JP4518497B2 - Vehicle lamp - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a novel vehicular lamp. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technique for reducing the load on the vertical driving means and reducing the forward protrusion of the vertical driving means in a vehicular lamp including a vertical driving means that tilts an irradiation unit in the vertical direction.

  For example, in an automotive headlamp, the irradiation direction may be upward or downward due to a change in load. In such a case, it is necessary to change the irradiation direction to a downward direction or an upward direction at an appropriate time so that the irradiation direction becomes the correct direction.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicular lamp provided with a leveling actuator that changes an irradiation direction downward or upward by remote manual operation or automatic operation.

  In the vehicular lamp disclosed in Patent Document 1, by driving the leveling actuator, the irradiation direction can be changed in the vertical direction in a timely manner according to the traveling state of the automobile.

JP 2000-355245 A

  By the way, in the vehicular lamp disclosed in Patent Document 1, the leveling actuator is fixed to the lamp housing.

  However, the leveling actuator (vertical driving means) shown in Patent Document 1 is fixed as it is to the irradiation unit supported so as to be tiltable in the vertical direction with respect to the lamp housing (for example, the vertical driving means is replaced with the horizontal driving means). When the leveling output shaft is connected to the lamp housing and the tip is connected to the lamp housing, the movement direction of the leveling actuator is determined by the relationship between the center of gravity of the irradiation unit. The leveling output shaft and the mechanism that drives the leveling output shaft are overloaded, and the durability of the leveling actuator is impaired. There is a risk of it becoming impossible.

  In addition, if the offset amount is to be reduced, the leveling actuator needs to be positioned so as to protrude considerably forward with respect to the irradiation unit, and the leveling output shaft needs to be positioned almost directly below the tilting fulcrum of the irradiation unit. This is disadvantageous in the design of the lamp.

  In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to reduce the load on the vertical driving means and to reduce the amount of forward protrusion of the vertical driving means.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the vehicle lamp of the present invention is supported so as to be tiltable in the vertical direction in the lamp housing, and one irradiation unit for irradiating light of a light source as irradiation light in a desired direction; Vertical driving means for tilting the irradiation unit in the vertical direction by moving the output shaft in the axial direction, the vertical driving means is supported by the irradiation unit, and the tip of the output shaft is connected to the lamp housing. The angle formed between the output shaft and a line that is connected and extends from a tilting fulcrum of the irradiation unit in the vertical direction to the vicinity of the connection point between the output shaft and the lamp housing is substantially vertical.

  Therefore, in the vehicular lamp of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the load applied to the vertical direction driving means without increasing the amount of forward protrusion of the vertical direction driving means.

  The vehicular lamp according to the present invention is supported in a lamp housing so as to be tiltable in the vertical direction, and has one irradiation unit for irradiating light from a light source as irradiation light in a desired direction, and movement of the output shaft in the axial direction. Vertical direction drive means for tilting the irradiation unit in the vertical direction, the vertical direction drive means is supported by the irradiation unit, the tip of the output shaft is connected to the lamp housing, and the vertical direction of the irradiation unit The angle between the output shaft and the line extending from the tilting fulcrum to the vicinity of the connection point between the output shaft and the lamp housing is substantially vertical.

  Therefore, in the vehicular lamp of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the load applied to the vertical driving means without increasing the forward protrusion amount of the vertical driving means.

  In the invention described in claim 2, since the horizontal driving means for rotating the irradiation unit in the horizontal direction is provided integrally with the vertical driving means, the irradiation unit is tilted in two directions. The two driving means are configured in a compact manner, and the design of the vehicle lamp can be facilitated, and the configuration can be configured in a small size.

  In the invention described in claim 3, since the driving unit of the irradiation light amount changing means for changing the irradiation light amount of the irradiation light is provided integrally with the vertical direction driving means, the three irradiation light control means However, the vehicle lamp can be easily designed and can be made compact.

  The best mode for carrying out the vehicular lamp of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the illustrated embodiment, the vehicular lamp of the present invention is applied to an automotive headlamp.

  As can be seen in FIG. 1, the automotive headlamp 10 includes a lamp housing 20 having a recess opening forward, and the front opening of the lamp housing 20 is covered with a transparent cover 30 to form a lamp chamber 40. The

  As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, a bracket 50 is disposed in the lamp chamber 40 so as to be tiltable with respect to the lamp housing 20, and the irradiation unit 60 is supported by the bracket 50 so as to be tiltable in the horizontal direction. The The bracket 50 is supported by two pivot points 70 and 70 spaced apart from each other in the upper horizontal direction, and the lower portion is supported by a vertical driving means of an irradiation light control device described later.

  The rotation fulcrum portion 70 is constituted by an adjustment shaft 71 rotatably supported on the rear wall 21 of the lamp housing 20 and a nut body 72 supported by the bracket 50. The adjusting shaft 71 is formed by integrally forming a head portion 71b at the rear end of the screw shaft portion 71a, and the head portion 71b protrudes to the rear side of the rear wall 21 of the lamp housing 20 to operate the head portion 71b. Thus, the adjustment shaft 71 can be rotated. The nut body 72 is supported in a state where it can be slightly tilted with respect to the bracket 50, and the screw shaft portion 71 a of the adjustment shaft 71 is screwed onto the nut body 72. Accordingly, when the adjustment shaft 71 is rotated, the screw shaft portion 71a is screwed or unscrewed with respect to the nut body 72 in accordance with the rotation direction, so that the lamp of the portion of the bracket 50 that supports the nut body 72 is supported. The distance from the rear wall 21 of the housing 20 changes. In addition, although the illustrated rotation fulcrum portion 70 is configured to be able to adjust the interval between the bracket 50 and the rear wall 21 of the lamp housing 20, the interval between the bracket 50 and the lamp housing 20 is adjusted. It is also possible to configure so that it cannot be done.

