JP5401750B2 - Vehicle headlamp - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp, and more particularly to a vehicle headlamp capable of switching between a traveling beam light distribution pattern and a passing beam light distribution pattern.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 11, by controlling a movable light shielding member 230 disposed between a semiconductor light emitting element 210 and a lens 220, a passing beam light distribution pattern and a traveling beam light distribution pattern are obtained. A vehicle headlamp 200 configured to be switched has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the vehicle headlamp 200 described in Patent Document 1 having the above configuration, when the light shielding member 230 (see FIG. 12) is disposed between the semiconductor light emitting element 210 and the lens 220, the light shielding member 230 is horizontally disposed. When a light distribution pattern for a passing beam having a cut-off line defined by a line and an oblique line is formed, and no light blocking member 230 is disposed between the semiconductor light emitting element 210 and the lens 220, a light distribution for traveling beam A pattern is formed.

JP 2005-183327 A

  However, since the vehicular headlamp 200 uses the same optical system for the traveling beam and the passing beam, the degree of freedom of light distribution is small, and an optimal light distribution pattern is formed for each. There is a problem that can not be. Further, since the vehicle headlamp 200 has a configuration in which a part of the light beam emitted from the semiconductor light emitting element 210 is shielded by the light blocking member 230 at the time of the passing beam, the light beam emitted from the semiconductor light emitting element 210 is blocked. There is also a problem that usage efficiency is poor.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and is switched to an optical system suitable for forming a light distribution pattern for a passing beam for a passing beam, and suitable for forming a light distribution pattern for a traveling beam for a traveling beam. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular headlamp that can be switched to an optical system. Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular headlamp that can improve the light utilization efficiency when passing a beam compared to the prior art.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1 is directed to a vehicle headlamp capable of switching between a traveling beam and a passing beam. A light source and a light beam emitted from the light source are transmitted through the light beam. And a lens configured to form a light distribution pattern for a passing beam, and disposed between the light source and the lens. A first reflecting surface located at a light shielding position that reflects in a predetermined direction and at an open position that allows a light beam from the light source to pass through the lens when passing by the beam, and a reflection direction of the first reflecting surface. And a second reflecting surface configured to reflect a reflected light beam from the first reflecting surface, and the reflected light beam forms a travel beam light distribution pattern.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the traveling beam is used, the first reflecting surface is located at the light shielding position so that a dedicated optical system suitable for forming the traveling beam light distribution pattern (light source, located at the light shielding position). 1st reflective surface (including the second reflective surface). On the other hand, in the case of a passing beam, the first reflecting surface is located in the open position, and a dedicated optical system suitable for forming a light distribution pattern for a passing beam ( Including a light source and a lens). As a result, it is possible to form optimum light distribution patterns for the traveling beam and the passing beam as compared with the conventional technique using the same optical system for the traveling beam and for the passing beam.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the first reflecting surface is located at an open position that allows the light beam from the light source to the lens to pass through at the time of the passing beam, the light use efficiency at the time of the passing beam is improved. It becomes possible to improve more.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the first reflecting surface includes a first upper reflecting surface and a first lower reflecting surface, and the first upper reflecting surface is It is arranged on the upper side with respect to the optical axis of the light source, rotates about the upper rotation axis on the upper edge side, is located at either the light shielding position or the open position, and the first lower reflecting surface is the optical axis of the light source The first lower reflection surface and the first lower reflection surface are respectively positioned at either the light shielding position or the open position. When positioned at the light shielding position, the light source is closed by a posture inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the optical axis of the light source and the lower edge of the first upper reflecting surface and the upper edge of the first lower reflecting surface are in contact with each other. On the other hand, when positioned in the open position, the lower edge of the first upper reflecting surface and the first Characterized in that the state space opened by forming from said light source for passing light rays towards the lens between the upper edge of the reflecting surface.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the traveling beam is used, the first reflecting surface (the first upper reflecting surface and the first lower reflecting surface) is positioned at the light-shielding position, which is suitable for forming a traveling beam light distribution pattern. A dedicated optical system (including a light source, a first upper reflecting surface, a first lower reflecting surface, and a second reflecting surface located at a light shielding position), while the first reflecting surface is in an open position during a passing beam. It is possible to configure a dedicated optical system (including a light source and a lens) suitable for forming a light distribution pattern for passing beams. As a result, it is possible to form optimum light distribution patterns for the traveling beam and the passing beam as compared with the conventional technique using the same optical system for the traveling beam and for the passing beam.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the first upper reflection surface and the first lower reflection surface are positioned at an open position that allows light beams from the light source to the lens to pass during the passing beam, the passing beam is used. It is possible to improve the light utilization efficiency at the time compared to the conventional case.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the first reflecting surface is a flat reflecting surface or a spheroid reflecting surface.

