JP7787188B2 - Vehicle lighting fixtures - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the technical field of vehicle lighting fixtures having a light guide that guides and irradiates incident light.

Some vehicle lighting fixtures have a light guide and multiple light sources, and light emitted from each light source is guided by the light guide and emitted to the outside from the light guide's illumination portion (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In the vehicle lamp described in Patent Document 1, a portion of the light guide is formed as a non-linear (curved) illumination portion, and light guided by the light guide is emitted from the illumination portion.

In vehicle lamps having such light guides, by adjusting the width of the illumination portion, the length of the illumination portion, and the position of the illumination portion relative to the light guide as desired, it is possible to set various light illumination conditions and improve visibility and design.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-164977

However, in vehicle lamps configured to emit light from a non-linear illumination portion as described above, because the illumination portion is formed non-linearly, there is a risk that the light utilization efficiency will be low depending on the state of light incidence on the illumination portion, and that light may not be emitted from the illumination portion with sufficient brightness.

Therefore, the vehicle lighting fixture of the present invention aims to improve light utilization efficiency and ensure appropriate light illumination conditions.

A vehicle lamp according to the present invention includes a light guide having a first incident surface and a second incident surface, and guiding light incident from the first incident surface and the second incident surface, a first light source whose emitted light is incident from the first incident surface, and a second light source whose emitted light is incident from the second incident surface, wherein the light guide is formed with a first irradiating portion and a second irradiating portion that irradiate the guided light, respectively, the first irradiating portion is located closer to the second incident surface than the second irradiating portion and is formed in a shape that displaces in a direction approaching the second light source as it becomes more distant from the second irradiating portion, and the second irradiating portion is located closer to the first incident surface than the first irradiating portion and displaces in a direction approaching the first light source as it becomes more distant from the first irradiating portion. the first light source and the second light source are formed in a shape such that the light emitted from the first light source is irradiated from the first irradiation portion and the light emitted from the second light source is irradiated from the second irradiation portion , the plurality of first irradiation portions and the plurality of second irradiation portions are formed to be spaced apart in the left-right direction, the plurality of first light sources and the plurality of second light sources are arranged to be spaced apart in the left-right direction, and when the center side of the vehicle in the left-right direction is the inner side and the side opposite the inner side is the outer side, the first irradiation portion is formed in a shape that displaces inward as it goes upward, and the second irradiation portion is formed in a shape that displaces inward as it goes downward, and light is emitted from the first light source and the second light source toward the inner side based on the up-down direction .

As a result, the first irradiation section and the second irradiation section are formed into a shape that displaces in a direction approaching the second light source or the first light source as they move away from each other, and light emitted from the first light source is irradiated from the first irradiation section positioned closer to the second incident surface than the second irradiation section, and light emitted from the second light source is irradiated from the second irradiation section positioned closer to the first incident surface than the first irradiation section.

According to the present invention, the first irradiation section and the second irradiation section are formed in a shape that displaces in a direction approaching the second light source or the first light source as they move away from each other, and light emitted from the first light source is irradiated from the first irradiation section located on the second incident surface side of the second irradiation section, and light emitted from the second light source is irradiated from the second irradiation section located on the first incident surface side of the first irradiation section, thereby increasing the light utilization efficiency and ensuring an appropriate light irradiation state.

2 to 7 show an embodiment of the vehicle lamp of the present invention, and this figure is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vehicle lamp. FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the traveling direction of light. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the traveling direction of light in another configuration of the light-emitting section.

Below, an embodiment of the vehicle lamp of the present invention is described with reference to the attached drawings.

Vehicle lamp 1 is attached, for example, to both the left and right ends of the front end of the vehicle body and is used as a so-called combination lamp that functions as a vehicle headlamp and a vehicle marker light. However, vehicle lamp 1 is not limited to a combination lamp, and may be either a single lamp or a combination lamp that functions at least as a vehicle marker light, as long as it has a configuration with multiple light sources and a light guide.

