WO2025220518A1 - Vehicle lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

This vehicle lamp includes: a light source which emits light; an inner lens having an incident surface on which the light emitted from the light source is incident, an exit surface from which a part of the light incident on the incident surface exits, and a plurality of total reflection surfaces which internally reflect a part of the light incident on the incident surface; and a projection lens having a projection part which projects the light emitted from the exit surface as a drawing pattern. At least two of the plurality of total reflection surfaces are contiguously arranged in different directions, and a light incident part for diffusion which diffuses light directed toward a boundary part of the two contiguously arranged total reflection surfaces is formed on the incident surface.

Description

Vehicle lighting fixtures

The present invention relates to the technical field of vehicle lighting fixtures that emit light that projects a drawing pattern onto the road surface.

Some vehicle lamps are equipped with a lamp unit that can project a drawing pattern onto a lamp chamber formed by a lamp housing and a cover (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In the vehicle lamp described in Patent Document 1, light emitted from the lamp unit's light source is incident on a lens body, and the light controlled by the lens body is projected onto the road surface as a drawing pattern.

In vehicle lighting fixtures equipped with such lamp units, the light projected onto the road surface displays a drawing pattern, alerting pedestrians and drivers of other vehicles around the vehicle, thereby improving safety.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-167287

In vehicle lamps that have the above-mentioned drawing lamp units, if unnecessary light other than the drawing pattern is irradiated onto the road surface, visibility will be reduced. In particular, if unnecessary light is irradiated near the drawing pattern, there is a risk that the drawing pattern will be misrecognized.

The present invention aims to improve visibility by reducing unnecessary light irradiation onto the road surface.

The vehicle lamp according to the present invention comprises a light source that emits light, an inner lens having an incident surface into which the light emitted from the light source is incident, an exit surface that emits a portion of the light that has entered the incident surface, and a plurality of total reflection surfaces that internally reflect a portion of the light that has entered the incident surface, and a projection lens having a projection section that projects the light that has exited the exit surface as a drawing pattern, wherein at least two of the total reflection surfaces are positioned consecutively with different orientations, and the incident surface is formed with a diffusion light entrance section that diffuses light that heads toward the boundary between the two consecutively positioned total reflection surfaces.

As a result, light is diffused toward the boundary between the two consecutively positioned total reflection surfaces, reducing the amount of light that reaches the boundary and the amount of light that is transmitted through the boundary.

According to the present invention, light is diffused toward the boundary between two consecutively positioned total reflection surfaces, reducing the amount of light that reaches the boundary and the amount of light that is transmitted through the boundary, thereby suppressing unnecessary light from reaching the road surface and improving visibility.

2 to 8 show an embodiment of the vehicle lamp of the present invention, and this figure is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle lamp. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a projection lens, an inner lens, and a base plate. FIG. 2 is a front view of the inner lens. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the inner lens. FIG. FIG. 10 is a front view of an inner lens according to a modified example. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the optical path etc. in an example in which an inner lens according to a modified example is used. FIG. FIG. 10 is a front view showing an example of an inner lens on which one light exit surface is formed.

Below, an embodiment of the vehicle lamp of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the following, the front, back, up, down, left and right directions will be explained, with the direction of light emitted from the vehicle lamp to the outside being the front. However, the front, back, up, down, left and right directions shown below are for the convenience of explanation, and the implementation of this invention is not limited to these directions.

Vehicle lamp 1 comprises lamp housing 2 with an opening at the front end and cover 3 attached to cover the opening of lamp housing 2 (see Figure 1). Attaching cover 3 to lamp housing 2 forms lamp outer casing 4, and the internal space of lamp outer casing 4 forms lamp chamber 5.

A lamp unit 6 is arranged in the lamp chamber 5. The lamp unit 6 has a base plate 7, a substrate 8, a light source 9, an inner lens 10, and a projection lens 11 (see Figures 1 and 2).