  This is an example of the first reflecting surface. Therefore, it is also possible to use a reflective surface other than a flat reflective surface or a spheroid reflective surface as the first reflective surface.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to switch to an optical system suitable for forming a light distribution pattern for a passing beam when passing a beam, and to switch to an optical system suitable for forming a light distribution pattern for a traveling beam when traveling. It becomes possible to provide a lighting. In addition, it is possible to provide a vehicle headlamp that can improve the light utilization efficiency during passing beams more than before.

1 is a perspective view of a vehicle headlamp 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of the vehicle headlamp 100 shown in FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view for mainly explaining the upper reflective surface 31 and the lower reflective surface 32 located in the light shielding position (at the time of a traveling beam). It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view for demonstrating the virtual image of the light source 10 reflected on each of the upper reflective surface 31 and the lower reflective surface 32 (at the time of a traveling beam). It is an image figure of the light source image to project. It is an image figure of the light source image which the 2nd upper reflective surface 41 projects. It is an image figure of the light source image which the 2nd lower reflective surface 42 projects. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view for mainly explaining the upper reflective surface 31 and the lower reflective surface 32 located in the open position (at the time of passing beam). It is an image figure of the light distribution pattern for passing beams formed with the vehicle headlamp. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a drive mechanism 50. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the conventional vehicle headlamp 200. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating mainly the light-shielding member 230 of the conventional vehicle headlamp 200. FIG.

  Hereinafter, a vehicle headlamp according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  A vehicle headlamp 100 according to the present embodiment is applied to a headlamp of a vehicle such as an automobile. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a light source 10, a lens 20, a first upper reflecting surface 31, The first lower reflection surface 32, the second upper reflection surface 41, the second lower reflection surface 42, the drive mechanism 50, and the like are provided.

The light source 10 is an LED light source (semiconductor light emitting element) in which one or a plurality of LED chips are packaged, and is fixed to a base member 60 (a heat sink is illustrated in FIG. 1) in a state where the optical axis AX is directed in the vehicle traveling direction. Has been. The lens 20 is arranged on the optical axis AX of the light source 10 so that the light emitted from the light source 10 is transmitted and the transmitted light forms a passing beam light distribution pattern P _LO (see FIG. 9). An entrance surface, an exit surface, and the like are configured.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, between the light source 10 and the lens 20, a first reflection surface (first upper reflection) is used to control a light ray emitted from the light source 10 toward the lens 20. A surface 31 and a first lower reflecting surface 32) are arranged.

  The first upper reflecting surface 31 is a rectangular and flat movable reflecting surface disposed on the upper side with respect to the optical axis AX of the light source 10 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). It rotates about the upper rotation shaft 31b (extending in the direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIGS. 3 and 8) and is located at either the light shielding position (see FIG. 3) or the open position (see FIG. 8). It has become. The first lower reflecting surface 32 is a rectangular and flat movable reflecting surface disposed on the lower side with respect to the optical axis AX of the light source 10 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), and the lower end edge side by the action of the drive mechanism 50. Rotating around the lower rotation shaft 32b (extending in the direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIGS. 3 and 8), and located at either the light shielding position (see FIG. 3) or the open position (see FIG. 8). It is like that.

  During the traveling beam, the first upper reflecting surface 31 and the first lower reflecting surface 32 are positioned at the light shielding position (see FIG. 3) by the action of the drive mechanism 50, and the lower end edge 31 a of the first upper reflecting surface 31 and the first lower reflecting surface 31. By contacting the upper end edge 32a of the lower reflecting surface 32, the posture is inclined by a predetermined angle (for example, approximately 45 degrees) with respect to the optical axis AX of the light source 10, that is, a closed state.

