JPH0533402U - Projection type headlamps for automobiles - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a projection-type automobile headlamp capable of forming three or more types of light distribution. [Structure] A substantially ellipsoidal reflector 24, a light source 22 arranged at a first focal point F ₁ of the reflector, a projection lens 27 arranged in front of the reflector 24, and a second focal point F ₂ of the reflector. In a headlamp for a projection type automobile, which is provided with a shade 30 for controlling light distribution, which shields a part of the light reflected by the reflector 24 and directed to the projection lens 27, the shade 30 is horizontally supported.
A plurality of shade regions 31 to 34, which are different in the distance from the horizontal support shaft 30b, are arranged in a radial pattern at the rotation tip of the shade, and the shade 30 is rotated around the horizontal support shaft 30b. It was turned to control the light distribution.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a projection-type headlamp in which light reflected from a substantially ellipsoidal reflector is projected and distributed by a projection lens, and in particular, a projection-type vehicle head capable of switching light distribution by tilting a shade. Regarding the lamp.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

As conventional techniques for this type of headlamp, there are Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-41801 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-213901. In the former, as shown in FIG. 11, a light source 3 is provided at a first focal point F ₁ of a reflector 2 having a substantially ellipsoidal shape, and a shade 4 is provided at a second focal point F ₂ , respectively, and in front of the shade 4. With the projection type headlamp provided with the projection lens 5, the shade 4 is tilted around the horizontal support axis O so that a part of the light directed to the projection lens 5 is blocked by the shade 4, and the sub-beam light distribution and main beam distribution are performed. It has a structure that switches between light distribution for beams. Reference numeral 1 is a lamp body, and reference numeral 6 is a front lens.

In the latter, although not shown, the shade tilting means is different from the former, but the structure in which the shade is tilted to switch between the sub-beam light distribution and the main-beam light distribution is the same.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

 In the above-mentioned conventional technique, it is possible to switch between the sub-beam and the main beam in two steps, but it is not possible to form a light distribution pattern between the sub-beam and the main beam, for example. In other words, when driving at high speeds, the higher the speed, the better the visibility for the driver when the light distribution pattern of the headlamp is closer to the light distribution pattern of the main beam. However, it is dazzling for oncoming vehicles. Therefore, it is very convenient to have a light distribution pattern between the main beam and the sub beam that has good visibility and that does not cause glare for oncoming vehicles until they approach each other to some extent. However, with the conventional technology, it is possible to form a sub-beam that illuminates the front side of the vehicle widely to the left and right with a single lamp and a main beam that illuminates a rather narrow area at a distance, but other light distributions are possible. There has been a demand for a headlamp that cannot be formed and can also form a light distribution other than a main beam and a sub beam by one lamp.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a projection type automobile headlamp capable of forming three or more types of light distributions.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above object, in a projection type automobile headlamp according to claim 1, a substantially ellipsoidal reflector, a light source arranged at a first focal point of the reflector, and a front of the reflector. For a projection-type automobile, which includes a projection lens arranged in the vicinity of the second focal point of the reflector, and a light distribution control shade arranged to block a part of light reflected by the reflector and traveling toward the projection lens. In the headlamp, the shade is structured to rotate around a horizontal support shaft, and a plurality of shade regions having different distances from the horizontal support shaft are radially arranged at the tip end of the shade to be radially aligned. It is designed to control the light distribution by rotating around a horizontal spindle.

In the projection-type automobile headlamp according to claim 2, the reflector having a substantially ellipsoidal shape, the light source arranged at the first focal point of the reflector, and the projection lens arranged in front of the reflector. And a shade for light distribution control which is arranged near the second focal point of the reflector and blocks a part of the light reflected by the reflector and traveling toward the projection lens. Is designed to rotate about a horizontal spindle, and a spiral cross-section curved surface with a gradually changing distance from the horizontal spindle is formed at the tip of the shade's rotation, and the shade is rotated around the horizontal spindle. The light distribution is controlled.

[0008]

[Action]

 In claim 1, the case where there are three shade areas will be described as an example. The sub-beam forming position where the shade is rotated around the horizontal support shaft to erect the tallest shade area and the shade area which is the shortest. It is possible to switch between three stages of the main beam forming position in which the beam is erected and the sub beam in which the shade region of the middle height is erected and the beam forming position in the middle of the main beam.