  A large substantially rectangular opening 51 is formed in the bracket 50, and support pieces 52 and 53 protrude forward from both upper and lower edges of the opening 51. A shaft support 52 a is formed at the front end of the upper support piece 52, and an insertion hole 53 a is formed at the front end of the lower support piece 53. Further, mounting bosses 53b, 53b, 53b protrude from the lower surface of the lower support piece 53.

  1 and 4, the lamp unit 60 includes a reflector 61, a light source bulb 62 supported by the reflector 61, a light projection lens 63 provided so as to cover the front of the reflector 61, and an irradiation light pattern. A shade 64 for limiting the upper edge of the (light distribution pattern) is provided. The reflector 61 includes a reflecting surface 61 a having a light collecting property, and the projection lens 63 having a convex lens shape is supported at the tip of a substantially cylindrical mounting frame 65 fixed to the front end of the reflector 61. .

  The light emitted from the light source bulb 62 and reflected by the reflecting surface 61 a of the reflector 61 is collected near the upper edge 64 a of the shade 64. Further, the focal point of the light projecting lens 63 is located in the vicinity of the upper edge 64a of the shade 64. Accordingly, the light projecting lens 63 irradiates the beam whose upper edge is limited by the upper edge 64 a of the shade 64.

  The shade 64 is movably provided, and an upper edge 64a of the shade 64 moves between a light shielding position located in the light condensing area and a non-light shielding position where the reflected light from the reflector 61 is not shielded. However, it is possible to selectively irradiate a passing beam defined by the cut-off line and a traveling beam having a light distribution pattern that does not have a cut-off line that limits the upper edge.

  As can be clearly seen in FIG. 3, the shade 64 has a light shielding portion 64b having an upper edge 64a for forming a cut-off line, a bottom surface portion 64c protruding forward from the lower edge of the light shielding portion 64b, and a light shielding portion 64b. The supported pieces 64d and 64d (only one is shown in FIG. 3) projecting diagonally downward and rearward from both ends of the joint with the bottom surface portion 64c, and the front edge of the bottom surface portion 64c from the substantially center in the left-right direction to the front. The protruding connecting piece 64e and a drop preventing piece 64f protruding at a position near the connecting piece 64e on the front end edge of the bottom surface portion 64c are integrally formed.

  A support shaft 64h supported at both ends by the left and right side portions of the front end portion of the reflector 61 is inserted into the holes 64d ′ and 64d ′ of the supported pieces 64d and 64d, thereby being shaded. 64 is rotatably supported by the reflector 61. Then, a torsion coil spring 64i is inserted between the one support member 64g and the supported piece 64d, and thereby the rotational force in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. Yes. Details of the rotation of the shade 64 will be described later.

  As can be clearly seen in FIG. 4, the rear end portion of the mounting frame 65 is rotatably supported on the shaft support portion 52 a of the upper support piece 52 of the bracket 50 by the fulcrum shaft 66. A connecting boss 67 projects downward from the lower surface of the rear end portion of the mounting frame 65. The connection boss 67 is formed with a connection recess 67a (see FIG. 4) that opens downward. The center of the connecting recess 67a and the center of the fulcrum shaft 66 are located on the same axis. In addition, an insertion hole 67 b that communicates the inside and outside of the mounting frame 65 is formed at the center of the connecting boss 67. Then, the connecting boss 67 is inserted downward from the insertion hole 53 a of the lower support piece 53 of the bracket 50. Then, the rear end portion of the irradiation knit 60 protrudes rearward from the opening 51 of the bracket 50. In this way, the irradiation unit 50 is supported by the bracket 50 so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction.

  Horizontal driving means for rotating the irradiation unit 60 in the horizontal direction below the support piece 53 on the lower side of the bracket 50, vertical driving means for rotating the irradiation unit 60 in the vertical direction, and the irradiation An irradiation light control device 80 in which an irradiation light amount changing means for changing the irradiation light amount, that is, a switching drive unit of the irradiation light amount changing means for rotating the shade 64 between the light shielding position and the non-light shielding position is integrated. Is supported.

  As can be seen from FIGS. 4 to 9, the irradiation light control device 80 includes a single case 81 in which the horizontal direction driving unit 100, the vertical direction driving unit 200, and the switching driving unit 310 of the irradiation light amount changing unit 300 are integrated. Built in.

  The case 81 is composed of three parts. That is, the main case body 90, the upper case body 82 that covers the upper surface of the main case body 90, and the lower case body 83 that covers the lower surface of the main case body 90 are combined to form the case 81.

  As can be clearly seen in FIG. 8, the main case body 90 has a planar shape and a substantially horizontally long rectangular shape. The main case body 90 has a peripheral wall 91 that surrounds the main case body 90. In the apparatus, a left side portion (here, the irradiation light control device 80R related to the irradiation unit disposed on the right side will be described) is an intermediate wall 92 that vertically divides a portion surrounded by a peripheral wall 91. Is formed. In the intermediate wall 92, an inverted L-shaped portion 92 a extending from the front side portion to the right side portion is a hill portion having the same height as the upper end of the peripheral wall 91, and the other portion 92 b is at a height near the lower end of the peripheral wall 91. The middle part is located.

