JPS6314802B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Object of the Invention The present invention relates to a novel lens for a vehicle lamp, and more specifically, in a signal lamp such as a taillight of an automobile, light from a light source, particularly direct light, is absorbed by the cut shape of the lens step. The light can be emitted efficiently from the lens surface without being blocked, making the brightness more uniform without creating dark areas on a part of the lens surface, and improving the directivity of the light emitted from the lens surface. It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel lens for a vehicular lamp that can make the light regular and obtain a suitable light distribution and provide a vehicular lamp with excellent visibility.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY It is important for vehicle signal lights such as taillights and side lights of automobiles to have a suitable light distribution so that the vehicle's driving control and intention display can be accurately seen by surrounding vehicles. It is. In order to obtain a suitable light distribution, it is necessary to pass the light from the light source through the lens as effectively as possible without loss, provide sufficient brightness, and make the brightness of the lens surface uniform. In addition, the light emitted from the lens surface is emitted regularly with a predetermined directivity, and due to the regular emitted light, the lighting state of the lamp can be clearly seen from any direction, up, down, left or right. It is necessary to form as much light distribution as possible. Furthermore, since the lens in this lamp is an important component as a design element of the vehicle, the appearance of the lens surface is required to be as clean as possible, and in order to obtain the above-mentioned light distribution, It is also important to take care that the cut shape of the lens step used does not give the appearance of the lens surface a foreign body or discomfort feeling that is incongruous with its appearance.

Lenses for this type of vehicle lighting equipment, which have such numerous problems, are required to have a directivity in which the light distribution is diffused in two directions: up and down and left and right. A lens step having the cut shape of a so-called fisheye lens is generally used.

Conventional Example 1 and its Problems Fig. 1 shows an example a of a vehicle light using such a conventional vehicle light lens, and the lens b of this light a has the above-mentioned fisheye lens cuts c and c. , . . . (see FIG. 1C) are formed in a shape divided into many rectangles. d is a reflecting mirror, and a light source e is placed in its interior space.

As is well known, such fisheye lens cuts c, c, ... are optical elements having curved surfaces in the horizontal and vertical directions, so that the light from the light source is directed vertically and horizontally by the fisheye lens cuts c, c, ... The light is refracted in different directions and diffused, and it is possible to send a signal to surrounding vehicles using the light distribution, but the b-surface of the lens is not uniformly illuminated over its entire surface, and some parts Extremely too bright or
Parts are dark, and visibility is not very good. This is because, as shown in FIG. 1A, the direct light from the light source e is most concentrated on the center part f of the lens b surface, that is, the part directly in front of the light source e.
becomes extremely bright. The outer periphery g of the center f becomes a dark circular band. This is due to the cap h, which directs the light from the light source e to the lens b.
This is because it does not reflect to the sides at all. Further, the outer periphery i of the outer periphery g is comparatively brighter than the portion extending from there to the edge of the lens. This is because the luminous flux density of the reflected light from the light source e reflected by the reflecting mirror d is higher near the bottom and top of the reflecting mirror than around the periphery of the reflecting mirror.

Conventional Example 2 and its Problems FIG. 2 shows another example j of a vehicle lamp using a conventional lens. In the figure, k is a reflector,
l is the inner lens, m is the inner lens l
The outer lens is shown with a slight distance in front of the lens. A refractive prism part n is formed in a concentric pattern approximately at the center of the front surface of the inner lens l, and a fisheye lens part o is formed at its outer periphery, and approximately at the rear surface of the inner lens l. A fisheye lens part p is formed in the center, and a reflective prism part q is formed in a concentric pattern on the outer periphery. The outer lens m is a so-called plain lens in which no special optical element is formed. r indicates a light source.

According to the lens of lamp j shown in FIG. 2, the local brightness unevenness in the center and its outer periphery that was observed in lens b shown in FIG. Other brightness unevenness and defects in appearance occur. The luminance unevenness appears as a band-shaped non-light-emitting portion s at the adjacent boundary between each optical element formed in the inner lens l. In the adjacent portion between the fisheye lens part p and the reflection prism part q formed on the rear surface of the inner lens l, the light source to be incident on the adjacent reflection prism element is caused by the convex arc surface of the adjacent fisheye lens cut. This is because direct light from r is blocked and light is not efficiently emitted from the adjacent portion. This also means that the refractive prism part n formed on the front surface of the inner lens l and the fisheye lens part o adjacent thereto.
This can also be seen in the adjacent area between the light source r
Since the light from the fisheye lens cut is totally reflected on the inner surface of the fisheye lens cut or is not refracted in a predetermined direction, the light may not be efficiently emitted from the adjacent portion.

Furthermore, when such a lens is viewed from the front of the outer lens, the concentric pattern of the refractive prism part n and the reflective prism part q formed on the inner lens l is visible as it is or like a spotted pattern, It caused considerable discomfort and was unsightly in appearance.

