JP2013033624A - Vehicular headlight - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular headlight in which light use efficiency can be improved, since light subjected to internal reflection in a projection lens can be used as light for forming light distribution pattern.SOLUTION: The vehicular headlight is provided with a light source 17 for emitting light, a projection lens 11 which projects light emitted from the light source and performs irradiation and moreover performs internal reflection of a part of the light emitted from the light source, a first reflector 12 for reflecting the light emitted from the light source toward the projection lens, and a second reflector 13 which reflects and emits the light subjected to internal reflection twice in the projection lens. A light distribution pattern is formed by the light projected by the projection lens and the light reflected by the second reflector.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp. Specifically, the first reflector and the second reflector are provided, and the light that is internally reflected twice in the projection lens is reflected by the second reflector as light that forms a light distribution pattern, thereby improving the light utilization efficiency. This is related to the technical field.

  Some vehicle headlamps include a lamp unit having a light source, a projection lens, and a reflector disposed in an outer casing of a lamp constituted by a cover and a lamp housing (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the vehicle headlamp described in Patent Document 1, the light emitted from the light source is reflected by the reflector toward the projection lens, and the reflected light is projected by the projection lens to be near or far. A light distribution pattern of a low beam or a high beam that irradiates a distance region is formed.

JP 2003-317513 A

  By the way, in the projection lens, most of the incident light passes through the projection lens, but a part of the incident light is internally reflected by the projection lens.

  Therefore, in the vehicle headlamp described in Patent Document 1, the light reflected from the inner surface of the projection lens among the light emitted from the light source is not used as the light forming the light distribution pattern. There is a problem that the utilization efficiency of the light emitted from is low.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to overcome the above-described problems and improve the light utilization efficiency.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a vehicle headlamp projects a light source that emits light, projects and radiates light emitted from the light source, and internally reflects a part of the light emitted from the light source. A projection lens that reflects the light emitted from the light source toward the projection lens, and a second reflector that reflects and irradiates the light that has been internally reflected twice in the projection lens. A light distribution pattern is formed by the light projected by the projection lens and the light reflected by the second reflector.

  Therefore, in the vehicle headlamp, the light emitted from the light source and projected by the projection lens and the light reflected by the projection lens and reflected by the second reflector form a light distribution pattern. Used as light.

  The vehicle headlamp according to the present invention includes a light source that emits light, a projection lens that projects and irradiates light emitted from the light source, and internally reflects a part of the light emitted from the light source, and the light source. A first reflector that reflects light emitted from the projection lens toward the projection lens, and a second reflector that reflects and irradiates the light that has been internally reflected twice in the projection lens, and is projected by the projection lens. A light distribution pattern is formed by the reflected light and the light reflected by the second reflector.

  Therefore, since the light internally reflected by the projection lens can be used as the light for forming the light distribution pattern, the light use efficiency can be improved.

  In the invention described in claim 2, the first light distribution pattern is formed by the light projected by the projection lens, and the second light distribution pattern is formed by the light reflected by the second reflector. Is done.

  Therefore, by forming the second light distribution pattern in addition to the first light distribution pattern, the degree of freedom of the shape and brightness of the light distribution pattern formed by the vehicle headlamp is increased, and the light distribution The degree of freedom in control can be improved.

  In the invention described in claim 3, the first light distribution pattern is formed as a low beam or high beam light distribution pattern that irradiates a short-distance or long-distance region, and the second light distribution pattern is the It is formed as a light distribution pattern that irradiates at least one of the left and right regions of the first light distribution pattern.

  Accordingly, since at least one of the left and right regions of the first light distribution pattern which is a low beam or high beam light distribution pattern that irradiates a short-distance or long-distance region is irradiated, a pedestrian or vehicle on the side of the road, etc. Is highly visible, and it is possible to improve the visibility after improving the light utilization efficiency.

  In the invention described in claim 4, the first light distribution pattern is formed as a low beam or high beam light distribution pattern that irradiates a short-distance or long-distance region, and the second light distribution pattern is the It is formed as a light distribution pattern that irradiates the upper side of the first light distribution pattern.

  Therefore, the light reflected from the inner surface of the projection lens and reflected by the second reflector can be used mainly as so-called overhead sign light for improving the visibility of the road sign, thereby improving the light use efficiency. The visibility can be improved.

