JPH0770242B2 - Vehicle headlights - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of use] The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp.

[Conventional technology]

 A conventional vehicle headlamp will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a first reflecting portion, and the first reflecting portion 1 is provided with a first reflecting surface 11 which is a substantially concave paraboloid of revolution on its inner surface. Reference numeral 4 denotes a filament for a passing beam of a bulb (not shown), and the filament 4 is located on the optical axis (the axis of rotation of the first reflecting surface 11 that is a substantially concave paraboloid of revolution) XX, Further, it has a length in the optical axis XX direction, and the rear end is located at the focal point F of the first reflecting surface 11. The above-mentioned first reflector 1
A lens (not shown) is provided in the front opening of the.

In such a vehicle headlight, a switch (not shown) in the driver's seat is operated during nighttime driving to cause the passing beam filament 4 to emit light. Then, the light emitted from the filament 4 is reflected by the first reflecting surface 11 and travels forward, passes through the lens, and has a predetermined light distribution pattern P-1 indicated by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. 4 (A). The road surface is illuminated with a light distribution pattern P-2 which is irradiated forward and is indicated by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. 5 (A).

Here, in the above-described vehicle headlamp, the lens is removed to cause the low beam filament 4 to emit light.
That is, the reflected light from the first reflecting surface 11 is irradiated forward without passing through the lens. Then, the vertically long light distribution pattern P- shown by the solid line and hatching in FIG.
The light is irradiated forward at 3, and the road surface on the front side in the traveling direction is elongated and illuminated as shown by a light distribution pattern P-4 indicated by a solid line and hatching in FIG. 5 (A). As is apparent from the above, when the reflected light from the first reflecting surface 11 is not diffused by the lens, the illuminance of the narrow portion in front of the traveling direction on the road surface is high, and the illuminance of the surrounding portion is low,
It feels darker than when there is no vertically long light distribution pattern P-3 in FIG. For this reason, it is necessary to diffuse the reflected light from the first reflecting surface 11 to the left and right with a lens and irradiate it.

The light distribution patterns P-1 and P- in FIG.
3 is obtained by arranging a screen in front of a conventional vehicle headlight and irradiating the screen with light. In the figure, V-V is a vertical center line and H-H is a horizontal center line.

Further, the light distribution patterns P-2 and P- in FIG.
4 is obtained by illuminating the road surface with a conventional vehicle headlight.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, the above-described conventional vehicle headlamp simply emits light emitted from the filament 4 located on the optical axis XX and having a length in the optical axis XX direction into a substantially concave paraboloid of revolution. The light distribution pattern P-3 obtained on the screen without passing through the lens is vertically long as shown in FIG. 4 (A) because it is reflected by the first reflecting surface 11 and is irradiated forward. Is. This is because, as shown in FIG. 8, the light rays emitted from both ends of the filament 4 are reflected at one point of the first reflecting surface 11,
This is because the light is emitted forward without passing through the lens, and the angle β forming the image (light distribution pattern P-3) on the screen is large. In this way, when the light distribution pattern P-3 becomes vertically long, the luminous flux density becomes sparse. When the luminous flux density becomes sparse,
It is difficult to control the light with a lens. Therefore, in the conventional vehicle headlamp, the lens design and the lens manufacturing are complicated in order to control the light having the sparse light flux density by the lens and diffuse it to the left and right to obtain the predetermined light distribution pattern P-1. There is a problem to say. .

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle headlamp that can appropriately improve the visibility when the low beam filament is lit.

[Means for solving problems]

The invention described in claim 1 (hereinafter, simply referred to as the first invention) is arranged in the vicinity of the first reflecting surface which is a substantially concave paraboloid of revolution and the focal point of the first reflecting surface. The filament of the bulb and the upper or lower side of the first reflecting surface,
A second reflecting surface having a substantially concave elliptical surface having a first focal point near the focal point of the first reflecting surface and a second focal point behind the first reflecting surface, and the second reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface. And a third reflecting surface that is disposed between the second focal point and the second focal point and that reflects the reflected light from the second reflecting surface forward.

