 51, and a portion of the scanning light L1 is made incident on the projection lens 124 of the lamp unit 12 as light L2. By turning the light source 111 on and off at a predetermined timing while the scanning light L2 is incident on the projection lens 124, a striped projection pattern 31 can be formed. Note that the example of FIG. 6 can also be configured to project light L2 onto the second area A2 using the projection lens 114.

Figure 7 shows variations of the striped projection pattern 31. In the examples of Figures 7(a) and (b), the left and right lamp units 12R and 12L form one projection pattern 31. On the other hand, in the examples of Figures 7(c) and (d), the left and right lamp units 12R and 12L each form one projection pattern 31.

In the examples of Figs. 7(a) and (c), horizontal stripe projection patterns 31a are formed perpendicular to the traveling direction (forward) of the vehicle 51. On the other hand, in the examples of Figs. 7(b) and (d), vertical stripe projection patterns 31b are formed along the traveling direction of the vehicle 51. In the examples of Figs. 7(a) to (d), the bright portions 32 and dark portions 33 are provided with equal thickness, but it is also possible to make the thickness d1 of the bright portions 32 large, make the thickness d2 of the dark portions 33 large, or make the thicknesses d1 and d2 of the bright portions 32 and dark portions 33 thicker or thinner in some places to provide unequal thicknesses.

The projection pattern 31 can be preferably configured not only in a striped pattern, but also with uneven and shading light. The color of the projection pattern 31 can be white when the vehicle is traveling straight, amber when turning, and red in an emergency. In this case, the projection pattern 31 formed in red can be made to flash to further attract the attention of pedestrians 53 and the like. In addition, in the case of an autonomous vehicle, the color of the projection pattern can be lit in a blue-green color to indicate that the vehicle is in autonomous driving mode. It is also possible to illuminate the second area A2 with a higher illuminance than the first area A1, for example, an illuminance of 1000 lux or more.

The projection pattern 31 may be a fixed pattern that is always the same, or a variable pattern. In addition, since the image S2 is projected onto an area that is not visible to the driver 52, there is no harm in projecting it constantly or based on predetermined conditions.

As an example of projection according to a predetermined condition, the headlamp 1 is provided with a control unit (not shown) that controls the turning on and off of the lamp unit 12, so that the lamp unit 12 can be turned on at the same time as the HL unit 11 is turned on, or the lamp unit 12 can be turned on by the driver 52.

In addition, when the lamp units 12 are mounted on taillights or fog lights in addition to the headlights 1, the control unit can be provided with a direction-of-travel discrimination unit that discriminates the traveling direction of the vehicle 51, and can switch the lamp units 12 on and off based on the traveling direction of the vehicle 51. The direction-of-travel discrimination unit can be configured to discriminate the traveling direction of the vehicle 51, for example, using a gear or a vehicle speed sensor. For example, the control unit can control the lamp units 12 of the headlights 1 to be turned off and the lamp units 12 of the taillights to be turned on when the traveling direction of the vehicle 51 is changed from forward to reverse.

Therefore, according to the headlamp 1 of this embodiment, the lamp unit 12 is used to illuminate the second area A2 that is not in the field of view of the driver 52 and is visible to pedestrians 53, etc., so that the driver 52 is not hindered while driving, and the approach of the vehicle is easily visible to surrounding pedestrians 53, etc., even when entering a bright intersection. This makes it possible to appropriately call the attention of pedestrians 53, etc. who are engrossed in conversation, etc. and moving unsteadily.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment, and the shape and configuration of each part can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. For example, the projection pattern 31 can be suitably used to project not only warnings but also welcoming text and images.

1 Headlight 11 HL unit 12 Lamp unit 13 Rotating shade (a: shielding wall)
14 MEMS (a: LED)
15 Rotating reflector 16 Light-transmitting cover 17 Lamp body 18 Lamp chamber 31 Projection pattern (a: horizontal stripes, b: vertical stripes)
32 Bright area 33 Dark area 51 Vehicle 52 Driver 53 Pedestrian 111 Light source 112 Circuit board 113 Reflector (a: extension area, b: surface shape)
114 Projection lens 121 Light source 122 Circuit board 123 Reflector 124 Projection lens d1 Thickness of bright part d2 Thickness of dark part A1 First area A2 Second area A3 Area not visible to the driver S1 Image projected onto the road surface by the HL unit S2 Image projected onto the road surface by the lamp unit

Claims (5)

A lamp unit provided as a second lighting means in a vehicle lamp,
The vehicle lamp includes a first lighting means for illuminating a predetermined first area on a road surface and around the vehicle,
the lamp unit illuminates a second area including an area on a road surface closer to the vehicle body than the first area with a predetermined projection pattern;
the second area includes an area on a road surface that is not visible to a driver of the vehicle;
the first illumination means includes a light source;
The lamp unit illuminates the second area using light from the light source,
the projection pattern includes a striped projection pattern in which dark and light areas appear in stripes,
a shielding wall that blocks light from the light source toward the dark portion,
The vehicle lamp unit according to claim 1, wherein the shielding wall is rotatable about a rotation axis perpendicular to a traveling direction of the light . The vehicle lamp unit according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle lamp is a headlamp. The vehicle lamp unit according to claim 2, wherein the lamp unit is disposed on the center side of the headlamp in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle lamp unit according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the lamp units arranged in the headlights project a single projection pattern. A vehicle lamp comprising the vehicle lamp unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4 .