JP2013048036A - Lamp fitting for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive lamp fitting for a vehicle, using a light guide body capable of illuminating main optical axis directions of an asymmetrical light distribution patterns in large volume, and also illuminating the surroundings.SOLUTION: The lamp fitting for a vehicle is provided with the light guide body 11 guiding light incident from an end face 111 inside and emitting it from an outer periphery face 112, a light source 12 arranged so as to make light incident into the end face 111 of the light guide body 11, and a reflector 13 arranged along the light guide body 11 for reflecting light leaked from the light guide body 11. An optical axis B of light reflected at the reflector 13 is so made to cross an optical axis A of light emitted from the light guide body 11 within a horizontal plane.

Description

  In particular, the present invention relates to a vehicular lamp provided inside a lamp body of a vehicle exterior, and more particularly to a vehicular lamp using a light guide.

  Currently, vehicle lamps using light guides are used in various parts of the lamp body, such as tail lamps, stop lamps (Patent Document 1), turn lamps (Patent Document 2), and position lamps (Patent Document 3). . By using a light guide, the light from a point light source such as an LED (light emitting diode) disposed on the end face of the light guide can be easily spread in a linear or planar shape, and the light emission area required by laws and regulations can be reduced. This is because it can be realized with a desired design shape.

JP 2010-146818 JP2011-044396A JP-A-2004-207240

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 1, the vehicular lamp mainly using such light-emitting display is required to have an asymmetrical light distribution characteristic (visibility within a predetermined angle range) by law. As an example, in the case where it is provided in the front and rear of the vehicle such as a tail lamp or a position lamp, it has main optical axes L1 and L2 in the front and rear direction (traveling direction) of the vehicle and is asymmetrical with respect to the main optical axis. Light distribution characteristics that can be irradiated are required.

However, Patent Documents 1 and 3 merely disclose the point of expanding the light emission area, and do not disclose a technique for obtaining the above-described asymmetric light distribution pattern.
On the other hand, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for illuminating different areas by light emitted from an end surface and an outer peripheral surface of a light guide. According to this method, an asymmetrical light distribution pattern can be obtained. However, since a light emitting region around the main optical axis is formed only by light scattering on the outer peripheral surface of the light guide, it is necessary to form a fine light distribution pattern. There is room for improvement. Also, with light scattering alone, there is a lot of light loss on the outer peripheral surface of the light guide before reaching the end surface of the light guide that emits light in the main optical axis direction, and sufficient light is guided to the end surface of the light guide. It is difficult to irradiate and supply light, and it is not easy to irradiate the main optical axis direction with a large amount of light.

  In addition, the vehicular illumination using such a light guide is often formed in a curved shape in accordance with the curved surface and slant shape of the vehicle body. In such a light guide, it is not preferable to form the light distribution pattern only with the unevenness and the light scattering portion because the processing cost is improved.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost vehicular lamp using a light guide that can illuminate the periphery of a main light axis of an asymmetrical light distribution pattern with a large amount of light and also illuminate the surroundings. .

The vehicular lamp of the present invention has as a first feature,
A light guide that internally guides light incident from the end face and emits it from the outer peripheral surface;
A light source arranged to make light incident on an end face of the light guide;
A reflector that is disposed along the light guide and reflects light leaking from the light guide;
In the horizontal plane, the optical axis of the light reflected from the reflector intersects the optical axis of the light emitted from the light guide.

As the second feature,
The optical axis of the light emitted from the light guide is parallel to the vehicle longitudinal direction,
The optical axis of the light reflected by the reflector is inclined from the vehicle front-rear direction to the vehicle left-right direction.

As the third feature,
The light guide extends in the vehicle front-rear direction,
The light source is disposed on an end surface of the light guide on the vehicle side.

As the fourth feature,
The light source is an LED, and the optical axis thereof is arranged along the extending direction of the light guide.

As a fifth feature,
The angle formed by the optical axis of the light source and the optical axis of the emitted light of the light guide is
The angle is smaller than the angle formed by the optical axis of the light source and the optical axis of the reflected light of the reflector.

As the sixth feature,
The distance between the reflector and the light guide is formed such that the distance from the opposite side of the end face on which the light source is disposed becomes closer to the light source.

  According to the first feature of the present invention, it is possible to form a light distribution pattern around the reflected light of the reflector while illuminating the main optical axis direction with the emitted light of the light guide, and to effectively use the light. be able to. Further, the surrounding light distribution pattern can be optically controlled by the reflector without depending on the complicated light diffusion / scattering of the light guide, and a desired asymmetric light distribution pattern can be easily formed.