In this closed state, as shown in FIG. 3, all the light rays emitted from the light source 10 toward the lens 20 are vertically moved by the first upper reflection surface 31 and the first lower reflection surface 32 in the closed state. The traveling beam light distribution pattern P _HI (refer to FIG. 7) is reflected by the second upper reflection surface 41 and the second lower reflection surface 42 arranged in the reflection direction and reflected forward. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the second upper reflecting surface 41 is composed of a free-form surface based on a rotating paraboloid set in the vicinity of the virtual image V <b> 1 of the light source 10 whose focus is reflected on the first upper reflecting surface 31. It is a reflecting surface of a rotating paraboloidal system.

  The light ray Ray1 (virtual image V1 of the light source 10) incident on the second upper reflection surface 41 from the first upper reflection surface 31 is in a direction parallel to the optical axis AX (lamp illumination direction) due to the action of the second upper reflection surface 41. Irradiated (projected), a projection image P1 (see FIG. 5) of the virtual image V1 of the light source 10 is formed.

  On the other hand, the ray Ray2 (real image of the light source 10) incident on the second upper reflecting surface 41 from the first upper reflecting surface 31 is obliquely upward (upward with respect to the optical axis AX) by the action of the second upper reflecting surface 41. Is projected (projected) to form a projected image P2 of the real image of the light source 10 (see FIG. 5).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the second lower reflecting surface 42 is a reflecting surface of a rotating paraboloid system composed of a free-form surface based on a rotating paraboloid whose focal point is set in the vicinity of the light source 10 (real image). is there.

  A ray Ray3 (real image of the light source 10) incident on the second lower reflection surface 42 from the first lower reflection surface 32 is irradiated in a direction parallel to the optical axis AX (lamp illumination direction) by the action of the second lower reflection surface 42. (Projected) to form a projection image P3 (see FIG. 6) of the light source 10 (real image).

  On the other hand, the ray Ray4 (virtual image V2 of the light source 10) incident on the second lower reflecting surface 42 from the first lower reflecting surface 32 is obliquely upward (upward with respect to the optical axis AX) by the action of the second lower reflecting surface 42. Is projected (projected) to form a projection image P4 (see FIG. 6) of the virtual image V2 of the light source 10.

  The projected images P1 and P2 (see FIG. 5) and the projected images P3 and P4 (see FIG. 6) are superimposed to form a condensed light distribution pattern suitable for the traveling beam light distribution pattern.

  On the other hand, at the time of the passing beam, as shown in FIG. 8, the first upper reflecting surface 31 and the first lower reflecting surface 32 are positioned at the open position by the action of the drive mechanism 50, and the lower end edge of the first upper reflecting surface 31 A space S (a space opened about 10 to 15 degrees) for transmitting the light beam from the light source 10 toward the lens 20 is formed between 31a and the upper edge 32a of the lower reflecting surface.

In this open state, light rays emitted from the light source 10 toward the lens 20 pass through the space S between the lower edge 31a of the first upper reflecting surface 31 and the upper edge 32a of the first lower reflecting surface 31. Passing, passing through the lens 20 and irradiating forward (the light source images V1 and V2 are projected depending on the shape of the lens 20), and a light distribution pattern P _LO for passing beam wide in the left-right direction is formed (see FIG. 9). . In order to form the cut-off portion, for example, the upper end edge 32a of the first lower reflecting surface 32 may be formed in a substantially Z shape when viewed from the front.

  The drive mechanism 50 is a mechanism for positioning the first upper reflection surface 31 and the first lower reflection surface 32 in either the light shielding position or the open position. For example, as shown in FIG. 51, and a mechanism 52 such as a gear or a cam for transmitting a driving force from the driving source 51 is included. Specifically, the drive mechanism 50 is connected to the drive source 51 by a first upper spur gear 52a fixed to the upper rotary shaft 31b, a first lower spur gear 52b fixed to the lower rotary shaft 32b, and the drive source 51. Are engaged with the rack gear 52c that is moved back and forth by the action of the above, the rack gear 52c, and the first upper spur gear 52a, respectively, to convert the linear motion of the rack gear 52c into rotational motion, and to rotate the first upper spur gear 52a. A spur gear 52d, a rack gear 52c, and a first lower spur gear 52b, and a second upper spur gear 52e that rotates the first lower spur gear 52b by converting the linear motion of the rack gear 52c into a rotational motion. Yes.