The following describes the front, rear, up, down, left and right directions based on the vehicle on which the vehicle lamp 1 is installed. However, the front, rear, up, down, left and right directions described below are for the sake of convenience, and the implementation of this invention is not limited to these directions. In addition, in the left and right direction, the center of the vehicle is the inner side, and the side opposite the inner side is the outer side.

The vehicle lamp 1 comprises a lamp housing 2 that opens from the front to the side, and a cover 3 that closes the opening of the lamp housing 2 (see Figure 1). The lamp housing 2 and cover 3 form the lamp outer casing 4, and the internal space of the lamp outer casing 4 forms the lamp chamber 5.

The lamp chamber 5 contains a marker light unit 6, a lamp unit 7, and an extension 8.

The marker light unit 6 has a light guide 9, multiple substrates 10, multiple first light sources 11, and multiple second light sources 12 (see Figures 1 and 2).

The light guide 9 is formed, for example, in a plate shape, and is formed in a shape that gradually displaces rearward as it moves outward. The lower end surface of the light guide 9 is formed as a first incident surface 9a, and the upper end surface is formed as a second incident surface 9b.

The light guide 9 is composed of a first light guide section 13, an intermediate light guide section 14, and a second light guide section 15, which are arranged in succession from the top (see Figures 1 to 3). The first light guide section 13 is inclined so that it displaces rearward as it goes downward, the intermediate light guide section 14 is oriented in a substantially horizontal direction, and the second light guide section 15 is inclined so that it displaces rearward as it goes upward. Therefore, the light guide 9 is formed as a whole in a concave shape that opens both forward and to the sides.

The upper end of the first light-guiding section 13 is provided as a substrate mounting section 13a with an uneven shape, and the lower end of the second light-guiding section 15 is provided as a substrate mounting section 15a with an uneven shape.

The light guide 9 has, for example, linear light-emitting portions 16, 16, ... formed at a distance from each other on the left and right. The light-emitting portions 16 are formed, for example, by providing a reflective step 9c on a portion of the back surface of the light guide 9 (see Figure 4). Therefore, when light is incident on the light-emitting portion 16, the incident light is totally reflected by the reflective step 9c and guided by the light-emitting portion 16, and is emitted from the light-emitting portion 16 in a range extending from the front to the sides.

The light-emitting section 16 is formed in a position extending from the first light-guiding section 13 to the second light-guiding section 15 (see Figures 2 and 3). The part of the light-emitting section 16 formed in the first light-guiding section 13 is the first irradiation section 17, the part formed in the intermediate light-guiding section 14 is the intermediate irradiation section 18, and the part formed in the second light-guiding section 15 is the second irradiation section 19.

The first irradiation section 17 is formed in a portion from a position near the upper end of the first light guide section 13 to the lower end of the first light guide section 13, and is inclined so that it displaces rearward as it extends downward, and also displaces outward as it extends downward (see Figures 2 and 5). Therefore, the first irradiation section 17 is formed in an inclined state so that it displaces in a direction closer to the second light source 12 as it moves away from the second irradiation section 19, and is located closer to the second incident surface 9b than the second irradiation section 19.

The intermediate illumination section 18 is formed in the portion of the intermediate light guide section 14 from the upper end to the lower end, and extends substantially vertically. The intermediate illumination section 18 has a gently curved shape, for example, curved so as to be convex toward the outer surface of the light guide 9 (see Figure 4). Note that the intermediate illumination section 18 is not limited to being curved so as to be convex toward the outer surface of the light guide 9, and may also be curved in the direction of extension, for example, curved so as to be convex downward or curved so as to be convex upward.

The second irradiation section 19 is formed in a portion extending from a position near the lower end of the second light-guiding section 15 to the upper end of the second light-guiding section 15, and is inclined so that it displaces rearward and outward as it extends upward (see Figures 2 and 6). Therefore, the second irradiation section 19 is formed in an inclined shape that displaces toward the first light source 11 as it moves away from the first irradiation section 17, and is positioned closer to the first incident surface 9a than the first irradiation section 17. It can also be understood that the first irradiation section 17 is formed in an inclined shape that displaces toward the irradiation direction S as it moves away from the second irradiation section 19, and the second irradiation section 19 is formed in an inclined shape that displaces toward the irradiation direction S as it moves away from the first irradiation section 17.