  A thick cylindrical support cylinder 93 projects upward from the intermediate portion 92b at a position slightly to the right of the center of the main case body 90. To the left of the support cylinder 93, two narrow support cylinders 94 and 95 are projected upward from the intermediate portion 92b so as to be arranged side by side. Each of the four insertion holes 94a, 94a, ..., 95a, 95a, ... is formed on the circumference centering on each of the support cylinders 94, 95, and is further located outside the insertion holes. Three facing holes 94b, 94b, 94b, 95b, 95b, and 95b are formed on the circumference around the support cylinders 94 and 95, respectively. Each of the support cylinders 93, 94, 95 is disposed on a straight line SL (see FIG. 8) extending left and right passing through the vicinity of the center of the main case body 90, and the insertion holes 94a, 94a,. 95a, 95a,... And the facing holes 94b, 94b, 94b, 95b, 95b, 95b are arranged in line symmetry with the straight line SL on which the support cylinders 93, 94, 95 are arranged as symmetry axes. In addition, support shafts 96a, 96b, 96c, and 97 project upward from the intermediate portion 92b.

  A space 98 having a rectangular shape in the front-rear direction is formed at the left end of the main case body 90 where the intermediate wall 92 is not formed. The bottom of the space 98 is closed by the bottom wall 98a, and is closer to the rear end. It is divided into two front and rear rooms 98c and 98d by a partition wall 98b. The rear end wall 98e defining the rear end of the space 98 and the partition wall 98b are formed with substantially U-shaped cutouts 98f and 98g opened at the upper ends, respectively. Further, guide step surfaces 98h and 98h facing upward are formed on both side portions of the rear room 98d. The space 98 includes an intermediate wall 92 of the case body 90, a main surface of the upper case body 82, and a main surface of the lower case body 83 (note that these surfaces are positioned substantially horizontally when the irradiation unit 60 is in the intermediate position. It is formed so as to be inclined rearward. The inclination of the space 98 will be described in detail later.

  Three attachment portions 99, 99, 99 are formed on the outer peripheral portion of the main case body 90, and cylindrical bodies 99a, 99a, 99a having a short length are formed on the attachment portions 99, 99, 99. Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 91, the engaging claws 91a, 91a,... And the engaging surfaces 91b ', 91b' face upward. Engagement claws 91b and 91b are projected.

  In addition, a substantially rectangular notch 91c opened at the lower edge is formed substantially at the center in the front-rear direction of the right side portion of the peripheral wall 91.

  The upper case body 82 has a plate-like shape that almost completely covers the upper side of the main case body 90, and has a circular shape whose center coincides with the axis of the support cylinder 93 of the main case body 90 at a position near the center. An insertion hole 82a is formed. Engagement pieces 82b, 82b,... Projecting downward from the peripheral edge of the upper case body 82 are formed, and the engagement pieces 82b, 82b,. Are formed. Further, attachment portions 82c, 82c, 82c are formed on the peripheral portion of the upper case body 82, and insertion holes 82c ', 82c', 82c 'are formed in the attachment portions 82c, 82c, 82c.

  Then, the upper case body 82 is positioned so as to cover the upper side of the main case body 90, and the cylinders 99a, 99a, 99a of the attachment portions 99, 99, 99 of the main case body 90 are attached to the attachment portions 82c of the upper case body 82, The insertion holes 82c ', 82c', 82c 'of 82c, 82c are inserted from below. When the engagement pieces 82b, 82b,... Of the upper case body 82 are moved downward along the peripheral wall 91 of the main case body 90, the tips of the engagement pieces 82b, 82b,. .. Slid on the inclined surfaces of the engaging claws 91a, 91a,... Formed on the outer surface of the peripheral wall 91, and finally, the engaging holes 82b ', 82b', 82b 'are engaged with the engaging claws 91a, 91a. ,... Are engaged with the downward engaging surfaces 91a ′, 91a ′,. In this way, the upper case body 82 is attached to the upper side of the main case body 90. A large space is formed between the intermediate portion 92 b of the intermediate wall 92 of the main case body 90 and the upper case body 82, and mechanical parts such as gears are arranged in the space to form the mechanical portion 85. The upper side of the space 98 formed on the left side of the main case body 90 is also covered with the upper case body 82. When the space 98 is covered with the upper case body 82, a plurality of guide grooves extending in the front-rear direction are formed in the chamber 98d by guide portions (not shown) formed in portions corresponding to the room 98d of the upper case body 82. The

  The lower case body 83 has a plate shape that covers most of the lower surface of the main case body 90, and a short standing wall 83a is formed slightly inside the outer peripheral portion. Further, engaging claws 83b, 83b,... Are protruded from the outer peripheral surface of the standing wall 83a with the engaging surfaces 83b ', 83b',. Further, an engagement wall 83c is erected on the left end portion of the lower case body 83 at a position spaced outward from the standing wall 83, and engagement surfaces 83d ', 83d', Engaging claws 83d, 83d, and 83d are provided so that 83d 'faces downward. Furthermore, engagement pieces 84e and 84e having engagement holes 84e 'and 84e' are provided so as to project upward from the outer peripheral portion of the lower case body 83.