  According to the second and sixth features, in particular, in a vehicular lamp such as a tail lamp, a stop lamp, or a position lamp, provided on the front and rear of the vehicle, an asymmetric light distribution pattern that spreads to the side of the vehicle can be easily formed.

  According to the third to fifth features, it becomes possible to radiate more light from the region opposite to the end face where the light source is disposed in the light guide, and in applications where a large amount of light is required in the main optical axis direction, It can be particularly preferably used.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a light distribution pattern of a vehicular lamp. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram in which the present invention is used for a tail lamp 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram in which the present invention is used for the position lamp 2. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view of Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

The vehicle lamp of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The “optical axis” used in the text indicates the main direction in which most of the light travels in the reference plane (mainly in the horizontal plane). “Parallel” is not limited to a strict parallel state, but also allows a range (for example, an error of about plus or minus 5 degrees) within the range that exhibits the same effect as that described in the present invention. .

FIG. 1 shows a light distribution pattern in a horizontal plane of each lamp body of a tail lamp 1, a position lamp 2, and a turn lamp 3 as a reference. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram in which the vehicular lamp 10 is used for the tail lamp 1 of the rear combination lamp, and FIG.
The optical axis L1 of the tail lamp 1 is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and faces the rear of the vehicle. Moreover, it is set as the wide light distribution characteristic on the vehicle outer side, The required light distribution angle is L1a = 45 degree | times and L1b = 80 degree | times. The optical axis L2 of the position lamp 2 is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and faces the front of the vehicle. Moreover, it is set as the wide light distribution characteristic to the vehicle outer side, The required light distribution angle is L2a = 45 degree | times and L2b = 80 degree | times. Although the optical axis L3 of the turn lamp 3 can be set as appropriate (the figure is an example), in addition to the light distribution angle required by law, in many cases, it is formed to emit light along the curved surface of the side mirror. It tends to be an asymmetric light distribution pattern.

In FIG. 4, the perspective view of the vehicle lamp 10 integrated in the tail lamp 1 in a present Example is shown. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the vehicular lamp 10, and FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the vehicular lamp 10 guides the light incident from the end surface 111 inside and guides the light to the end surface 111 of the light guide 11 and the light guide 11 that emits from the outer peripheral surface 112. The light source 12 is arranged to be incident, and the reflector 13 is arranged along the light guide 11 and reflects light leaking from the light guide 11.

The light guide 11 extends in the vehicle front-rear direction and the vehicle left-right direction along the outer lens of the tail lamp 1 to be assembled and the curved surface of the vehicle body, and the outer peripheral surface 112 serving as a design surface is on the vehicle outer side (in this case, the vehicle rear side). It is curved in an arc so as to be convex. That is, the light guide 11 extends so as to curve from the side of the vehicle toward the center of the vehicle and from the front of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle with respect to the end surface 111.
Light that enters from the end surface 111 and is guided through the light guide 11 is reflected by the reflecting surface 113 facing the outer peripheral surface 112 and is radiated to the outside through the outer peripheral surface 112. Most of the radiated light is emitted toward the rear of the vehicle, and its optical axis is substantially parallel to the vehicle front-rear direction in a horizontal plane.
Two grooves extending in the horizontal direction are formed on the outer peripheral surface 112. Thereby, there exists an aesthetics as if three light guides exist by one light guide, and the design property improves.
Moreover, although the reflective surface 113 is uneven | corrugated in the figure, this shape can be changed suitably according to a desired light emission shape. For example, in the unevenness such as the separated grooves and dents, a plurality of pseudo light emitting points can be formed and it can be seen as a plurality of light sources arranged. In addition, when random and fine irregularities and a separate diffuse reflection layer are provided, the entire reflection surface 113 can be displayed in a light-emitting manner in a uniform manner or gradation depending on the diffusion state. Such a concavo-convex shape can be appropriately used by combining known techniques.

The light source 12 is composed of a red light emitting LED. In the present embodiment, the tail lamp 1 is configured to be red, but the emission color is various according to the application, such as white when used for the position lamp 2, yellow when used for the turn lamp 3, and blue when illuminated. It can change suitably within the range.
The light source 12 in this embodiment used for the tail lamp 1 is disposed on the end surface 111 of the light guide 11 on the vehicle front side (vehicle body side), which is the end surface 111 on the vehicle side, and its optical axis. C faces the rear of the vehicle along the extending direction of the light guide 11. For this reason, most of the radiated light of the light source 12 can easily reach the end surface opposite to the end surface 111 facing the light source 12 and the peripheral surface 112 on the periphery, and the radiant intensity in the optical axis A direction can be increased.
Furthermore, the light source 12 is an LED having directivity as compared with the light bulb, so that the light emission intensity in the direction of the optical axis C is increased, and the light intensity emitted from the light guide 11 can be further increased.