The base plate 7 is formed, for example, from a metal material in the shape of a flat plate facing forward and backward, and is provided as an attachment portion for the substrate 8. The base plate 7 may be provided as an attachment portion for the substrate 8 and may also be provided as a heat sink to dissipate heat.

The substrate 8 is attached to the front surface of the base plate 7. The substrate 8 is attached to the base plate 7, for example, with an adhesive that is thermally conductive but not electrically conductive.

The light source 9 is mounted on the front surface of the substrate 8. For example, a light-emitting diode (LED) is used as the light source 9.

The inner lens 10 is attached to the base plate 7 and each part is integrally formed from a transparent resin material (see Figures 1 to 4). The inner lens 10 is formed by injection molding using a mold (molding die).

The inner lens 10 transmits light emitted from the light source 9 and is composed of, for example, a substantially rectangular light-transmitting portion 12, a connecting portion 13 that protrudes substantially rearward from the outer periphery of the light-transmitting portion 12, and a pair of mounting plate portions 14 that protrude outward, for example in the left-right direction, from the rear end of the connecting portion 13 (see Figures 3 and 4). The mounting plate portions 14 of the inner lens 10 are attached to the base plate 7 by caulking, screwing, etc.

The rear surface of the light-transmitting portion 12 is composed of an incident surface 15 onto which light emitted from the light source 9 is incident, and a rear outer peripheral surface 16 positioned around the incident surface 15 (see Figure 4).

The incident surface 15 is composed of an incident protrusion 17 located in the center, a flat surface 18 located around the incident protrusion 17, and a peripheral surface 19 located around the flat surface 18.

The incident protrusion surface 17 is formed as the outer surface of a portion that protrudes rearward relative to the plane 18, and has, for example, two diffusion light entrance sections 17a. The diffusion light entrance sections 17a are formed, for example, as shallow recesses that open to the rear, and are formed spaced apart above and below, for example, in a V-shape or chevron shape. The plane 18 is formed as a surface facing rearward. The peripheral surface 19 is an inclined surface that is inclined relative to the plane 18, and for example, five of them are formed around the periphery of the plane 18. The peripheral surface 19 is formed as an inclined surface that displaces forward as it moves from the inner periphery outward.

The rear outer peripheral surface 16 is formed as a flat surface facing rearward.

The front surface of the light-transmitting section 12 has multiple, for example, three, exit surfaces 20 positioned at a distance from one another in the vertical direction (see Figure 3). The light-transmitting section 12 is composed of multiple first total reflection surfaces 21 positioned between the three exit surfaces 20, multiple second total reflection surfaces 22 positioned above the uppermost exit surface 20, multiple third total reflection surfaces 23 positioned around the exit surfaces 20, and a front outer peripheral surface 24 positioned around the third total reflection surfaces 23.

The exit surface 20 is formed as a flat surface facing forward, and is a surface for forming a drawing pattern on the road surface; it is formed in a shape that corresponds to the shape of the drawing pattern to be projected, for example, a V-shape or chevron shape. The uppermost exit surface 20 is a near-field exit surface 20 for forming a drawing pattern that is displayed, for example, at a position closest to the vehicle, the lowermost exit surface 20 is a far-field exit surface 20 for forming a drawing pattern that is displayed, for example, at a position farthest from the vehicle, and the exit surface 20 positioned intermediate between the top and bottom is an intermediate exit surface 20 for forming a drawing pattern that is displayed between the drawing patterns displayed by the near-field exit surface 20 and the far-field exit surface 20. In the vehicle lamp 1, the light source 9 is positioned directly behind the far-field exit surface 20.

The first total reflection surface 21 is an inclined surface inclined at, for example, 45 degrees relative to the exit surface 20.

The first total reflection surfaces 21 located between the two exit surfaces 20 are, for example, four in number, arranged continuously from top to bottom and left to right. The four first total reflection surfaces 21 are formed in a trapezoidal shape, and are formed as a whole in a V-shape or chevron shape.