  Then, when the lower case body 83 is moved slightly upward with the lower case body 83 positioned so as to cover the lower side of the main case body 90, the engagement holes 83e ', 83e of the engagement pieces 83e, 83e are moved. 'Engages with engaging surfaces 91b', 91b 'of the engaging claws 91b, 91b formed on the outer surface of the peripheral wall 91 of the main case body 90, and engaging claws 83b, 83b,. The engagement surfaces 83b ', 83b' and 83d ', 83d', 83d 'of 83d, 83d, 83d engage with an engagement portion (not shown) formed on the inner surface of the peripheral wall 91 of the main case body 90, Thus, the lower case body 83 is attached to the main case body 90 so as to cover the lower surface thereof. A circuit board (to be described later) is arranged in a space between the intermediate wall 92 of the main case body 90 and the lower case body 83 to form a circuit portion 86.

  As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 5, 6, and 9, the horizontal driving unit 100 includes a horizontal rotating shaft 110 that is connected to the irradiation unit 60. The horizontal driving unit 100 includes a horizontal driving motor 120 as a driving source, and the rotation of the motor 120 is transmitted to the horizontal rotating shaft 110 via the reduction gears 130, 140, and 150.

  The horizontal rotating shaft 110 has a connecting portion 112 formed at the upper end of a substantially cylindrical main portion 111, and a sector gear 113 projecting laterally at the lower end. A plurality of engaging protrusions 112a, 112a,... Are formed on the outer surface of the connecting portion 112. A large cylindrical space 114 is formed inside the horizontal rotation shaft 110, and the cylindrical space 114 communicates with the outside through an insertion hole 115 formed in the upper end surface of the connecting portion 112. The rotating shaft 110 is rotatably supported in a state in which the columnar space 114 is externally fitted to a support cylinder 93 erected on the intermediate wall 92 of the main case body 90.

  The horizontal driving motor 120 includes a stator portion fixed to the main case body 90 and a rotor portion rotatable with respect to the stator portion. The stator portion is supported with respect to the support tube 94 of the main case body 90. Are inserted into holes 121a, 121a,... Which are press-fitted into the insulator 121, which are fixed in an outer fitting shape, and whose lower end portions are formed in the intermediate wall 92. , Four terminals 122, 122,... That reach the space of the circuit portion 86, a core 123 disposed so as to surround the insulator 121, and a support cylinder 94 formed in the main case body 90. A bearing metal 124 fixed in a press-fitted shape and a coil 125 (see FIG. 6) wound around the core 123 are configured.

  The rotor portion of the motor 120 has a cylindrical rotor magnet 126 having a substantially short axial length, a gear portion 127 fixed so as to cover the upper end of the rotor magnet 126, and a center portion of the gear portion 127. A pinion gear 127 a is formed at the center of the upper surface of the gear portion 127. Then, the rotor shaft 128 is rotatably inserted into the bearing metal 124 to form the horizontal driving motor 120. The lower end of the rotor magnet 126 faces the space of the circuit portion 86 located below the intermediate wall 92 through the facing holes 94b, 94b, 94b formed in the intermediate wall 92 of the main case body 90. Become.

  The reduction gear 130 has a large gear 131 and a small gear 132 integrally formed on the lower side of the large gear 131, and is rotatably supported by a support shaft 96a erected on the main case body 90. Large gear 131 meshes with pinion gear 127a of motor 120. The intermediate reduction gear 140 has a large gear 141 and a small gear 142 integrally formed below the large gear 141, and is rotatably supported by a support shaft 96b standing on the main case body 90. The large gear 141 meshes with the small gear 132 of the reduction gear 130. The reduction gear 150 has a large gear 151 and a small gear 152 integrally formed on the upper side of the large gear 151, and is rotatably supported by a support shaft 96 c erected on the main case body 90. The gear 151 meshes with the small gear 142 of the intermediate reduction gear 140, and the small gear 152 meshes with the sector gear 113 of the horizontal rotation shaft 110. Therefore, when the motor 120 is driven, the rotation is transmitted to the sector gear 113 via the three reduction gears 130, 140, 150, and thereby the horizontal rotation shaft 110 is rotated.

  The connecting portion 112 of the horizontal rotation shaft 110 is connected to a connecting recess 67a of a connecting boss 67 provided on the lower surface of the irradiation unit 60, and the engaging protrusions 112a, 112a,. Is engaged with a recess (not shown) formed on the inner peripheral surface of the connecting recess 67a, and a slip in the rotational direction is caused between the connecting portion 112 of the horizontal rotating shaft 110 and the connecting boss 67 of the irradiation unit 60. It is made not to occur.

  The vertical driving means 200 includes a leveling output shaft 210 and a vertical driving motor 220 for moving the leveling output shaft 210 along the axial direction, and the rotation of the motor 220 transmits the transmission gear 230, the gear. The leveling output shaft 210 is converted into movement in the axial direction via the shaft 240.

  The leveling output shaft 210 has a ball joint spherical body 212 at the rear end of the substantially cylindrical main portion 211, and guided projections 213, 213,... Face outward at the front end of the main portion 211. Projected. A screw shaft portion 214 protrudes forward from the front end of the main portion 211, and a screw thread 214 a is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the screw shaft portion 214.

  The gear shaft 240 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a screw groove 241 (see FIG. 6) is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder, and an inclined gear 242 is formed on the rear half of the outer peripheral surface. . And the front-end part 243 of the gear shaft 240 is formed in the slightly small diameter.