As described above, according to the vehicle headlamp 100 of the present embodiment, the first reflecting surface (the first upper reflecting surface 31 and the first lower reflecting surface 32) is in the light shielding position (see FIG. 3) during the traveling beam. ), A dedicated optical system suitable for forming the traveling beam light distribution pattern P _HI (see FIG. 7) (the light source 10, the first upper reflecting surface 31 and the first lower reflecting surface 32 positioned at the light shielding position). , The second upper reflecting surface 41 and the second lower reflecting surface 42 are included), while the first reflecting surface (the first upper reflecting surface 31 and the first lower reflecting surface 32) is in the open position (at the time of the passing beam). It is possible to configure a dedicated optical system (including the light source 10 and the lens 20) suitable for forming the light distribution pattern P _LO for passing beam (see FIG. 9). This makes it possible to form optimal light distribution patterns P _HI and P _LO for the traveling beam and the passing beam, respectively, as compared with the conventional technique using the same optical system for the traveling beam and the passing beam.

  According to the vehicular lamp 100 of the present embodiment, the first upper reflecting surface 31 and the first lower reflecting surface 32 are open positions that allow light rays from the light source 10 toward the lens 10 to pass when passing each other (see FIG. 8). Therefore, it is possible to improve the light utilization efficiency at the time of the passing beam as compared to the conventional case.

  Next, a modified example will be described.

  In the above embodiment, the first upper reflecting surface 31 and the first lower reflecting surface 32 are described as planar reflecting surfaces, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first upper reflecting surface 31 and the first lower reflecting surface 32 may be curved reflecting surfaces such as spheroids and hyperboloids.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, the 2nd lower reflective surface 42 is a reflective surface of the rotational paraboloid system comprised by the free-form surface based on the rotational paraboloid in which the focus was set to the light source 10 (real image) vicinity. As described above (see FIG. 4), the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the second lower reflecting surface 42 may be a rotating paraboloid reflecting surface composed of a free-form surface based on a rotating paraboloid whose focal point is set in the vicinity of the virtual image V2 of the light source 10 (FIG. 3). In this case, a light distribution pattern _PHI as shown in FIG. 7 can be formed.

  The above embodiment is merely an example in all respects. The present invention is not construed as being limited to these descriptions. The present invention can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Vehicle headlamp, 10 ... Light source, 20 ... Lens, 31 ... 1st upper reflective surface, 32 ... 2nd lower reflective surface, 41 ... 2nd upper reflective surface, 42 ... 2nd lower reflective surface, 50 ... Drive mechanism

Claims (3)

In a vehicle headlamp that can switch between a traveling beam and a passing beam,
A light source;
A lens configured to transmit a light beam emitted from the light source, and the transmitted light beam to form a light distribution pattern for passing beam;
Located between the light source and the lens. A first reflecting surface located at an open position that allows light rays from a light source to pass through the lens;
A second reflecting surface arranged in a reflecting direction of the first reflecting surface, configured to reflect a reflected light beam from the first reflecting surface, and the reflected light beam forms a traveling beam light distribution pattern;
A vehicle headlamp characterized by comprising: The first reflecting surface includes a first upper reflecting surface and a first lower reflecting surface,
The first upper reflection surface is disposed on the upper side with respect to the optical axis of the light source, rotates around the upper rotation axis on the upper edge side, and is located at either the light shielding position or the open position.
The first lower reflection surface is disposed on the lower side with respect to the optical axis of the light source, rotates around the lower rotation axis on the lower end edge side, and is located at either the light shielding position or the open position,
When the first upper reflection surface and the first lower reflection surface are positioned at the light shielding position, the first upper reflection surface and the lower edge of the first upper reflection surface are inclined with a predetermined angle with respect to the optical axis of the light source. When the upper end edge of the first lower reflecting surface comes into contact with the upper end edge, the closed state is reached. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle headlamp is opened by forming a space for passing a light beam from the light source toward the lens.   The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the first reflecting surface is a flat reflecting surface or a spheroid reflecting surface.

Images