  The best mode for carrying out the vehicle headlamp of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  The vehicle headlamp 1 is mounted and arranged at both left and right ends of the front end of the vehicle body.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle headlamp 1 includes a lamp housing 2 formed in a concave shape that opens forward, and a cover 3 that closes the opening surface of the lamp housing 2. The cover 3 forms a lamp outer casing 4. An internal space of the lamp outer casing 4 is formed as a lamp chamber 5.

  A lamp unit 6 is disposed in the lamp chamber 5, and the lamp unit 6 is supported on the lamp housing 2 by an optical axis adjusting mechanism 7 so as to be tiltable.

  The lamp unit 6 includes a bracket 8 to which an optical axis adjusting mechanism 7 is connected, a light source module 9 attached to the bracket 8, a lens holder 10 attached to the front end of the bracket 8, and a front end of the lens holder 10. The projector has an attached projection lens 11, a first reflector 12 disposed across the bracket 8 and the lens holder 10, and a second reflector 13 disposed behind the projection lens 11.

  The bracket 8 is formed of, for example, a metal material having high thermal conductivity, and includes a base portion 14 facing in the front-rear direction and a mounting protrusion 15 protruding forward from the center portion of the base portion 14.

  On the rear surface of the base portion 14, radiating fins 14a, 14a,. Heat generated when the light source module 9 emits light is released by the radiation fins 14a, 14a,.

  The light source module 9 includes, for example, a circuit board 16 disposed at the center of the upper surface of the mounting protrusion 15 and a light emitting diode (LED) 17 mounted on the circuit board 16 and functioning as a light source. Yes.

  The light emitting diode 17 has an upper surface that is an emission surface 17 a that emits light, and a lower surface that is mounted on the circuit board 16.

  The lens holder 10 is formed by integrally forming a base portion 18 attached to the front surface of the attachment projection 15 of the bracket 8 and a holding projection 19 projecting forward from the front end portion of the base portion 18.

  The projection lens 11 is attached to the front end of the holding projection 19 of the lens holder 10 and is held in front of the light source module 9 by the lens holder 10. The projection lens 11 is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape having, for example, a forward convex exit surface 11a and a rearward entrance surface 11b, and has a function of projecting light emitted from the light emitting diode 17 forward. .

  The first reflector 12 is formed so as to open forward and downward, for example, and is disposed on the upper surface of the mounting protrusion 15 of the bracket 8 and the base portion 18 of the lens holder 10. The first reflector 12 is arranged so as to cover the upper side, the left and right sides, and the rear side of the light emitting diode 17. As for the 1st reflector 12, the inner surface is formed as the reflective surface 12a. The reflection surface 12a is formed in a free-form surface shape close to an elliptical surface, for example. The first reflector 12 has a function of reflecting light emitted from the light emitting diode 17 toward the projection lens 11.

  The 2nd reflector 13 is arrange | positioned on the left in the upper side of the 1st reflector 12, for example. The second reflector 13 has, for example, a surface that faces obliquely left frontward, and this surface is formed as a reflective surface 13a. The reflective surface 13a is formed in a substantially parabolic columnar surface, for example. As will be described later, the second reflector 13 has a function of reflecting and irradiating light that has been internally reflected twice in the projection lens 11.

  The optical axis adjusting mechanism 7 has aiming screws 20 and 20 and a leveling actuator 21.

  The aiming screws 20, 20 are, for example, spaced apart from each other on the left and right and connect the upper end of the bracket 8 and the upper end of the lamp housing 2, respectively. The leveling actuator 21 connects the lower end of the bracket 8 and the lower end of the lamp housing 2.

  When the aiming screw 20 is rotated, the lamp unit 6 is tilted in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction, and aiming adjustment of the lamp unit 6 is performed. The lamp unit 6 is tilted in the vertical direction by the driving force of the leveling actuator 21, and the leveling adjustment of the lamp unit 6 is performed.

  In the vehicle headlamp 1 configured as described above, the light emitted from the emission surface 17 a of the light emitting diode 17 of the light source module 9 is reflected by the reflection surface 12 a of the first reflector 12 and is reflected on the projection lens 11. Incident from the incident surface 11b.