Further, the invention described in claim 2 (hereinafter, simply referred to as the second invention) is arranged in the vicinity of the first reflecting surface which is a substantially concave paraboloid of revolution and the focal point of the first reflecting surface. The filament of the bulb provided and the upper and lower sides of the first reflecting surface are arranged so that the first focal point is near the focal point of the first reflecting surface and the second focal point is behind the first reflecting surface. A second reflecting surface formed of a concave elliptical surface, and movably disposed between the second reflecting surface and the second focal point of the second reflecting surface, for reflecting the reflected light from the second reflecting surface forward. It is characterized in that it is provided with a three-reflecting surface and a drive device which is linked to the third reflecting surface and moves the third reflecting surface to change the direction of the reflected light from the third reflecting surface to an arbitrary direction.

[Action]

The first invention and the second invention are a light distribution obtained on a screen without passing through a lens by reflecting a part of light from a filament on a second reflection surface and a third reflection surface and irradiating the light forward. The pattern can be shorter vertically than that of conventional vehicle headlights.

In the second invention, the direction of the reflected light from the third reflecting surface can be changed to an arbitrary direction by moving the third reflecting surface with the driving device.

In particular, the first invention and the second invention are the second invention of the second reflecting surface.
The focal point is behind the first reflecting surface, and the third reflecting surface is the second
Since the third reflecting surface is disposed between the reflecting surface and the second focal point of the second reflecting surface, the third reflecting surface is located behind the bulb, the first reflecting surface, and the second reflecting surface. As a result, the height dimension of the headlight can be reduced, and the degree of freedom in shaping the vehicle (the front end of the hood can be lowered) is increased.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the vehicle headlamp of the first invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, and an embodiment of the vehicle headlamp of the second invention will be described with reference to FIG. And it demonstrates with reference to FIG.

1 to 5 show an embodiment of a vehicle headlamp of the first invention, FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a state in which the optical path is viewed from the side, and FIG. 2 is a view in which the optical path is viewed from above. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the state, and FIG. 3 is an image forming state of a light distribution pattern on the screen by the vehicle headlamp of the present invention and an image forming state of a light distribution pattern on the screen by a conventional vehicle headlight. And FIG. 4 (A) are explanatory views of a light distribution pattern on the screen by the conventional vehicle headlamp, and FIG. 4 (B) is a screen by the vehicle headlamp of the present invention. FIG. 5A is an explanatory view of a light distribution pattern above, and FIG. 5A is an explanatory view of a light distribution pattern on a road surface by a conventional vehicle headlamp.
FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram of a light distribution pattern on the road surface by the vehicle headlamp of the present invention.

In the figure, the same symbols as in FIG. 8 indicate the same items. In the figure, reference numeral 12 is an opening formed above the first reflecting portion 1.
Reference numeral 2 denotes a second reflecting portion disposed adjacent to the upper edge of the opening 12 of the first reflecting portion 1. The second reflecting portion 2 has a second reflecting surface 22 having an inner surface formed of a substantially concave spheroidal surface. To provide. In the second reflecting surface 22, the first focal point F ₁ is located on the optical axis X-X in front of the focal point F of the first reflecting surface 11 and substantially in the center of the filament 4, and the second focal point F ₂ is the optical axis X-. It is located on the rear side of the first reflecting surface 11 of the first reflecting portion on -X and has a substantially concave spheroidal surface whose rotation axis is the same as the optical axis XX. Reference numeral 3 denotes a third reflecting portion arranged between the second reflecting portion 2 and the second focal point F ₂ of the second reflecting surface 22. The third reflecting portion 3 is a convex parabolic surface convex on the outer surface. 3rd reflective surface
33 is provided. In the third reflecting surface 33, the focal point F ₃ is the second reflecting surface.
It is located at the second focal point F ₂ of 22 and has a substantially convex rotation paraboloid whose rotation axis is the same as the optical axis XX.