In the present invention, the shade is rotated around the horizontal support shaft to gradually change the height of the shade that blocks the light traveling from the reflector to the projection lens, and from the sub beam to the light distribution of the main beam is continuously variable. You can switch to.

[0010]

【Example】

 Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 6 show a projection type automobile headlamp according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the same headlamp, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shade viewed from the reflector side. 3 and 4 are front views of the shade region as seen from the projection lens side, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views for explaining the state when the shade is rotated.

In these drawings, reference numeral 10 is a container-shaped lamp body, and a lamp chamber space is formed by the lamp body 10 and a transparent front cover 12, and an aiming mechanism (not shown) is formed in the lamp chamber space. A light projection unit 20 supported by is housed. Although not described in detail, the light projection unit 20 is supported by an aiming mechanism so as to be tiltable around a horizontal axis and a vertical axis, respectively, and the light emitted from the light projection unit 20 is emitted by operating the aiming mechanism. Direction, that is, the irradiation axis (optical axis) 11 of the headlamp can be tilted vertically and horizontally.

The light projection unit 20 has a structure in which a substantially ellipsoidal reflector 24 in which a discharge valve 22 is inserted and a projection lens 27 arranged in front of the reflector 24 are integrated. 27 is supported by a cylindrical lens holder 26 screwed to the reflector 24. An elliptical reflecting surface 25, which has been subjected to aluminum vapor deposition, is formed inside the reflector 24. The elliptic reflecting surface 25 has a well-known first focal point F ₁ and second focal point F _2, and is located at the first focal point F ₁ position. The discharge part 23 of the discharge bulb 22 is located at the position, and a shade 30 is provided near the second focal point F ₂ . The light emitted from the bulb 22 is reflected by the elliptical reflection surface 25 and guided forward as shown by the arrow in FIG. 1, and is projected and distributed by the projection lens 27 in front of the headlamp. The shade 30 has a function of blocking a part of the light reflected by the ellipsoidal reflection surface 25 and directed to the projection lens 27 to form a desired light distribution pattern. Reference numeral 14 is a lighting circuit unit for performing stable discharge to the discharge bulb 22, and is attached and fixed to the bulb attachment / detachment opening 10a of the lamp body 10. Reference numeral 16 is a ballast circuit unit connected to the lighting circuit unit 14.

As shown in the figure, the shade 30 has a first shade region 31, a second shade region 32, a third shade region 33 and a fourth shade region 34 which extend radially from the rotating shaft 30a. The structure is formed so that it can be rotated and rotated around the horizontal support shaft 30b. The height from the horizontal support shaft 30b to the end edge of each of the shade areas 31 to 34 is highest in the first shade area 31, gradually increases in order of becoming the second shade area 32 and the third shade area 33. The fourth shade region 34 is the lowest, and the shade regions 31 and 32 have a shape in which a diagonally cut step is formed in the central portion in the left-right direction as shown in FIG. , 34 have a shape in which a circular step is formed in the central portion in the left-right direction as shown in FIG. A fan-shaped gear 35 is provided on the rotary shaft 30a, and a gear provided on the rotary drive shaft of the electric motor M meshes with the gear 35 on the shade side. It is configured to rotate forward and backward around the shaft 30b.