The reflector 13 is disposed along the light guide 11 so as to face the reflecting surface 113 of the light guide 11 with a space therebetween, and the light guide 11 is curved in a convex shape toward the outside of the vehicle. Curved to be convex toward the body. In addition, the reflector 13 is integrated and configured as a part of the extension reflector of the rear combination lamp, and the surface thereof is plated with metal. As a result, the light leaking from the light guide 11 can be used effectively, and it is not necessary to separately manufacture the reflector 13, thereby reducing the cost by reducing the number of components.
The distance between the reflector 13 and the light guide 11 is formed such that the distance from the side of the light guide 11 opposite to the end surface 111 on which the light source 12 is disposed is closer to the light source. Thereby, the light leaked from the light guide 11 to the reflector 13 side is reflected in the left-right direction of the vehicle so as to intersect the optical axis A of the emitted light of the light guide 11. Since the optical axis B of the reflected light by the reflector 13 formed in this way intersects the optical axis A of the radiated light of the light guide 11 and inclines from the vehicle front-rear direction to the vehicle left-right direction in the horizontal plane, the light guide 11 Illuminates the side of the vehicle from the light distribution pattern.
In order to obtain the light distribution characteristics of the tail lamp 1 in the present embodiment, the optical axis A of the light guide 11 and the optical axis B of the reflector 13 are configured to intersect each other within a range of 70 to 110 degrees. desirable. This is because by arranging the reflector 13 in this manner, the side of the vehicle can be suitably illuminated and displayed. Here, when the crossing angle between the optical axis A and the optical axis B is 70 to 90 degrees, it is possible to emit light continuously from the rear to the side of the vehicle, and the sense of unity as a lamp body is improved. In the case of 90 to 110 degrees, the two lamps are arranged in order to provide the aesthetic feeling as if the two lamps, the lamp facing the rear of the vehicle and the lamp facing the side of the vehicle, are arranged separately. Cost can be reduced.

According to the above-described configuration, the side of the vehicle can be illuminated by the reflected light of the reflector 13 while illuminating the rear of the vehicle in the main optical axis direction of the tail lamp 1 with the emitted light of the light guide 11. It can be used effectively. Further, compared to the case where light distribution is formed only by the light guide, it is not necessary to form a complicated reflecting surface 113 on the light guide 11, so that the tail lamp 1 is required with a simple configuration while reducing the manufacturing cost. An asymmetric light distribution pattern can be obtained.
Moreover, as a whole, the angle formed by the optical axis C of the light source 12 and the optical axis A of the light guide 11 is smaller than the angle formed by the optical axis C of the light source 12 and the optical axis B of the reflector 13, and By making it easy to radiate from the light guide 11, the intensity of radiated light from the light guide 11 is further increased, the difference in light contrast between the light guide 11 and the reflector 13 is increased, and the tail lamp 1 is visible during light-emitting display. The nature is further enhanced.

Next, the vehicular lamp according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the vehicular lamp 20 incorporated in the position lamp 2 of FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view of the vehicular lamp 20, and FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view. The difference from the first embodiment is that the mounting portion is not the tail lamp 1 but the position lamp 2, and the shape of the light guide 21 is a single curved plate in the first embodiment, whereas it is U-shaped. For example, a rod-shaped point, the shape of the reflector 23, and the like.
Hereinafter, the description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment, and the description of overlapping portions will be omitted. Further, unless otherwise specified, the first embodiment will be referred to. However, the tail light 1 of the first embodiment and the position lamp 2 of the present embodiment differ in the main optical axis direction of the lamp body (vehicle lamp) in the front and rear. This point needs to be read as appropriate.

The light guide 21 extends in the vehicle front-rear direction and the vehicle left-right direction along the outer lens of the position lamp 2 to be assembled and the curved surface of the vehicle body, and the outer peripheral surface 212 serving as a design surface is the vehicle outer side (in this case, the vehicle front side). It is curved in an arc shape so as to be convex. That is, the light guide 21 extends so as to curve from the side of the vehicle toward the center of the vehicle and from the rear of the vehicle toward the front of the vehicle with the end surface 211 as a reference.
The light guide 21 is formed in a U-shape when viewed from the front, and can have a different aesthetics from the light guide 11 of the first embodiment.