Of the four first total reflection surfaces 21, if the upper first total reflection surfaces 21 are respectively referred to as first total reflection surface 21A and first total reflection surface 21B, and the lower first total reflection surfaces 21 are respectively referred to as first total reflection surface 21C and first total reflection surface 21D, then a first boundary portion (boundary line) 25P extending vertically is defined between first total reflection surface 21A and first total reflection surface 21B, a first boundary portion (boundary line) 25P extending vertically is also defined between first total reflection surface 21C and first total reflection surface 21D, a second boundary portion (boundary line) 25Q slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal is defined between first total reflection surface 21A and first total reflection surface 21C, and a second boundary portion (boundary line) 25Q slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal is also defined between first total reflection surface 21B and first total reflection surface 21D. The first boundary 25P is shorter than the second boundary 25Q.

Two second total reflection surfaces 22 are formed contiguously on the left and right above the uppermost exit surface 20. The two second total reflection surfaces 22 are formed in a triangular shape, and the overall shape is a V-shape or chevron shape.

If the two second total reflection surfaces 22 are designated as second total reflection surfaces 22A and 22B, respectively, a first boundary portion (boundary line) 25P extending vertically between second total reflection surfaces 22A and 22B is defined.

As described above, inner lens 10 is formed by injection molding using a mold, but because first boundary 25P and second boundary 25Q are formed by the tips of the convex parts of the mold or the valleys of the concave parts of the mold, they may be formed into slightly rounded shapes depending on the molding precision, etc. If first boundary 25P and second boundary 25Q are formed into such slightly rounded shapes, light may be unintentionally emitted from first boundary 25P and second boundary 25Q, and the emitted light may be irradiated toward the road surface as unnecessary light, causing unnecessary patterns to be displayed on the road surface.

The third total reflection surfaces 23 are formed as inclined surfaces that displace forward as they move away from the exit surface 20 and the first total reflection surfaces 21, and there are, for example, six of them. The third total reflection surfaces 23 are inclined, for example, at 45 degrees relative to the exit surface 20.

The front outer peripheral surface 24 is formed as a flat surface facing forward.

In the inner lens 10 configured as described above, the shape of the diffusing light entrance portion 17a formed on the incident protrusion surface 17 is V-shaped or chevron-shaped, corresponding to the overall shape of the four first total reflection surfaces 21 formed between the exit surfaces 20.

The projection lens 11 is made of, for example, a transparent resin material, with each part formed integrally (see Figures 1 and 2). The projection lens 11 is integrally formed with a base surface 26 facing approximately in the front-to-rear direction, a pair of side surfaces 27 protruding approximately rearward from both the left and right ends of the base surface 26, a connecting surface 28 connected to the rear ends of the side surfaces 27, and a projection part 29 protruding forward from the base surface 26. The projection lens 11 is attached by caulking, screwing, etc., with the connecting surface 28 overlapping the mounting plate part 14 of the inner lens 10 from the front.

In the vehicle lamp 1 configured as described above, when light A is emitted from the light source 9, the emitted light A enters the inner lens 10 from the incident surface 15 (see Figure 5). Of the light A that enters the inner lens 10, light A1 that reaches the first total reflection surface 21 or the second total reflection surface 22 is internally reflected (total reflected) once or twice consecutively by the first total reflection surface 21 or the second total reflection surface 22 and is not emitted toward the projection lens 11.

At this time, light A1 also includes light A1s heading toward second boundary 25Q, but because light A1s travels inside inner lens 10 diffused by diffusion light entrance 17a, the amount of light that reaches second boundary 25Q is reduced. Similarly, although not shown, light A1 also includes light heading toward first boundary 25P, but because light heading toward first boundary 25P also travels inside inner lens 10 diffused by diffusion light entrance 17a, the amount of light that reaches first boundary 25P is also reduced.