  Most of the light incident on the projection lens 11 is transmitted through the projection lens 11, emitted from the emission surface 11a, and projected. The light transmitted through the projection lens 11 is irradiated forward, and the first light distribution pattern P1 is formed by the light transmitted through the projection lens 11 (see FIG. 3). The first light distribution pattern P1 is, for example, a low beam light distribution pattern that irradiates a short-distance region.

  In the above, an example is shown in which the first light distribution pattern P1 is a low beam light distribution pattern that irradiates a short-distance region. However, the first light distribution pattern irradiates a long-distance region, for example. It may be a high beam light distribution pattern.

  On the other hand, light incident on the projection lens 11 from the incident surface 11b includes light that is internally reflected on the exit surface 11a and is reflected on the exit surface 11a again and travels backward (see the optical path L in FIGS. 1 and 2). ). Thus, the light that has been internally reflected twice on the exit surface 11 a of the projection lens 11 and directed backward is reflected by the second reflector 13, and is irradiated obliquely left frontward without entering the projection lens 11 again. . When the light is reflected by the second reflector 13 and irradiated obliquely to the left front, a second light distribution pattern P2 is formed by this light (see FIG. 3). The second light distribution pattern P2 is formed, for example, as a light distribution pattern that irradiates the left region of the first light distribution pattern P1.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the second light distribution pattern P2 may be a light distribution pattern that partially overlaps the first light distribution pattern P1, or the entire light distribution pattern P2 is on the left side of the first light distribution pattern P1. A light distribution pattern that is positioned or a light distribution pattern that entirely overlaps the first light distribution pattern P1 may be used.

  Moreover, although the above showed the example in which the 2nd light distribution pattern P2 which irradiates the area | region on the left side of the 1st light distribution pattern P1 with the light reflected by the 2nd reflector 13 was formed, 2nd A second light distribution pattern P2A that irradiates the right region of the first light distribution pattern P1 with the light reflected by the reflector 13 may be formed (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3). Also in this case, the second light distribution pattern P2A may be a light distribution pattern that partially overlaps the first light distribution pattern P1, as with the second light distribution pattern P2, and the whole is the first light distribution pattern P2. A light distribution pattern positioned on the right side of the light distribution pattern P1 or a light distribution pattern that entirely overlaps the first light distribution pattern P1 may be used. When the second light distribution pattern P <b> 2 </ b> A is formed, the second reflector 13 is disposed, for example, so that the reflection surface 13 a faces the front diagonal right side on the right side above the first reflector 12. (See the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2).

  Further, a second light distribution pattern P2B that irradiates the left and right regions of the first light distribution pattern P1 with the light reflected by the second reflector 13 may be formed. Also in this case, the second light distribution pattern P2B may be a light distribution pattern that partially overlaps the first light distribution pattern P1, as in the case of the second light distribution patterns P2 and P2A. The light distribution pattern positioned on the left side and the right side of one light distribution pattern P1 or the light distribution pattern that entirely overlaps the first light distribution pattern P1 may be used. When the second light distribution pattern P <b> 2 </ b> B is formed, for example, the two second reflectors 13 and 13 are arranged on the left and right sides of the upper side of the first reflector 12, respectively.

  As described above, the second light distribution pattern P2 (P2A, P2B) is formed by the light reflected from the inner surface of the projection lens 11 and reflected by the second reflector 13, and at least the left and right sides of the first light distribution pattern P1. One area is illuminated. Accordingly, since at least one of the left and right regions of the first light distribution pattern P1 which is a low beam or high beam light distribution pattern that irradiates a short-distance or long-distance region is irradiated, a pedestrian or vehicle on the side of the road It is possible to improve the visibility after improving the light utilization efficiency.

  In the above, an example of the second light distribution pattern P2 (P2A, P2B) that irradiates at least one of the left and right regions of the first light distribution pattern P1 is shown. You may form the 2nd light distribution pattern P2C irradiated above the 1 light distribution pattern P1 (refer FIG. 4).

  In the case of forming the second light distribution pattern P2C that illuminates the first light distribution pattern P1, the light reflected from the inner surface of the projection lens 11 and reflected by the second reflector 13 is mainly used as a road sign. It can be used as so-called overhead sign light for improving the visibility, and the visibility can be improved after improving the light use efficiency.