Means for Solving the Problems Therefore, the present invention provides a method for efficiently emitting light from a lens surface without being blocked by the cut shape of the lens step or refracted in an unspecified direction. The present invention aims to provide a lens for a vehicle lamp that can uniformly brighten the lens surface without creating a dark area on a part of the lens surface, and is also excellent in design consideration. , a lens that covers the front opening of a lamp body of a vehicle lamp, and includes a convex lens section in which a large number of convex lens cuts having a convex arc surface are formed on the light source side, and a prism formed in a concentric pattern on the outer peripheral area of the convex lens section. In the lens for a vehicle lamp, the adjacent end of each convex lens cut adjacent to the prism part is a linear inclined surface that slopes toward the prism part at least in the cross-sectional shape of the convex lens cut. It is characterized by

Embodiments Hereinafter, details of the lens of the vehicle lamp of the present invention will be explained according to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 3 shows an example of the implementation of the lens of the vehicle lamp of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 indicates a lamp body, and a reflective surface 2 is formed on the inner surface of the lamp body. A light source 3 is arranged at. Reference numeral 4 denotes an inner lens attached to the front opening of the lamp body 1, and an outer lens 5 is attached in front of the inner lens 4 with a slight interval therebetween.
In this embodiment, the outer lens 5 functions as a transparent cover lens on which no special optical element is formed.

Optical elements are formed on the rear surface of the inner lens 4, that is, the surface facing the light source 3, and on the front surface. On the rear surface of the inner lens 4, a convex lens part 6 is formed in a substantially rectangular area at the center thereof, and a prism part 7 is formed in the outer peripheral area of the convex lens part 6, respectively. In this embodiment, the convex lens cuts provided in the convex lens section 6 are arranged and formed in a grid pattern as fisheye lens cuts 8, 8, . . . each having a convex arc surface on the light source 3 side. The portion 7 has a concentric pattern shape and includes reflective prism elements 9, 9,...
It is formed by providing...

On the other hand, on the front surface of the inner lens 4, refractive prism elements 10, 10, . A refracting prism section 11 is formed in a patterned shape, and a diffusing lens section 12 is formed in the outer peripheral region of the refracting prism section 11. In this embodiment, the diffusion lens section 12 is formed by providing fisheye lens cuts 13, 13, . . . .

The convex lens cuts in the convex lens section 6 described above, that is, the fisheye lens cuts 8, 8, . . .
... is the reflecting prism 9 of the prism section 7,
9, ... and each adjacent fisheye lens cut 8, 8,
. . ., the adjacent end sides thereof are cut as linear inclined surfaces inclined toward the prism portion 7 at least in the horizontal cross section. This is shown in detail in FIG. In the figure, 8A indicates fisheye lens cuts 8, 8, . . . formed on the convex lens portion 6.
. . . those formed at the ends adjacent to the prism portion 7 are shown. 14 is the fisheye lens cut 8A
An inclined surface formed in a convex arc surface, which is inclined substantially linearly from near the apex of the convex arc surface toward the base end of the reflective prism element 9A formed at the end adjacent to the convex lens portion 6 of the prism portion 7. It is being and,
This inclined surface 14 is formed substantially parallel to the direction of incidence of direct light rays 15 and 16 from the light source 3 which are incident on the fisheye lens cut 8A or the reflective prism element 9A.

In this way, among the fisheye lens cuts 8, 8, . As a result, the direct light from the light source 3 is reliably incident on the reflective prism element 9A formed at a position in contact with the convex lens portion 6, and the reflective prism element 9A is almost parallel to the optical axis xx on its reflective inner surface. reflected in the direction. Therefore, since these reflected lights are often projected onto a portion of the front surface of the inner lens 4 corresponding to the boundary between the convex lens portion 6 and the prism portion 7, the dark line-like appearance that has conventionally occurred in this portion is eliminated. The non-light-emitting portion s (see FIG. 2A) is eliminated, and the front surface of the inner lens 4 is illuminated evenly and uniformly.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the lens of the vehicle lamp of the present invention. According to the lens shown in this embodiment, the emitted light emitted from the lens surface can form a light distribution with more regular directivity, and the design of the lens is also well considered. The structure of the lens in this example is different from the lens shown in FIG.
In contrast to the fisheye lens cut used in the lens of FIG. 3, a cylindrical lens extending in the horizontal direction is used, and a cylindrical lens extending in the vertical direction is formed in the outer lens. The rest of the structure is the same as that shown in FIG. 3, so the same members and portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

That is, in the central region of the rear surface of the inner lens 4, a large number of cylindrical lenses 17, 17, . Therefore, a convex lens portion 6 is formed, and a cylindrical lens 1 extending in the horizontal direction similar to the above is provided in the outer peripheral area of the refractive prism portion 11 on the front surface of the inner lens 4.
8, 18, ... are arranged in large numbers to form the diffuser lens section 1.
2 is formed. Further, on the rear surface of the outer lens 5, there is a cylindrical lens 1 having a concave arc surface in the cross section.
9, 19, . . . are arranged in large numbers so as to extend in the vertical direction.