  A ball bearing 250 is fixed to the front end portion of the room 98c on the front side of the space 98. The front end 243 of the gear shaft 240 is fixed to the inner race 251 of the ball bearing 250 in a press-fit manner. As a result, the gear shaft 240 is rotatably arranged in the room 98 c on the front side of the space 98. Then, the screw shaft portion 214 of the leveling output shaft 210 is screwed into the screw groove 241 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the gear shaft 240. In this state, the sphere 212 of the leveling output shaft 210 protrudes in the direction from the notch 98f of the rear end wall 98e, and the guided protrusions 213, 213,... Are guided step surfaces 98h, 98h in the rear chamber 98d. Are slidably engaged with a guide groove (not shown) formed by the like. Therefore, when the gear shaft 240 rotates, the leveling output shaft 210 does not rotate because the guided projections 213, 213,... Are slidably engaged with the guide grooves in the chamber 98d. The thread 214a of the threaded shaft portion 214 is fed by the thread groove 241 of the gear shaft 240, so that it moves backward or forward according to the rotation direction of the gear shaft 240.

  The vertical driving motor 220 includes a stator portion that is fixed to the main case body 90 and a rotor portion that is rotatable with respect to the stator portion. The stator portion is connected to the support cylinder 95 of the main case body 90. Are inserted into the insulator 221, the support pipes 221a, 221a,... Of the insulator 221, and are inserted into the insertion holes 95a, 95a,. , Four terminals 222, 222,... That reach the space of the circuit portion 86, a core 223 disposed so as to surround the insulator 221, and a support cylinder 95 formed on the main case body 90. A bearing metal 224 fixed in a press-fitted manner and a coil 225 (see FIG. 6) wound around the core 223 are configured.

  The rotor part of the motor 220 has a cylindrical rotor magnet 226 having a substantially short axial length, a gear part 227 fixed so as to cover the upper end of the rotor magnet 226, and a downward suspension from the center of the gear part 227. A pinion gear 227a is formed at the center of the upper surface of the gear portion 227. The rotor shaft 228 is rotatably inserted into the bearing metal 224 to form the vertical driving motor 220. The lower end of the rotor magnet 226 faces the space of the circuit portion 86 located below the intermediate wall 92 through facing holes 95b, 95b, 95b formed in the intermediate wall 92 of the main case body 90. Become.

  The transmission gear 230 is formed by integrally forming a worm gear 232 at the lower end of the flat gear 231 and is rotatably supported by a support shaft 97 erected from the intermediate wall 92 of the main case body 90. The spur gear 231 of the transmission gear 230 is engaged with the pinion gear 227a of the motor 220, and the worm gear 232 is engaged with the inclined gear 242 of the gear shaft 240. Therefore, when the vertical driving motor 220 is driven, the rotation is transmitted to the gear shaft 240 via the transmission gear 230, and the gear shaft 240 is rotated. When the gear shaft 240 rotates, the leveling output shaft 210 is moved rearward or forward as described above.

  In addition to the shade 64 described above, the irradiation light amount changing means 300 includes a switching drive unit 310 and a connecting rod 320 that connects the shade 64 and the switching drive unit 310. The switching drive unit 310 is incorporated in the case 81. This switching drive unit 310 is configured as a solenoid, and is disposed in a support cylinder 93 formed in the main case body 90 so as to be surrounded by the horizontal rotation shaft 110, and its operating shaft 311 serves as a switching drive shaft in the horizontal direction. It protrudes upward from an insertion hole 115 formed at the upper end of the rotating shaft 110. When the solenoid 310 is energized, the operating shaft 311 protrudes from the solenoid 310, and when the energization to the solenoid 310 is interrupted, the operating shaft 311 is pulled inwardly of the solenoid 310 by a resilient means (not shown). It is. The upper end 321 of the connecting rod 320 is bent in an approximately L shape, the upper end 321 is inserted into the hole 64 e of the connecting piece 64 e of the shade 64 and connected to the shade 64, and the irradiation light control device 80 is connected to the bracket 50. When attached to the lower surface of the lower support piece 53, the lower end 322 of the connecting rod 320 is brought into elastic contact with the upper end of the operating shaft 311 by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 64i.

  A circuit board 400 is arranged in a space formed between the intermediate wall 92 and the lower case body 83 in the case 81 to form a circuit portion 86. As can be clearly seen in FIG. 8 and the like, the circuit board 400 is configured by forming a printed wiring (not shown) on the print base 410 and mounting the connector 420 and various electronic components. The print base 410 has a symmetrical shape, and the connection of each component and the printed wiring is performed so that the connector 420, the solenoid 310, and the two motors 120 and 220 are arranged on the symmetry axis SYML that divides the front and rear. Land etc. are arranged. For example, the Hall elements 430, 430,... That detect the rotation of the rotor magnets 126, 226 of the motors 120, 220 are positioned one by one on the symmetry axis SYML and spaced apart from the symmetry axis SYML at equal intervals. Each of the three terminals is arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction, and four terminals 122, 122,..., 222, 222,. Two insertion holes 440, 440,... That are inserted into the lower surface side of the print base 410 to connect to connection lands (not shown) formed on the lower surface of 410 are two on the symmetry axis SYML and front and rear from the symmetry axis SYML. Each of the four pieces is arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction at positions spaced apart at equal intervals. Further, insertion holes 450 and 450 through which the terminals 312 and 312 of the solenoid 310 are connected to a connection land (not shown) formed on the lower surface of the print base 410 are also inserted on the symmetry axis SYML. Has been placed. The connector 420 is mounted on the print base 410 at the right end of the upper surface of the print base 410 in the center in the front-rear direction, that is, on the symmetry axis SYML.