For example, multiple substrates 10 are arranged spaced apart vertically and horizontally. The substrates 10, 10, ... are positioned on the upper substrate mounting portion 13a of the light guide 9 and attached spaced apart horizontally, and are also positioned on the lower substrate mounting portion 15a of the light guide 9 and attached spaced apart horizontally.

The number of substrates 10, 10, ... attached to the substrate mounting portion 13a is the same as the number of substrates 10, 10, ... attached to the substrate mounting portion 15a, and each is the same as the number of light-emitting portions 16, 16, ... of the light guide 9.

First light sources 11, 11, ... are mounted on the boards 10, 10, ... attached to the board mounting portion 15a, respectively, and second light sources 12, 12, ... are mounted on the boards 10, 10, ... attached to the board mounting portion 13a, respectively. Therefore, the first light source 11 is positioned below the second irradiation portion 19, and the second light source 12 is positioned above the first irradiation portion 17. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs), for example, are used as the first light source 11 and the second light source 12.

The first light source 11 is positioned opposite the first incident surface 9a of the light guide 9, and light emitted from the first light source 11 enters the light guide 9 from the first incident surface 9a and is guided by the light guide 9. The second light source 12 is positioned opposite the second incident surface 9b of the light guide 9, and light emitted from the second light source 12 enters the light guide 9 from the second incident surface 9b and is guided by the light guide 9.

Light is emitted from the first light source 11, for example, upward, and light is emitted from the second light source 12, for example, downward.

The marker light unit 6 functions, for example, as a position lamp that allows the driver to recognize the width of the vehicle and as a welcome lamp that assists when boarding.When functioning as a position lamp, the light-emitting elements 16, 16, ... are set to a lit or flashing state, and when functioning as a welcome lamp, the light-emitting elements 16, 16, ... are set to a sequential state in which they light up in succession in the left and right directions.

The lamp unit 7 is arranged in the lamp chamber 5 behind the light guide 9 and facing it. The lamp unit 7 is, for example, a headlight unit that functions as a headlamp, and has, for example, multiple beam irradiators 7a, 7a, ... arranged spaced apart on the left and right. The beam irradiator 7a emits a high beam that illuminates a long-distance position or a low beam that illuminates a close-distance position.

Both the high beam and low beam are transmitted through the light guide 9 and cover 3 in order and radiated forward, but are transmitted through the portion between the light-emitting sections 16, 16 of the light guide 9. Therefore, the light radiated from the beam irradiator 7a is not affected by the reflective step 9c formed on the back surface of the light-emitting section 16, ensuring the appropriate light distribution pattern for the high beam and low beam.

In addition, the lamp unit 7 is not limited to a headlight unit, but may also be a unit that functions as various types of marker lights.

As described above, in the vehicle lamp 1, the lamp unit 7 is arranged opposite the light guide 9, and the light emitted from the lamp unit 7 is transmitted through the light guide 9.

Therefore, there is no need to position the lamp unit 7 away from the light guide 9 in order to irradiate the light emitted from the lamp unit 7 toward the outside from an area where the light guide 9 is not present.This makes it possible to achieve a compact design by making effective use of space, and by configuring the vehicle lamp 1 to emit multiple lights with different functions, it is possible to improve functionality.

The extension 8 functions to shield a portion of each part arranged in the lamp chamber 5, and shields at least the upper and lower ends of the light guide 9 from the front by the extension 8. Therefore, the extension 8 shields the board mounting portion 13a of the light guide 9, the board mounting portion 15a of the light guide 9, the first light sources 11, 11, ... and the second light sources 12, 12, ...