As a result, the amount of light emitted from the second boundary 25Q and the first boundary 25P is also reduced, so even if the first boundary 25P and the second boundary 25Q are formed with a slightly rounded shape, unnecessary light is less likely to be emitted toward the road surface, and unnecessary patterns are less likely to be displayed on the road surface.

On the other hand, light A2 that reaches the exit surface 20 is transmitted through the exit surface 20, enters the projection unit 29 of the projection lens 11, is emitted from the projection unit 29, passes through the cover 3, and is irradiated onto the road surface as a drawing pattern.

Furthermore, a portion of light A, light A3, is also incident on the third total reflection surface 23, but light A3 that reaches the third total reflection surface 23 is internally reflected (total reflection) by the third total reflection surface 23 and is not emitted toward the projection lens 11.

Furthermore, a diffusion light entrance portion 17a through which light travels toward second total reflection surface 22A and second total reflection surface 22B may be formed on incident surface 15 of inner lens 10. By forming such a diffusion light entrance portion 17a, light diffused by diffusion light entrance portion 17a is incident on first boundary portion 25P between second total reflection surface 22A and second total reflection surface 22B. Therefore, even if first boundary portion 25P is formed in a slightly rounded shape, unnecessary light is less likely to be irradiated toward the road surface, and unnecessary patterns are less likely to be displayed on the road surface.

Below, an inner lens 10X according to a modified example will be described (see Figures 6 and 7).

In addition, since inner lens 10X has a different configuration of the entrance and exit surfaces compared to inner lens 10, the explanation of inner lens 10X will only provide a detailed description of the parts that differ from inner lens 10, and other parts will be assigned the same reference numerals as those assigned to similar parts in inner lens 10 and will not be explained further.

The inner lens 10X is composed of a light-transmitting portion 12X, a pair of connecting portions 13, and a pair of mounting plate portions 14, which are integrally formed.

The incident surface 15X is composed of an incident protrusion 17 located in the center and flat surfaces 18 located around the incident protrusion 17.

The incident projection surface 17 is formed as the outer surface of the portion that protrudes rearward relative to the flat surface 18, and has, for example, two diffused light entrance sections 17a that are open to the rear. The diffused light entrance sections 17a are formed as shallow recesses that are spaced apart from each other above and below, and are, for example, V-shaped or chevron-shaped. The flat surface 18 is formed as a surface facing rearward.

The light-transmitting section 12X has multiple surfaces on the exit side, for example, three exit surfaces 20, multiple first total reflection surfaces 21X, multiple second total reflection surfaces 22, multiple intermediate surfaces 30, multiple third total reflection surfaces 23, and an inclined surface 31.

The first total reflection surface 21X and the second total reflection surface 22 are both inclined at an angle of, for example, 45 degrees with respect to the exit surface 20. Two first total reflection surfaces 21X are formed contiguously on the left and right between the two exit surfaces 20. The two first total reflection surfaces 21X are formed in a trapezoidal shape, and are formed in a V-shape or chevron shape overall. If the two first total reflection surfaces 21X are first total reflection surface 21E and first total reflection surface 21F, respectively, a first boundary portion (boundary line) 25P extending vertically between first total reflection surface 21E and first total reflection surface 21F is formed. Therefore, no second boundary portion 25Q is formed in the light transmission portion 12X.

Intermediate surface 30 is formed between exit surface 20 and first total reflection surface 21X, and is continuous with exit surface 20 and first total reflection surface 21X. Two intermediate surfaces 30 are formed continuously on the left and right between exit surface 20 and first total reflection surface 21X.

The intermediate surface 30 is triangular, faces approximately upward or downward, and is positioned along the light incident on the incident surface 15X of the inner lens 10X.

The inclined surface 31 is formed in a frame shape and displaces forward as it approaches the outer periphery from the inner periphery, and is inclined in the direction approaching the projection unit 29.