  By forming the printed base 410 of the circuit board 400 symmetrically in the longitudinal direction as described above, the horizontal rotation shaft 110, the horizontal driving motor 120, the vertical driving motor 220, and the irradiation light amount changing means 300 are switched and driven. The part (solenoid) 310 can be arranged on the symmetry axis SYML, and therefore, a pair of left and right irradiation light control devices 80R (the irradiation light control device 80 described above is 80R arranged on the right side), In providing 80L (see FIG. 11), the circuit board 400 can use a common left and right circuit board, and the number of components can be reduced. That is, a linkage unit that is formed on the intermediate wall 92 of the main case body 90 and links between a member arranged on the mechanism unit 85 side and a component or a connection unit on the circuit board 400 arranged on the circuit unit 86, For example, the insertion holes 94a, 94a,..., 95a, 95a,... And the facing holes 94b, 94b, 94b, 95b, 95b, 95b are front and rear with the virtual straight line SL shown in FIG. By preparing the left and right separate cases 81 and 81 arranged symmetrically, the circuit board 400 can be used on the left and right by rotating 180 degrees left and right.

  The intermediate wall 92 of the main case body 90 has an inverted L-shaped portion 92 a extending from the front side portion to the right side portion as a hill portion having the same height as the upper end of the peripheral wall 91. Accordingly, the vertical width of the portion corresponding to the hill portion 92a in the space of the circuit portion 86 is larger than the portion corresponding to the intermediate portion 92b, and therefore the portion 410a corresponding to the hill portion 92a of the print base 410 is the upper side. Has a high space. Therefore, the tall electronic components 460, 460,... Among the electronic components mounted on the print base 410 are preferably mounted on the portion 410a. By arranging the tall electronic components 460, 460,... In the vicinity of a portion that requires a high space, such as the arrangement portion of the connector 420, the electronic components 460, 460,. Compared to the case, the thickness of the entire case 81 can be reduced.

  The circuit board 400 configured as described above is arranged in a space formed between the main case body 90 and the lower case body 83 of the case 81 to form the circuit portion 86. The connector 420 faces outward from a notch 91c formed in the right side portion of the peripheral wall 91 of the main case body 90. In addition, the terminals 122, 122, ..., 222, 222, ... of the motors 120, 220 are inserted through the insertion holes 440, 440, ... of the print base 410 to the lower surface side of the print base 410, A connection land (not shown) formed on the lower surface of the print base 410 is connected by soldering or the like. Further, the Hall elements 430, 430,... On the circuit board 400 are respectively connected to the motors 120 through the facing holes 94b, 94b, 94b, 95b, 95b, 95b formed in the intermediate wall 92 of the main case body 90. The rotor magnets 126 and 226 of 220 are in close proximity to the lower ends. The terminals 312 and 312 of the solenoid 310 are inserted through the insertion holes 450 and 450 of the print base 410 to the lower surface side of the print base 410, and are connected to a connection land (not shown) formed on the lower surface of the print base 410 by soldering or the like. Is done.

  FIG. 10 shows an example 500 of a control circuit that controls the entire headlamp system including the irradiation unit 60.

  The control circuit 500 includes an ECU 501 that controls the entire headlamp system including the irradiation unit 60 described above, and an ignition switch 502, a lamp switch 503a, and a light distribution changeover switch 503b are connected to the ECU 501. When the lamp switch 503a is turned on (ON) with the ignition switch 502 turned on (ON), a lighting command is issued from the ECU 501 to the lighting circuit 504, whereby the lighting circuit 504 causes the lamp unit 60 to be turned on. When the light source bulb 62 is turned on, a beam having a predetermined light distribution pattern is irradiated forward, and the light distribution changeover switch 503b is operated while the light source bulb 62 is turned on, the operation is performed. Accordingly, the position of the shade 64 is controlled to switch the light distribution.

  Signals from various sensors 505 are input to the ECU 501. For example, signals from a steering sensor 505a, a vehicle height sensor 505b, a vehicle speed sensor 505c, a wheel sensor 505d, and a GPS sensor 505e are input. From the steering sensor 505a, information on the steering direction and steering angle when the steering operation is performed, from the vehicle height sensor 505b, information on the heights of the front and rear axles, from the vehicle speed sensor 505c, information on the vehicle speed, from the wheel sensor 505d. Is inputted with information on the rotational speed of each wheel, and current position information based on the global positioning system is inputted from the GPS sensor 505e. Then, the ECU 501 sends a predetermined control signal to the irradiation light control device 80 so as to obtain an optimum irradiation direction based on the information from each of the sensors 505, and the irradiation light control device 80 supplies power from the ECU 501. A control signal is received via one connector 420. As described above, since the power supply to the irradiation light control device 80 and / or the supply of the control signal is performed via the single connector 420, the circuit configuration of the irradiation light control device 80 is simplified and the power supply is performed. The control signal supply lines are integrated into one, and the supply lines in the housing 10 can be easily wound.

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 471 in which a control program is incorporated is mounted on the circuit board 400, and a predetermined control signal is sent from the ECU 501 to the CPU 471 through the connector 420. The CPU 471 sends a predetermined signal to each driver circuit 472, 473, 474 configured on the circuit board 400 based on the control signal obtained from the ECU 501, and the horizontal driving motor 120, by each driver circuit 472, 473, 474 is transmitted. The vertical driving motor 220 and the solenoid 310 are driven separately.

  The irradiation light control device 80R described above is attached to the lower surface of the lower support piece 53 of the bracket 50. That is, the mounting bosses 53b, 53b, 53b projecting from the lower surface of the support piece 53 are inserted into the cylinders 99a, 99a, 99a of the mounting portions 99, 99, 99 of the irradiation light control device 80R, and the irradiation light control device. 80R is positioned with respect to the support piece 53, and in this state, the irradiation light control device 80R is attached to the lower surface of the support piece 53 by an appropriate means such as screwing.