The light source 22 is composed of a white light emitting LED. As shown in the drawing, a white light emitting LED in which elements of a blue light emitting LED are arranged in a concave package and sealed with a phosphor-containing resin is used. The light source 22 is disposed on an end surface 211 on the vehicle rear side (vehicle body side) of the light guide 21, which is an end surface 211 on the vehicle side of the light guide 21.
By using the LED using the concave package, the directivity angle can be narrowed compared to the LED of Example 1, and the coupling efficiency (light guide efficiency) with the light guide 21 is improved.

The reflector 23 is integrated as a part of the extension reflector of the headlamp, and the surface thereof is plated with metal.
The reflector 23 is disposed along the light guide 21 so as to face the reflecting surface 213 with a space therebetween. The reflector 23 is formed on the outer side of the vehicle in response to the convex curve toward the outer side of the vehicle. Curved to become convex. However, also in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the distance between the reflector 23 and the light guide 21 is separated from the opposite side of the end surface 211 on which the light source 22 of the light guide 21 is disposed, as it approaches the light source side. Is formed. As a result, similarly to the first embodiment, the light leaking from the light guide 21 toward the reflector 23 is reflected in the left-right direction of the vehicle so as to intersect the optical axis A of the radiated light of the light guide 21. become. Furthermore, since the reflector is also curved in a convex shape toward the outside of the vehicle, it can be made smaller than before.
In order to obtain the light distribution characteristic of the position lamp 2 in the present embodiment, the optical axis A of the light guide 21 and the optical axis B of the reflector 23 are configured to intersect each other within a range of 70 to 110 degrees. Is desirable. This is because by arranging the reflector 23 in this manner, the side of the vehicle can be suitably illuminated and displayed.

According to the above-described configuration, the vehicle front side in the main optical axis direction of the position lamp 2 can be illuminated by the emitted light from the light guide 21, and the vehicle side can also be illuminated by the reflected light from the reflector 23. Can be used effectively. Further, compared to the case where the light distribution is formed only by the light guide, it is not necessary to form a complicated reflecting surface 213 on the light guide 21, so that the position lamp 2 is required with a simple configuration while reducing the manufacturing cost. Asymmetrical light distribution pattern can be obtained.
Also, as a whole, the angle formed by the optical axis C of the light source 22 and the radiation optical axis A of the light guide 21 is smaller than the angle formed by the optical axis C of the light source 22 and the reflected optical axis B of the reflector 23. By making it easy to radiate light from the light guide 21, the intensity of radiated light from the light guide 21 is further increased, the difference in contrast between the light by the light guide 21 and the reflector 23 is increased, and the light emission display of the position lamp 2. The visibility at the time is further increased.
Further, the light guide 21 is combined with the reflector 23 while being U-shaped, so that the light emitting area 21 is used as compared with the plate-like one as a whole while securing the light emitting area required by regulations. The amount can be reduced and the production cost can be reduced.

  The present invention can be applied to those requiring a light distribution pattern that is asymmetric with respect to the optical axis of the lamp body. In the above-described embodiments, the tail lamp and the position lamp are shown. However, the present invention can also be applied to turn lamps and other lamps having an asymmetrical light distribution pattern without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tail lamp 2 Position lamp 3 Turn lamp 10, 20 Vehicle lamp 11, 21 Light guide 12, 22 Light source 13, 23 Reflector 111, 211 End surface 112, 212 Outer peripheral surface 113, 213 Reflecting surface A Light emission of light guide Optical axis B Optical axis of reflected light of reflector C Optical axis of light source L1, L2, L3 Optical axis of each lamp

Claims (6)

A light guide that internally guides light incident from the end face and emits it from the outer peripheral surface;
A light source arranged to make light incident on an end face of the light guide;
A reflector that is disposed along the light guide and reflects light leaking from the light guide;
In the horizontal plane, the optical axis of the light reflected from the reflector intersects the optical axis of the light emitted from the light guide.
A vehicular lamp characterized by the above. The optical axis of the light emitted from the light guide is parallel to the vehicle longitudinal direction,
The optical axis of the light reflected by the reflector is inclined from the vehicle front-rear direction to the vehicle left-right direction,
The vehicular lamp according to claim 1. The light guide extends in the vehicle front-rear direction,
The light source is disposed on a vehicle-side end surface of the light guide.
The vehicular lamp according to any one of claims 1 and 2. The light source is an LED, and its optical axis is arranged along the extending direction of the light guide.
The vehicular lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The angle formed by the optical axis of the light source and the optical axis of the emitted light of the light guide is
Smaller than the angle formed by the optical axis of the light source and the optical axis of the reflected light of the reflector,
The vehicular lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The distance between the reflector and the light guide is formed such that the distance from the opposite side of the end face on which the light source is disposed becomes closer to the light source.
The vehicular lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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