In a vehicle lamp 1 having an inner lens 10X, when light A is emitted from the light source 9, the emitted light A enters the inner lens 10X from the incident surface 15X (see Figure 7). Of the light A incident on the inner lens 10X, light A1 that reaches the first total reflection surface 21X or the second total reflection surface 22 is internally reflected (total reflected) once by the first total reflection surface 21X or the second total reflection surface 22 and is not emitted toward the projection lens 11.

At this time, light A1 also includes light A1s heading toward the first boundary 25P, but because light A1s travels inside the inner lens 10X in a diffused state by the diffusion light entrance 17a, the amount of light that reaches the first boundary 25P is reduced.

As a result, the amount of light emitted from the first boundary portion 25P is reduced, so even if the first boundary portion 25P is formed in a slightly rounded shape, unnecessary light is less likely to be emitted toward the road surface, and unnecessary patterns are less likely to be displayed on the road surface.

On the other hand, light A2 that reaches the exit surface 20 is transmitted through the exit surface 20, enters the projection unit 29 of the projection lens 11, is emitted from the projection unit 29, passes through the cover 3, and is irradiated onto the road surface as a drawing pattern.

Furthermore, a portion of light A, light A3, is also incident on the third total reflection surface 23, but light A3 that reaches the third total reflection surface 23 is internally reflected (total reflection) by the third total reflection surface 23 and is not emitted toward the projection lens 11.

Furthermore, a portion of light A, light A4, enters inner lens 10X from flat surface 18 of incident surface 15 and travels toward inclined surface 31. However, because inclined surface 31 is inclined so as to displace forward as it moves from the inner periphery to the outer periphery, light A4 is refracted and travels away from exit surface 20. Therefore, light A4 does not enter projection unit 29 and is not used as light to be irradiated as a drawing pattern.

In this way, the inner lens 10X has a frame-shaped inclined surface 31 formed on the outer periphery of the emission surface 20, and the inclined surface 31 is inclined in the direction approaching the projection unit 29 as it approaches from the inner periphery to the outer periphery.

Therefore, light A4 is refracted and emitted in a direction away from the emission surface 20, preventing unnecessary projection of light onto the road surface.

As described above, in the inner lens 10X, an intermediate surface 30 is formed between the exit surface 20 and the first total reflection surface 21X, positioned along the light incident on the entrance surface 15X, and two exit surfaces 20 are formed side by side in the left-right direction.

As a result, the multiple light exit surfaces 20 are not continuous in either the vertical or horizontal directions, but are continuous only in the horizontal direction, so the second boundary portion 25Q is not formed, making it possible to reduce the area in which the diffusion light entrance portion 17a is formed on the incident surface 15X, and the inner lens 10X can be easily formed.

Furthermore, because the second boundary portion 25Q is not formed, the overall length of the boundary portion is shortened accordingly, making it less likely that unnecessary light will be projected onto the road surface, effectively preventing unnecessary patterns from being displayed on the road surface.

The above shows examples of inner lenses 10, 10X with multiple exit surfaces 20, but the present invention can also be applied to an inner lens 10Y with a single exit surface 20Y as follows (see Figure 8).

Inner lens 10Y is formed with one exit surface 20Y and two second total reflection surfaces 22 positioned above exit surface 20Y, and these two second total reflection surfaces 22 are designated as second total reflection surface 22A and second total reflection surface 22B, respectively. Inner lens 10Y does not have a first total reflection surface 21.

Inner lens 10Y is formed with a diffusion light entrance portion 17a (not shown) through which light travels toward second total reflection surface 22A and second total reflection surface 22B.

By forming the diffusion light entrance portion 17a on the inner lens 10Y, light diffused by the diffusion light entrance portion 17a is incident on the first boundary portion 25P between the second total reflection surface 22A and the second total reflection surface 22B. Therefore, even if the first boundary portion 25P is formed in a slightly rounded shape, unnecessary light is less likely to be irradiated onto the road surface, and unnecessary patterns are less likely to be displayed on the road surface.