  When the irradiation light control device 80R is attached to the lower surface of the lower support piece 53 of the bracket 50 as described above, the connecting portion 112 of the horizontal rotating shaft 110 of the horizontal driving means 100 is connected to the connecting boss 67 of the irradiation unit 60. It is connected to the connecting recess 67a in an inner fitting shape. Further, the operating shaft 311 of the switching drive part (solenoid) 310 of the irradiation light amount changing means 300 is inserted through the insertion hole 67b of the connecting boss 67 and protrudes into the irradiation unit 60, and is connected to the shade 64 at the upper end of the operating shaft 311. Thus, the lower end 322 of the connecting rod 320 is elastically contacted.

  Further, the sphere 212 of the leveling output shaft 210 of the vertical driving means 200 is fitted into a spherical recess 261 formed in a ball receiving member 260 supported on the rear wall 21 of the lamp housing 20 and connected in a ball joint shape. The

  As described above, the axial direction of the leveling output shaft 210 is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane. The inclination will be described. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the leveling output shaft 210 is located approximately in the middle of the movement range. In FIG. 7, a point EO is an aiming fulcrum, that is, a rotation fulcrum in the vertical direction of the irradiation unit 60. Specifically, it is a line connecting two nut bodies 72 and 72 supported by the bracket 50. The angle θ between the line L1 extending from the aiming fulcrum EO and intersecting the line L1 extending in the axial direction of the leveling output shaft 210 at the position of the sphere 212 and the line L1 is set to approximately 90 °. With this setting, it is possible to reduce the load applied to the leveling output shaft 210 due to the tilting of the irradiation unit 60, and to reduce the forward protrusion amount of the vertical direction driving means 200.

  A discharge bulb is used as the light source bulb 62 of the lamp unit 60 described above, and for this purpose, a lighting circuit unit 600 having a lighting circuit for lighting the discharge bulb is disposed in the lower part of the lamp body 20. A bulb socket 602 is connected to the tip of the cord 601 extending from the lighting circuit unit 600, and the bulb socket 602 is connected to the light source bulb 62. Accordingly, the lighting voltage generated by the lighting circuit provided in the lighting circuit unit 600 is applied to the light source bulb 62 through the bulb socket 602, and thereby the light source bulb 62 is turned on.

  Below, the effect | action of the said automotive headlamp 10 is demonstrated.

  For example, when steering operation is detected by the steering sensor 505a, a control amount corresponding to the direction and angle of turning the steering wheel is output from the CPU 471 to the driver circuit 472, and the driver circuit 472 causes the horizontal driving motor 120 to move to a predetermined level. It is rotated by a predetermined amount in the direction. The rotation of the motor 120 is transmitted to the horizontal rotation shaft 110 via the reduction gears 130, 140, 150, and the rotation shaft 110 is rotated in a predetermined direction by a predetermined angle. The rotation of the rotation shaft 110 is transmitted to the irradiation unit 60 through the connection boss 67, and the irradiation unit 60 is rotated in the left-right direction with respect to the bracket 50.

  When the vehicle body tilt is detected by the vehicle height sensor 505b, the vehicle speed sensor 505c, the wheel sensor 505d, etc., the leveling output shaft 210 is moved in a predetermined direction by a predetermined amount in order to correct the mismatch of the irradiation angle due to the vehicle body tilt. Therefore, a control signal is output from the CPU 471 to the driver circuit 473, and the driver circuit 473 drives the vertical drive motor 220 to rotate in a predetermined direction by a predetermined amount based on the control signal. The rotation of the motor 220 is transmitted to the gear shaft 240 via the transmission gear 230, and the gear shaft 240 rotates, whereby the screw 214a of the leveling output shaft 210 is sent by the screw groove 241 and the leveling output shaft. 210 moves a predetermined amount in a predetermined direction. As a result, the spacing between the portion of the bracket 50 that supports the irradiation light control device 80R and the lamp housing 20 changes, and the bracket 50 connects the nut bodies 72 and 72 into which the adjustment shafts 71 and 71 are screwed. Tilt in the vertical direction with the line as the tilt axis.

  In the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the light from the light source bulb 62 is partially blocked by the shade 64, and in particular, a beam whose upper edge is limited by the upper edge 64a of the shade 64 (for example, a passing beam). ) Is irradiated. Therefore, when the light distribution changeover switch 503b is operated, a signal corresponding to the operation is sent from the CPU 471 to the driver circuit 474, the solenoid 310 is energized via the driver circuit 474, and the operating shaft 311 protrudes upward. The When the operating shaft 311 protrudes upward, the connecting rod 320 is pushed upward by the operating shaft 311, whereby the shade 64 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIGS. 1 and 4. Move to the non-light-shielding position indicated by the line. Therefore, the light from the light source bulb 62 is hardly blocked by the shade 64, and a beam (for example, a traveling beam) having no cut-off line is irradiated on the upper edge of the light distribution pattern. When the energization of the solenoid 310 is interrupted, the operating shaft 311 moves in the direction of being pulled into the solenoid 310, and the shade 64 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 4 by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 64i. Then, the rotation stops when the lower end 322 of the connecting rod 320 is stopped by the upper end 311a of the operating shaft 311 of the solenoid 310, and stops at the light shielding position indicated by the solid line in FIGS.