The ends of each of the cylindrical lenses 17, 17, . In addition, the end portions of the cylindrical lenses 18, 18, . . These are shown enlarged in FIG. In the figure, 20 indicates each cylindrical lens 1 in the convex lens section 6.
7, 17, . . . indicate virtual end portions adjacent to the prism portion 7, and this virtual end portion 20 is directed toward the base end of the reflective prism element 9A adjacent to the convex lens portion 6 of the prism portion 7 in its horizontal section. The inclined surface 21 is formed by cutting substantially linearly. This inclined surface 21 is formed so as to be substantially parallel to the direction of incidence of direct light 22 from the light source 3 that enters the reflective prism element 9A. On the other hand, 23 indicates each cylindrical lens 18, 18, . . . in the diffusion lens section 12.
... indicates a virtual end adjacent to the refraction prism section 11, and this virtual end 23 extends approximately toward the base end of the refraction prism element 10A adjacent to the diffusion lens section 12 of the refraction prism section 11 in its horizontal section. An inclined surface 24 is formed by cutting in a straight line.

In this way, by forming the inclined surface 21 at the end of each cylindrical lens 17, 17, . Make sure it enters. That is, if this inclined surface 21 is not formed, the direct light 22 that should be incident on the reflective prism element 9A is blocked by the virtual end portions 20 of the cylindrical lenses 17, 17, . The direct light 22 is totally reflected at this virtual end 20 and does not enter the reflective prism element 9A, but in the above lens, the virtual end 20 is cut off, so the direct light 22 is blocked. There is no reflective prism element 9 at a position adjacent to this convex lens portion 6.
It is also surely incident on A. And this direct light 22
Since the light is reflected by the reflective inner surface of the reflective prism element 9A and projected onto the outer lens 5, the non-light-emitting portion that conventionally occurs in this portion will not occur.

On the other hand, by forming the inclined surface 24 at the end adjacent to the refractive prism part 11 of each cylindrical lens 18, 18, . , 9C and reflected by the cylindrical lens 18,
18, . . . is emitted with directivity in a predetermined direction via the inclined surface 24 thereof.

Incidentally, in this embodiment, the optical elements for diffusing the light from the light source 3 in two directions, up and down and left and right, are cylindrical lenses 17, 17, . . . and 18, 1 formed on the inner lens 4 and extending in the horizontal direction.
8, . . . and vertically extending cylindrical lenses 19, 19, . . . formed on the outer lens. In other words, the diffusion in the vertical direction is caused by the cylindrical lens 17 formed in the inner lens 4,
17, . . . and 18, 18, . The beams are arranged regularly with extremely accurate directivity to obtain the desired light distribution.

Furthermore, by combining these cylindrical lenses, the refractive prism elements 10, 10, ... and the reflective prism elements 9, formed in the inner lens 4 are formed.
The concentric patterns 9, . . . can be made completely invisible from the front of the outer lens 5. This is because the cylindrical lenses 19, 19, . This is because the lens 19, 19, . . . forms an image as only one line.

Effects As is clear from the above description, in the lens of the vehicle lamp of the present invention, the adjacent end of each convex lens cut adjacent to the prism portion formed in a concentric pattern is at least close to the convex lens cut. Since the cross-sectional shape of is a linear slope that slopes toward the prism part,
At the boundary between the convex lens section and the prism section, the direct light from the light source that enters the prism section is not blocked, so the light from the light source is effectively used, and the boundary section is visible from the front of the lens. It is not visible as a dark line.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 and 2 show different examples of conventional vehicle lamps using lenses, respectively.
Figure 1 A is a front view, B is a vertical side view taken along the line B-B of Figure A, C is a perspective view showing a part of the lens cut away, Figure 2 A is a front view, and B is B of Figure A. - A cross-sectional plan view taken along line B; FIG. 3 shows an example of the implementation of the lens of the vehicle lamp of the present invention attached to a lamp body; A is an exploded perspective view; B is a central vertical sectional side view;
C is a central cross-sectional plan view, FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional plan view of the main parts of the lens shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the lens of the vehicle lamp of the present invention attached to a lamp body. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional plan view showing the main parts of the lens shown in FIG. 5. Explanation of symbols, 1... Lamp body, 3... Light source, 6... Convex lens section, 7... Prism section, 8...
...Lens cut, 14... Inclined surface, 17... Cylindrical lens, 21... Inclined surface.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A convex lens portion that covers the front opening of a lamp body of a vehicle lamp and is formed with a large number of convex lens cuts having a convex arc surface on the light source side, and a concentric circle formed in the outer peripheral area of the convex lens portion. In a lens for a vehicle lamp comprising a prism portion formed in a pattern, the adjacent end edge of each convex lens cut adjacent to the prism portion is a straight line that slopes toward the prism portion at least in the cross-sectional shape of the convex lens cut. A vehicle lighting lens characterized by a sloped surface. 2. The lens for a vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the convex lens cut is a fisheye lens cut. 3. The lens for a vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the convex lens cut is a convex cylindrical lens cut. 4. The lens for a vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the inclined surface in the cross-sectional shape of each convex lens cut is formed substantially parallel to the locus of direct light from a light source that enters the lens cut.