  Further, in the above, an example in which the light that has been internally reflected twice on the exit surface 11a of the projection lens 11 and reflected by the second reflector 13 is irradiated without being incident on the projection lens 11 has been shown. It is also possible for the light that has been internally reflected twice in 11 to be incident again on the projection lens 11 by the second reflector 13. In this way, the light internally reflected twice in the projection lens 11 is incident again on the projection lens 11 by the second reflector 13, thereby improving the light utilization efficiency. For example, the first light distribution pattern P1 Can be formed into a bright light distribution pattern.

  In addition, by improving the light utilization efficiency, the brightness of the first light distribution pattern P1 can be reduced by the first reflector 12 even when the value of the drive current supplied to the light source module 9 is lowered. It is possible to maintain a certain level of brightness equal to or higher than that of the first light distribution pattern P1 formed only by the reflected light. Thus, by reducing the value of the drive current supplied to the light source module 9 and controlling the brightness of the first light distribution pattern P1 to be a certain level or more, the power consumption can be reduced. it can.

  In the above description, the example in which the second reflector 13 is disposed on the right side or the left side on the upper side of the first reflector 12 has been described. However, the second reflector 13 is 2 on the exit surface 11 a of the projection lens 11. As long as the light reflected by the inner surface is reflected toward a required region, it can be arranged at an arbitrary position different from the above.

  As described above, in the vehicle headlamp 1, the light emitted from the light emitting diode 17 and internally reflected twice by the projection lens 11 is reflected and irradiated by the second reflector 13, and the projection lens 11 is irradiated. A light distribution pattern is formed by the light projected by the light and the light reflected by the second reflector 13.

  Therefore, since the light internally reflected by the projection lens 11 can be used as the light for forming the light distribution pattern, the light use efficiency can be improved.

  The first light distribution pattern P1 is formed by the light projected by the projection lens 11, and the second light distribution patterns P2, P2A, P2B, and P2C are formed by the light reflected by the second reflector 13. .

  Accordingly, since the light emitted from the light emitting diode 17 can be irradiated to the area other than the first light distribution pattern P1 by the light projected by the projection lens 11, the light emitted from the light emitting diode 17 is irradiated. The area can be expanded, and the light irradiation area can be expanded after improving the light utilization efficiency.

  Further, by forming the second light distribution pattern P2, P2A, P2B, and P2C in addition to the first light distribution pattern P1, the shape and brightness of the light distribution pattern formed by the vehicle headlamp 1 and the like Therefore, the degree of freedom in controlling the light distribution can be improved.

  The shapes and structures of the respective parts shown in the above-described best mode are merely examples of implementations in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is limitedly interpreted by these. It should not be done.

FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 show the best mode of the present invention, and this figure is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a vehicle headlamp. It is a schematic horizontal sectional view of a vehicle headlamp. It is a figure which shows the light distribution pattern formed with the light projected by the projection lens, and the light reflected by the 2nd reflector. It is a figure which shows another example of the light distribution pattern formed with the light projected by the projection lens, and the light reflected by the 2nd reflector.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle headlamp, 11 ... Projection lens, 12 ... 1st reflector, 13 ... 2nd reflector, 17 ... Light emitting diode (light source), P1 ... 1st light distribution pattern, P2 ... 2nd arrangement Light pattern, P2A ... second light distribution pattern, P2B ... second light distribution pattern, P2C ... second light distribution pattern

Claims (4)

A light source that emits light;
A projection lens that projects and irradiates the light emitted from the light source and internally reflects part of the light emitted from the light source;
A first reflector that reflects light emitted from the light source toward the projection lens;
A second reflector that reflects and irradiates light that has been internally reflected twice in the projection lens;
A vehicle headlamp, wherein a light distribution pattern is formed by light projected by the projection lens and light reflected by the second reflector. A first light distribution pattern is formed by the light projected by the projection lens,
The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein a second light distribution pattern is formed by light reflected by the second reflector. The first light distribution pattern is formed as a low beam or high beam light distribution pattern that irradiates a short-distance or long-distance region;
The vehicle headlamp according to claim 2, wherein the second light distribution pattern is formed as a light distribution pattern that irradiates at least one of the left and right regions of the first light distribution pattern. The first light distribution pattern is formed as a low beam or high beam light distribution pattern that irradiates a short-distance or long-distance region;
The vehicle headlamp according to claim 2, wherein the second light distribution pattern is formed as a light distribution pattern that irradiates the first light distribution pattern.

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