In the present invention, the first focal point F ₁ and the second focal point F ₂ of the second anti-slope 22 and the focal point F ₃ of the third reflecting surface 33 are not necessarily located on the optical axis XX. You don't have to. Further, the focal point F ₃ of the second focal point F ₂ and the third reflecting surface 33 of the second reflecting surface 22 may not necessarily coincide. That is, it is sufficient that the light reflected from the third reflecting surface 33 is substantially parallel. Further, that the second focal point F ₂ of the second reflecting surface 22 is behind the first reflecting surface 11 means that
It means that the space is behind a line (or surface) passing through the focal point F of the first reflecting surface 11 and perpendicular to the optical axis X-X, and not including the line (or surface). As for α, as shown in FIG. 3, the light rays (shown by the chain double-dashed line) emitted from both ends of the filament 4 are reflected by the second reflecting surface 22, and the third ray
The light is reflected at one point on the reflecting surface 33, is irradiated forward without passing through the lens, and is an image on the screen (light distribution pattern P-5).
Is the angle connecting the two. l is the third reflecting surface 33 and the first reflecting surface
The distance from one reflection point to the screen on which the light distribution patterns P-5 and P-3 are formed. f is the third reflecting surface
33 focal lengths. A lens (not shown) is arranged in the front opening of the first reflecting section 1 described above.

Since the vehicular headlamp of the present invention in this embodiment has the above-mentioned structure, the passing beam filament 4 is caused to emit light by operating the switch (not shown) in the driver's seat during nighttime driving. Then, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3,
A part of the light emitted from the filament 4 is part of the first reflecting portion 1.
Through the opening 12, is reflected by the second reflecting surface 22, further reflected by the third reflecting surface 33, and proceeds forward. The rest of the light emitted from the filament 4 is reflected by the first reflecting portion 11 and travels forward. The light traveling in this way passes through the lens and is radiated forward in the predetermined light distribution pattern P-1 indicated by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 4 (B), and the two points in FIG. The road surface is illuminated with a light distribution pattern P-2 indicated by a chain line.

Where the elliptic equation of the second reflecting surface 22 By appropriately selecting a and b in (3) and the focal length f of the third reflecting surface 33, the image forming angle α obtained by the third reflecting surface 33 is obtained from the image forming angle β obtained by the first reflecting surface 11. Can be made smaller.

As a result, in the vehicle headlamp of the present invention, the light reflected from the third reflecting surface 33 is emitted forward without passing through the lens.
Then, a short vertical light distribution pattern P-5 indicated by a solid line and hatching in FIG. 4B is irradiated to the front side, and a light distribution pattern P-indicated by a solid line and hatching in FIG. 5B is shown. As in 6, the road surface on the side facing the traveling direction is illuminated widely.

As described above, in the vehicle headlamp of the present invention, the light distribution pattern P-5 obtained without passing through the lens is made shorter vertically than the light distribution pattern P-3 of the conventional vehicle headlight, and the luminous flux density is reduced. Can be dense. Therefore, the control of the reflected light from the third reflecting surface in the lens becomes easy, and the lens design and lens manufacture become easy.

The light distribution patterns P-1 and P- in FIG.
5 is obtained by arranging a screen in front of the vehicle headlight of the present invention and irradiating the screen with light.
Further, the light distribution patterns P-2 and P- in FIG.
6 is obtained by illuminating the road surface with the vehicle headlight of the present invention.

6 and 7 show an embodiment of the vehicle headlamp of the second invention, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third reflector and a drive unit,
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a light distribution pattern on the screen.

In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 5 and 8 indicate the same parts. In the figure, 5 is a supporting device that movably supports the third reflecting portion 3, and this supporting device 5 has one end fixed to a base (not shown) and a rod 50 having a spherical portion formed at the other end. , A spherical seat 51 fixed to the back surface side of the third reflecting portion 3, and the spherical seat 51 is fitted to the spherical portion of the rod 50. Reference numerals 6 and 7 denote a drive device for vertical movement and a drive device for horizontal movement of the third reflecting portion 3. The drive device 6 for vertical movement and the drive device 7 for horizontal movement are a solenoid (not shown) and a spring (see FIG. (Not shown) is built in, and the main body 60 and 70 fixed to the base body, and the main body 60 and 70 protruding from the main body 60 and 70 so as to be able to move
In addition, the retractable rods 61 and 71 having a spherical portion at the tip thereof
And spherical seats 62 and 72 fixed to the back surface side of the third reflecting portion 3.
The spherical portions of the advancing and retracting rods 61 and 71 are fitted into the spherical seats 62 and 72. In the above-described drive device 6 for vertical movement, in the normal state, the advancing / retreating rod 61 is projected by the force of the spring, and the third reflecting surface 33 is in the downward state. When the solenoid is energized, the advancing / retreating rod 61 contracts against the force of the spring, the third reflecting portion 3 pivots upward about the spherical portion of the supporting device 5, and the third reflecting surface 33 faces upward. Become. When the solenoid is de-energized, the advancing / retreating rod 61 projects due to the spring return force, the third reflecting portion 3 pivots downward around the spherical portion of the supporting device 5, and the third reflecting surface 33 faces downward. Become. Further, in the above-described drive device 7 for left-right movement, the advancing / retreating rod 71 is normally contracted by the force of the spring, and the third reflecting surface 33 is leftward. When the solenoid is energized,
The advancing / retreating rod 71 projects against the force of the spring, and the third reflecting portion 3
Rotates to the right around the spherical portion of the support device 5, and the third reflecting surface 33 faces right. When the solenoid is de-energized, the advancing / retreating rod 71 contracts due to the restoring force of the spring, and the third reflecting portion 3 rotates leftward about the spherical portion of the supporting device 5,
The reflecting surface 33 is in the leftward state.