Furthermore, as with inner lens 10X, inner lens 10Y also has a frame-shaped inclined surface 31 formed on the outer periphery of third total reflection surface 23. Therefore, light that reaches inclined surface 31 is refracted and emitted in a direction away from emission surface 20Y, preventing unnecessary light from being projected onto the road surface.

As described above, in vehicle lamp 1, the first total reflection surfaces 21 or second total reflection surfaces 22 of inner lens 10, inner lens 10X, and inner lens 10Y are positioned consecutively in different directions, and incident surface 15 is formed with a diffusion light entrance portion 17a that diffuses light directed toward first boundary portion 25P or second boundary portion 25Q of the two consecutively positioned first total reflection surfaces 21 or second total reflection surfaces 22.

As a result, light heads toward the first boundary 25P or the second boundary 25Q in a diffused state, reducing the amount of light that reaches the first boundary 25P or the second boundary 25Q and the amount of light that passes through the first boundary 25P or the second boundary 25Q, thereby suppressing unnecessary light from reaching the road surface and improving visibility.

Furthermore, multiple exit surfaces 20 are formed at a distance from each other vertically on the inner lens 10 and inner lens 10X, and multiple first total reflection surfaces 21 or first total reflection surfaces 21X are positioned between the multiple exit surfaces 20.

Therefore, the light emitted from the multiple emission surfaces 20 is projected by the projection lens 11 to form multiple drawing patterns, thereby displaying the appropriate drawing patterns on the road surface and improving the visibility of the drawing patterns.

In some vehicle lamps 1, the first boundary portion 25P, etc., is formed as a boundary line (boundary) in a protrusion formed by two first total reflection surfaces 21 or two second total reflection surfaces 22. However, since the boundary line in such a protrusion is formed by the valley of the recess in the mold, it is more likely to be formed into a rounded shape than the portion formed by the tip of the protrusion in the mold.

Therefore, by allowing light to be diffused and incident by the diffusion light entrance portion 17a toward the first boundary portion 25P and other portions that are likely to be formed into a rounded shape, unnecessary illumination of light onto the road surface can be effectively prevented.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle lamp 9 Light source 10 Inner lens 11 Projection lens 15 Incident surface 17a Diffused light entrance portion 19 Peripheral surface 20 Exit surface 21 First total reflection surface 21A First total reflection surface 21B First total reflection surface 21C First total reflection surface 21D First total reflection surface 22 Second total reflection surface 22A Second total reflection surface 22B Second total reflection surface 25P First boundary portion 25Q Second boundary portion 29 Projection portion 10X Inner lens 21X First total reflection surface 21E First total reflection surface 21F First total reflection surface 22A Second total reflection surface 22B Second total reflection surface 30 Intermediate surface 10Y Inner lens 20Y Exit surface

Claims (5)

A light source that emits light;
an inner lens having an incident surface into which light emitted from the light source is incident, an exit surface that emits a portion of the light incident on the incident surface, and a plurality of total reflection surfaces that internally reflect a portion of the light incident on the incident surface;
a projection lens having a projection unit that projects the light emitted from the exit surface as a drawing pattern,
The plurality of total reflection surfaces are positioned successively with at least two of them facing in different directions,
The vehicle lamp has a light-entering diffusion portion formed on the incident surface for diffusing light directed toward a boundary portion of the two total reflection surfaces positioned successively. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the boundary portion is located on a protrusion formed by two of the total reflection surfaces that are positioned consecutively. The light exit surface is formed in plurality, spaced apart from one another vertically,
The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of the total reflection surfaces are positioned between a plurality of the light exit surfaces. an intermediate surface is formed between the exit surface and the total reflection surface, the intermediate surface being positioned along the light incident on the entrance surface;
The vehicle lamp according to claim 3, wherein two of the light exit surfaces are formed side by side in the left-right direction. a frame-shaped inclined surface is formed on the outer periphery of the light exit surface,
The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inclined surface is inclined in a direction approaching the projection portion as it approaches the outer periphery from the inner periphery.