In the vehicle lamp 1 configured as described above, when light is emitted from the first light source 11, the emitted light is incident on the first incident surface 9a and guided by the portion of the light guide 9 other than the light-emitting portion 16, and is incident, for example, from the lower end of the intermediate illumination portion 18 (see arrow A in Figures 3 and 5). The light incident from the lower end of the intermediate illumination portion 18 is guided by the intermediate illumination portion 18 and the first illumination portion 17 in that order, and is emitted from the intermediate illumination portion 18 and the first illumination portion 17.

In this way, the vehicle lamp 1 is configured so that light emitted from the first light source 11, which is positioned below the second illumination portion 19, is irradiated from the first illumination portion 17, which is tilted so that it displaces rearward as it travels downward. On the other hand, if light emitted from the second light source 12 were irradiated from the first illumination portion 17, which is tilted so that it displaces rearward as it travels downward (see arrow C in Figure 5), it would be necessary to set the irradiation direction by significantly bending the light relative to the direction of travel of the guided light, and it would be very difficult to form a reflective step that significantly bends the light in this way.

Therefore, as described above, by configuring the light emitted from the first light source 11 positioned below the second irradiation unit 19 to be irradiated from the first irradiation unit 17 (see arrow A in Figure 5), it becomes possible to set the irradiation direction without significantly bending the light relative to the direction of travel of the guided light, making it possible to easily form the reflective step 9c.

Furthermore, when light is emitted from the second light source 12, the emitted light is incident on the second incident surface 9b and guided by a portion of the light guide 9 other than the light-emitting portion 16, for example, incident on the upper end of the intermediate irradiation portion 18 (see arrow B in Figures 3 and 6). The light incident on the upper end of the intermediate irradiation portion 18 is guided by the intermediate irradiation portion 18 and the second irradiation portion 19 in sequence, and is irradiated from the intermediate irradiation portion 18 and the second irradiation portion 19.

In this way, the vehicle lamp 1 is configured so that light emitted from the second light source 12, which is positioned above the first illumination section 17, is irradiated from the second illumination section 19, which is tilted so that it displaces rearward as it moves upward. On the other hand, if light emitted from the first light source 11 is irradiated from the second illumination section 19, which is tilted so that it displaces rearward as it moves upward (see arrow D in Figure 6), it is necessary to set the irradiation direction by significantly bending the light relative to the direction of travel of the guided light, and it is very difficult to form a reflection step that significantly bends the light in this way.

Therefore, as described above, by configuring the light emitted from the second light source 12 positioned above the first irradiation unit 17 to be irradiated from the second irradiation unit 19 (see arrow B in Figure 6), it becomes possible to set the irradiation direction without significantly bending the light relative to the direction of travel of the guided light, making it easier to form the reflective step 9c.

As described above, in the vehicle lamp 1, a first irradiation section 17 and a second irradiation section 19 are formed on the light guide 9, the first irradiation section 17 is positioned closer to the second incident surface 9b than the second irradiation section 19 and is formed in a shape that displaces toward the second light source 12 as it moves away from the second irradiation section 19, the second irradiation section 19 is positioned closer to the first incident surface 9a than the first irradiation section 17 and is formed in a shape that displaces toward the first light source 11 as it moves away from the first irradiation section 17, and light emitted from the first light source 11 is irradiated from the first irradiation section 17 and light emitted from the second light source 12 is irradiated from the second irradiation section 19.

Therefore, the first irradiation unit 17 and the second irradiation unit 19 are formed in a shape that displaces in a direction approaching the second light source 12 or the first light source 11 as they move away from each other, and light emitted from the first light source 11 is irradiated from the first irradiation unit 17, which is positioned closer to the second incident surface 9b than the second irradiation unit 19, and light emitted from the second light source 12 is irradiated from the second irradiation unit 19, which is positioned closer to the first incident surface 9a than the first irradiation unit 17.

This makes it possible to set the direction of illumination without significantly bending the light relative to the direction of travel of the guided light, thereby increasing the efficiency of light utilization and ensuring appropriate light illumination.