The solenoids of the drive devices 6 and 7 thus formed are connected to the battery via an operation switch (not shown) in the driver's seat. Also, when the drive devices 6 and 7 are in the normal state, the third
The pattern P-7 of the reflected light from the reflecting surface 33 is the first reflecting surface 11
It is configured so as to be located at the center of the total pattern P-1 of the reflected light from.

The vehicle headlamp of the present invention in this embodiment has the above-mentioned configuration, and its operation will be described below.

First, when the driving devices 6 and 7 are in the normal state (neutral state), when the passing beam filament 4 is caused to emit light,
As shown in FIG. 7, the total pattern of reflected light from the first reflecting surface 11 (shown by a solid line) P-1 is the pattern of reflected light from the third reflecting surface 33 (shown by a solid line) P-1. -7 is positioned and illuminated forward. At this time, since the pattern P-7 of the reflected light from the third reflecting surface 33 can be made short in the vertical direction to make the luminous flux density dense as in the above-described embodiment, the control in the lens becomes easy, and the lens It facilitates design and lens production.

Next, when the solenoids of the drive device 6 for vertical movement and the drive device 7 for horizontal movement are energized, the third reflecting surface 33 faces upward and rightward, and the pattern of the reflected light from the third reflecting surface 33 (shown by a chain line) P-7 'is located on the upper right of the total pattern P-1 and is irradiated forward. When only the solenoid of the drive device 6 for vertical movement is energized, the third reflecting surface 33 faces upward, and the pattern of reflected light from the third reflecting surface 33 (shown by a chain double-dashed line) P-7 ″ is the total pattern. When the solenoid of the drive device 7 for left and right movement is energized, the third reflecting surface 33 is positioned.
Is to the right, and the pattern of the light reflected from the third reflecting surface 33 (shown by the three-dot chain line) P-7 is the total pattern P-
It is located to the right of 1 and is illuminated forward.

In this way, since the reflected light from the third reflecting surface 33 can be emitted in the above-mentioned four directions, it is possible to improve the visibility when traveling at night.

In the above-described embodiment, the drive devices 6 and 7 use solenoids and springs, but instead of this, a pulse motor and power transmission mechanism are used, and the third reflecting portion 3 of the third reflecting portion 3 is moved through the advancing / retreating rods 61 and 71. The vertical rotation and the horizontal rotation may be adjusted steplessly.

Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments of the invention, the second focus F ₂ of the second reflecting surface 22 is the first reflecting surface.
Since it is behind 11 and the third reflecting surface 33 is arranged between the second reflecting surface 22 and the second focal point F ₂ of the second reflecting surface 22,
The third reflection surface 33 is a bulb and the first reflection surface 11 and the second reflection surface.
It will be located behind 11. As a result, the height dimension of the headlight can be reduced, and the degree of freedom in shaping the vehicle (the front end of the hood can be lowered) is increased.

In the embodiment of the first invention and the embodiment of the second invention described above, the second reflecting surface 22 is a substantially concave spheroidal surface, but even if the cross section in the vertical direction is a substantially concave circular surface. good. At this time, the first focus F ₁ and the second focus F ₂ are focal lines. The third reflecting surface 33 is a substantially convex paraboloid of revolution,
The shape is not particularly limited as long as it reflects the reflected light from the second reflecting surface 22 forward.