  In the above description, an example of selectively switching and irradiating two beams, ie, a beam having a limited upper edge of the light distribution pattern and a beam having no upper edge of the light distribution pattern, is shown. Therefore, it is possible to perform irradiation with a beam in which the amount of irradiation light is appropriately changed depending on the position of the shade 64. Further, the switching drive unit of the irradiation light amount changing means 300 is not limited to the solenoid, and other drive sources can be used. For example, if a linear motor is used, the position of the shade 64 can be changed steplessly. Furthermore, the movement of the shade 64 is not limited to rotation, and may be, for example, linear movement in the vertical direction, and the means for changing the amount of irradiation light is not limited to the shade.

  In the automotive headlamp 10, three means 100, 200, and 310 for controlling three elements necessary for controlling the irradiation light are integrated into one irradiation light control device 80. Therefore, the number of parts of the irradiation light control device 80 can be reduced and the size can be reduced. As a result, the number of assembling steps of the irradiation light control device 80 is reduced, and the irradiation light control device 80 is coupled with a decrease in the number of parts. Can be configured at low cost. Moreover, since the irradiation light control apparatus 80 can be reduced in size, the automotive headlamp 10 incorporating the irradiation light control apparatus 80 can also be reduced in size.

  Further, since the switching drive unit (solenoid) 310 of the irradiation light amount changing means 300 is arranged using the internal space of the horizontal rotation shaft 110, it is necessary to prepare a special space for arranging the switching drive unit 310. Therefore, the irradiation light control device 80 can be further downsized.

  Furthermore, since the switching drive part 310 of the horizontal direction drive means 100, the vertical direction drive means 200, and the irradiation light quantity change means 300 is incorporated in the single case 81, handling of the irradiation light control apparatus 80 becomes easy.

  Furthermore, the irradiation unit 60 is supported in the lamp housing 20 so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and the irradiation light control device 80 is rotated together with the irradiation unit 60 in the vertical direction. Since it is possible, since the irradiation light control device 80 can be handled integrally with the irradiation unit 60 in an assembled state, the assembling workability to the lamp housing 20 is improved.

  In addition, since the power supply and / or control signal supply to the switching drive unit 310 of the horizontal direction driving unit 100, the vertical direction driving unit 200, and the irradiation light amount changing unit 300 is performed through a single connector 420, the irradiation light The control circuit 500 can be simplified.

  Further, in the case 81 of the irradiation light control device 80, the mechanism portion 85 where the mechanical components are arranged and the circuit portion 86 where the circuit board 400 is arranged are separated by the intermediate wall 92, so There is little risk of scraps or the like accompanying the operation from adhering to the circuit board 400, and malfunction of the circuit formed on the circuit board 400 can be avoided.

  In the above-described embodiment, the irradiation unit 60 includes the condensing reflector 61, the light source 62, the light projecting lens 63, and the shade 64. However, the irradiation unit 60 is limited to this type. Rather than other types, for example, a parabolic reflector, a light source, and a front lens, and a light shielding cap that covers the position of the light source, various steps formed on the front lens, and part of the light source as necessary It is also possible to use a type of irradiation unit that controls the light distribution.

  In addition, the shapes and structures of the respective parts shown in the above-described embodiments are merely examples of implementations in carrying out the present invention, and these limit the technical scope of the present invention. It should not be interpreted as.

The drawings show an example of an embodiment in which the vehicular lamp of the present invention is applied to an automotive headlamp, and this figure is an overall longitudinal sectional view. It is a schematic perspective view which isolate | separates and shows an irradiation unit, a bracket, and an irradiation light control apparatus. It is a disassembled perspective view of an irradiation unit. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the principal part. It is a top view which removes an upper case body and shows an irradiation light control apparatus. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnects and shows an irradiation light control apparatus by the VI-VI line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnects and shows an irradiation light control apparatus by the VII-VII line of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of a case. It is a disassembled perspective view of a mechanism part. It is a block diagram of a control circuit. It is a top view which removes the upper case body and shows the irradiation light control apparatus arrange | positioned on the opposite side to the irradiation light control apparatus shown in FIG. 1 thru | or FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Automotive headlamp (vehicle lamp), 20 ... Lamp housing, 60 ... Irradiation unit, 62 ... Light source bulb (light source), 100 ... Horizontal direction drive means, 200 ... Vertical direction drive means, 210 ... Leveling output shaft (Output shaft), 300 ... irradiation light quantity changing means, 310 ... switching drive unit (drive unit), EO ... aiming fulcrum (tilting fulcrum), L1 ... axis of the leveling output shaft, L2 ... line extending from EO and intersecting L1; ... An angle formed by L1 and L2

Claims (3)

One irradiation unit that is supported in a lamp housing so as to be tiltable in the vertical direction, and irradiates light from a light source as irradiation light in a desired direction;
Vertical direction drive means for tilting the irradiation unit in the vertical direction by moving the output shaft in the axial direction,
The vertical driving means is supported by the irradiation unit, and the tip of the output shaft is connected to the lamp housing. From the tilting fulcrum of the irradiation unit in the vertical direction to the vicinity of the connection point between the output shaft and the lamp housing. A vehicle lamp characterized in that the angle formed between the line extending and the output shaft is substantially vertical. 2. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein horizontal driving means for rotating the irradiation unit in the horizontal direction is provided integrally with the vertical driving means. 3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a driving unit of the irradiation light amount changing means for changing the irradiation light amount of the irradiation light is provided integrally with the vertical direction driving means.

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