In addition, in the vehicle lamp 1, the first light source 11 and the second light source 12 are each mounted on a substrate 10, and the substrate 10 is attached to the light guide 9.

Therefore, since the substrate 10 on which the first light source 11 and the second light source 12 are mounted is attached to the light guide 9, the substrate 10 is positioned relative to the light guide 9, ensuring high positional accuracy relative to the first irradiation section 17 and the second irradiation section 19 of the first light source 11 and the second light source 12, and improving the incidence efficiency of the light emitted from the first light source 11 and the second light source 12 onto the first irradiation section 17 and the second irradiation section 19.

Furthermore, an intermediate irradiation section 18 is formed between the first irradiation section 17 and the second irradiation section 19, and is continuous with both, and the intermediate irradiation section 18 is formed in a curved shape.

Therefore, by setting the direction and degree of curvature, it is possible to direct the light emitted from the intermediate irradiation section 18 in any direction and range, thereby improving the freedom of light distribution control.

Below, we will describe a different configuration of the light-emitting unit 16A (see Figure 7).

The light-emitting section 16A has a first irradiation section 17 formed in the first light-guiding section 13, an intermediate irradiation section 18A formed in the intermediate light-guiding section 14, and a second irradiation section 19 formed in the second light-guiding section 15.

The intermediate irradiation unit 18A is composed of a first portion 18a located on the upper side and a second portion 18b located on the lower side. The first portion 18a is tilted so that it displaces inward as it goes upward, and the second portion 18b is tilted so that it displaces inward as it goes downward. The tilt angle of the first portion 18a and the second portion 18b relative to the vertical direction is smaller than the tilt angle of the first irradiation unit 17 and the second irradiation unit 19 relative to the vertical direction, for example.

Light is emitted from the first light source 11 in a direction that slopes diagonally upward and inward with respect to the vertical direction V, and light is emitted from the second light source 12 in a direction that slopes diagonally downward and inward with respect to the vertical direction V.

When light is emitted from the first light source 11, the emitted light enters the first incident surface 9a and is guided by a portion of the light guide 9 other than the light-emitting portion 16A, for example, entering the lower end of the first portion 18a of the intermediate irradiation portion 18A. The light entering the lower end of the first portion 18a is guided sequentially by the first portion 18a and the first irradiation portion 17, and is irradiated from the first portion 18a and the first irradiation portion 17.

On the other hand, when light is emitted from the second light source 12, the emitted light enters the second incident surface 9b and is guided by a portion of the light guide 9 other than the light-emitting portion 16A, for example, entering the upper end of the second portion 18b in the intermediate irradiation portion 18A. The light entering the upper end of the second portion 18b is guided sequentially by the second portion 18b and the second irradiation portion 19, and is irradiated from the second portion 18b and the second irradiation portion 19.

In this configuration in which the intermediate irradiation unit 18A is used, light is emitted from the first light source 11 diagonally upward, and as the light emitted from the first light source 11 travels upward, it is guided and irradiated by the first irradiation unit 17, which is displaced inward, and as the light travels upward, light is emitted from the second light source 12 diagonally downward, and as the light emitted from the second light source 12 travels downward, it is guided and irradiated by the second irradiation unit 19, which is displaced inward.

Therefore, the light emitted from the first light source 11 and the second light source 12 is less likely to be incident on the first irradiation section 17 and the second irradiation section 19 located adjacent to the first irradiation section 17 and the second irradiation section 19 to which the light is originally intended to be incident, and unintended light is less likely to be emitted from the adjacent first irradiation section 17 and second irradiation section 19, thereby forming an appropriate light distribution pattern.

This configuration in which light is emitted inward from the first light source 11 and the second light source 12 is particularly effective in sequential illumination modes in which the light-emitting units 16A, 16A, ... light up sequentially in the left-right direction, as it makes it difficult for unintended light to be emitted from the adjacent light-emitting unit 16A.