〔The invention's effect〕

As is clear from the above, the vehicular headlamps of the first and second aspects of the invention include a first reflecting surface that is a substantially concave paraboloid of revolution, a second reflecting surface that is a substantially concave elliptical surface, and a second reflecting surface. Since it has three reflecting surfaces, a part of the light from the filament is reflected by the second reflecting surface and the third reflecting surface and is radiated forward, so that a light distribution pattern obtained on the screen without passing through the lens. Can be made shorter vertically than that of a conventional vehicle headlamp. Therefore, the control of the reflected light in the lens becomes easy, and the lens design and lens manufacture become easy.

Further, in the vehicle headlamp according to the second aspect of the invention, since the third reflecting surface is movably arranged via the driving device, the third reflecting surface is moved from the third reflecting surface by moving the driving device. The direction of reflected light can be changed to any direction. Therefore,
It is possible to improve the visibility when driving at night.

In particular, the first invention and the second invention are the second invention of the second reflecting surface.
The focal point is behind the first reflecting surface, and the third reflecting surface is the second
Since the third reflecting surface is disposed between the reflecting surface and the second focal point of the second reflecting surface, the third reflecting surface is located behind the bulb, the first reflecting surface, and the second reflecting surface. As a result, the height dimension of the headlight can be reduced, and the degree of freedom in shaping the vehicle (the front end of the hood can be lowered) is increased.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 5 show an embodiment of a vehicle headlamp of the first invention, FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a state in which the optical path is viewed from the side, and FIG. 2 is a view in which the optical path is viewed from above. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the state, and FIG. 3 is an image forming state of a light distribution pattern on the screen by the vehicle headlamp of the present invention and an image forming state of a light distribution pattern on the screen by a conventional vehicle headlight. And FIG. 4 (A) is an explanatory view of a light distribution pattern on the screen by the conventional vehicle headlight, and FIG. 4 (B) is on the screen by the vehicle headlight of the present invention. FIG. 5 (A) is an explanatory view of a light distribution pattern on a road surface by a conventional vehicle headlamp,
FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram of a light distribution pattern on the road surface by the vehicle headlamp of the present invention. 6 and 7 show an embodiment of the vehicle headlamp of the second invention, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third reflector and a drive unit,
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a light distribution pattern on the screen. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of a state where the optical path of the conventional vehicle headlamp is viewed from the side. 1 ... 1st reflection part, 11 ... 1st reflection surface, F ... focus, 2
...... Second reflection part, 22 ...... Second reflection surface, F ₁ ...... First focus,
F ₂ ...... Second focus, 3 ...... Third reflection part, 33 ...... Third reflection surface, F ₃ ...... Focus, 4 ...... Passing beam filament, 5 ...... Support device, 6 ...... For vertical movement Drive device, 7 ...
... Drive device for left and right movement.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-60-74303 (JP, A) JP-A-61-51701 (JP, A) Practical application Sho-57-97305 (JP, U)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A first reflecting surface formed of a substantially concave paraboloid of revolution, a filament of a bulb arranged near the focal point of the first reflecting surface, and a filament arranged above or below the first reflecting surface. , A second reflecting surface having a substantially concave elliptical surface having a first focal point near the focal point of the first reflecting surface and a second focal point behind the first reflecting surface, and the second reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface. And a third reflecting surface which is disposed between the second reflecting surface and the second focal point and which reflects the reflected light from the second reflecting surface forward. 2. A first reflecting surface which is a substantially concave paraboloid of revolution, a filament of a bulb which is arranged near the focal point of the first reflecting surface, and a filament which is arranged above or below the first reflecting surface. , A second reflecting surface having a substantially concave elliptical surface having a first focal point near the focal point of the first reflecting surface and a second focal point behind the first reflecting surface, and the second reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface. A third reflecting surface, which is movably disposed between the second focal point of the surface and reflects the reflected light from the second reflecting surface forward, and is linked to the third reflecting surface to move the third reflecting surface. And a driving device that changes the direction of the reflected light from the third reflecting surface to an arbitrary direction.