Reference numeral 36 is a rotation position detection sensor, which detects the rotation position of the shade 30 in association with the fan gear 35 on the shade side, and the electric motor M is driven based on a command from a control unit (not shown). As a result, the first shade region 31 to the fourth shade region 34 can be in a standing state, respectively. Then, in the state where the tallest first shade region 31 is erected (see FIG. 5), the edge portion of the first shade region 31 becomes the position near the second focal point F _{2 of the} reflector, and FIG. A sub-beam as shown is formed. In the state where the fourth shade region 34, which is the shortest, stands up (see FIG. 6), the edge of the fourth shade region 34 is located near the second focal point F ₂ of the reflector. A main beam as shown is formed. When the second and third shade regions 32 and 33 are in the upright state, the second shade region 32 and the third shade region 33 both have the light distribution pattern between the sub-beam and the main beam. In the shade region 32, a light distribution pattern close to the sub beam is formed, and in the third shade region 33, a light distribution pattern close to the main beam is formed. Reference numeral 17 is a cover for covering the shade driving mechanism, and reference numeral 18 is a cover for covering the opening 10b for the shade driving mechanism formed on the bottom surface of the lamp body.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the present invention and is a vertical cross-sectional view of a projection type automobile headlamp. In the second embodiment, the shade 40 is replaced by the shade areas 31 to 34 of the shade 30 in the first embodiment, and one deformed fan-shaped shade area 42 is formed to extend from the rotary shaft 30a. The difference is that. The end edge portion 43 of the shade region 42 is formed into a vertical cross-section spiral type curved surface in which the distance from the horizontal support shaft 30b gradually changes, and the tallest shade region 42a and the shortest shade shade region 42d are , Respectively corresponding to the shade areas 31 and 34 in the first embodiment. The sub-beam is formed when the long side (shade region 42a) stands, and the main beam is formed when the short side (shade region 42d) stands. In the state where the long side and the short side are erected, the light distribution pattern gradually changes from the sub-beam to the main beam in accordance with the height of the standing shade 40. Can be adjusted. Others are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted by giving the same reference numerals.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of a main part of a projection type automobile headlamp according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Although the shade 30 in the first embodiment has four types of shade regions 31 to 34 having different heights, the shade 50 in this embodiment has two types of shade regions 51 having different heights. , 52 are formed, and the shape of the shade areas 51, 52 corresponds to the shape of the shade areas 31, 34 of FIGS. That is, the tall first shade region 51 forms the sub-beam shown in FIG. 7, and the short second shade region 52 forms the main beam shown in FIG. An electromagnetic solenoid 54 is used as a rotating mechanism of the shade 50. Others are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given, and the description thereof is omitted.

[0017]

[Effect of the device]

 As is apparent from the above description, according to the projection type automobile headlamp according to the first aspect, for example, in the case where there are three shade regions, the shade is rotated around the horizontal support shaft to be the tallest. A sub-beam forming position where the shade area is erected, a main beam forming position where the shortest shade area is erected, and a beam intermediate between the sub-beam and the main beam where a shade area with an intermediate height is erected. There is a great effect that one headlamp can form a plurality of optimal light distribution patterns that are easy to see for the driver and do not cause glare for oncoming vehicles so that the position can be switched to three levels.

According to the projection type automotive headlamp of the second aspect, the shade is rotated about the horizontal support shaft to gradually change the height of the shade that blocks light traveling from the reflector toward the projection lens, and the sub-beam is used. Since it is possible to switch from the main beam distribution to the main beam distribution steplessly, it is possible to easily form many types of light distribution patterns with one headlamp.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a projection type automobile headlamp according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shade viewed from the reflector side.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a tall shade area viewed from the projection lens side.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a short shade area viewed from the projection lens side.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view for explaining the movement of the shade.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view for explaining the movement of the shade.

7 is a diagram showing a light distribution pattern of sub-beams formed when the shade is at the position shown in FIG.

8 is a diagram showing a light distribution pattern of a main beam formed when the shade is at the position shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of a projection type automobile headlamp according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a headlamp according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of a conventional projection-type automobile headlamp.

[Explanation of symbols]

 22 Discharge bulb which is a light source 24 Reflector 27 Projection lens 30, 40, 50 Shade 30b for light distribution control Horizontal support shafts 31-34, 51, 52 Multiple shade areas 43 Rotating tip of shade

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A reflector having a substantially ellipsoidal shape, a light source arranged at a first focus of the reflector, a projection lens arranged in front of the reflector, and a reflector arranged near a second focus of the reflector. In a projection-type automobile headlamp, comprising: a shade for light distribution control that blocks a part of the light that is reflected by and is directed to the projection lens, the shade has a structure that rotates around a horizontal support shaft, A plurality of shade regions having different distances from the horizontal support shaft are radially arranged in parallel at the moving front end, and the shade is rotated around the horizontal support shaft to control the light distribution. Headlamps for automobiles. 2. A reflector having a substantially ellipsoidal shape, a light source arranged at a first focus of the reflector, a projection lens arranged in front of the reflector, and a reflector arranged near a second focus of the reflector. In a projection type automobile headlamp, comprising: a shade for light distribution control that blocks a part of the light reflected by the projection lens and directed to the projection lens, the shade is structured to rotate about a horizontal support shaft, A projection type automobile head characterized in that a spiral-shaped curved surface having a vertical cross section with a gradually changing distance from a horizontal support shaft is formed at the moving front end, and the shade is rotated around the horizontal support shaft to control light distribution. lamp.