In addition, the above example shows that light emitted from the first light source 11 is incident from the lower end of the intermediate irradiation section 18 in the light-emitting section 16, and light emitted from the second light source 12 is incident from the upper end of the intermediate irradiation section 18 in the light-emitting section 16.

However, in the vehicle lamp 1, light emitted from the first light source 11 may be incident on the lower end of the first illumination section 17 of the light-emitting section 16, and light emitted from the second light source 12 may be incident on the upper end of the intermediate illumination section 18 of the light-emitting section 16. Alternatively, light emitted from the first light source 11 may be incident on the lower end of the intermediate illumination section 18 of the light-emitting section 16, and light emitted from the second light source 12 may be incident on the upper end of the second illumination section 19 of the light-emitting section 16. By setting the light incidence state in this manner, neither the light emitted from the first light source 11 nor the second light source 12 is irradiated from the intermediate illumination section 18, making it possible to achieve an overall uniform illumination state for the light irradiated from the light-emitting section 16.

1...vehicle lamp, 7...lamp unit, 9...light guide, 9a...first incident surface, 9b...second incident surface, 10...substrate, 11...first light source, 12...second light source, 17...first irradiation section, 18...intermediate irradiation section, 19...second irradiation section

Claims (5)

a light guide having a first incident surface and a second incident surface, and guiding light incident from the first incident surface and the second incident surface, respectively;
a first light source that emits light incident on the first incident surface;
a second light source that emits light incident on the second incident surface;
The light guide is formed with a first irradiation section and a second irradiation section that respectively irradiate the guided light,
the first irradiation unit is positioned closer to the second incident surface than the second irradiation unit, and is formed into a shape that displaces in a direction approaching the second light source as it becomes more distant from the second irradiation unit,
the second irradiation unit is positioned closer to the first incident surface than the first irradiation unit, and is formed into a shape that displaces in a direction approaching the first light source as it moves away from the first irradiation unit,
the light emitted from the first light source is irradiated from the first irradiating unit, and the light emitted from the second light source is irradiated from the second irradiating unit ;
a plurality of the first irradiating units and a plurality of the second irradiating units are formed to be spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction,
a plurality of the first light sources and a plurality of the second light sources are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction,
When the center of the vehicle in the left-right direction is the inner side and the opposite side of the inner side is the outer side,
The first irradiation portion is formed in a shape that displaces inward as it goes upward,
The second irradiation portion is formed in a shape that displaces inward as it goes downward,
Light is emitted from the first light source and the second light source inwardly with respect to the vertical direction.
Vehicle lighting fixtures. the first light source and the second light source are each mounted on a substrate;
The substrate is attached to the light guide.
2. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1 . a lamp unit is disposed at a position facing the light guide;
The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein light emitted from the lamp unit is transmitted through the light guide. an intermediate irradiation section is formed between the first irradiation section and the second irradiation section, and both ends of the intermediate irradiation section are continuous with the first irradiation section and the second irradiation section;
The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the intermediate illumination portion is formed in a curved shape. a light guide having a first incident surface and a second incident surface, and guiding light incident from the first incident surface and the second incident surface, respectively;
a first light source that emits light incident on the first incident surface;
a second light source, the emitted light of which is incident from the second incident surface;
The light guide is formed with a first irradiation section and a second irradiation section that respectively irradiate the guided light,
the first irradiation unit is positioned closer to the second incident surface than the second irradiation unit, and is formed into a shape that displaces in a direction approaching the second light source as it becomes more distant from the second irradiation unit,
the second irradiation unit is positioned closer to the first incident surface than the first irradiation unit, and is formed into a shape that displaces in a direction approaching the first light source as it moves away from the first irradiation unit,
the light emitted from the first light source is irradiated from the first irradiating unit, and the light emitted from the second light source is irradiated from the second irradiating unit;
an intermediate irradiation section is formed between the first irradiation section and the second irradiation section, and both ends of the intermediate irradiation section are continuous with the first irradiation section and the second irradiation section;
The intermediate irradiation portion is formed in a curved shape.
Vehicle lighting fixtures.