JP2013239362A - Vehicle headlamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle headlamp capable of improving visibility at the time of forming a high-beam light distribution pattern.SOLUTION: A vehicle headlamp 10 includes a light shielding member 28 of which the front end is located nearly at a rear focal point of a projection lens 20 and forms a first cut-off line of a first light distribution pattern projected through the projection lens 20 from a first optical system 21 and a second cut-off line of a second light distribution pattern projected through the projection lens 20 from the second optical system 22, and a third reflector 41 for reflecting forward light from the second semiconductor light emitting element 35 and forming a third light distribution pattern including at least a region between the first cut-off line and the second cut-off line, without passing through the projection lens 20.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp that irradiates the front of a traveling vehicle.

  Light sources are placed back to back, and only the upper light-emitting element emits light to form a low-beam light distribution pattern. Both the upper and lower light-emitting elements emit light. A vehicular headlamp that forms a high-beam light distribution pattern with light from both light-emitting elements is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-108554 A

By the way, in the vehicle headlamp as described above, since the cut-off line of the low beam light distribution pattern is formed by the shade, the upper light emitting element is formed when the high beam light distribution pattern is formed by the thickness of the tip portion of the shade. A dark portion where no light is irradiated may be generated between the irradiation region from and the irradiation region from the lower light emitting element.
In the vehicle headlamp described in Patent Document 1, the tip of the shade is thin, but the tip of the shade is disposed in the vicinity of the rear focal point of the projection lens, and the light at this location is magnified by the projection lens. Therefore, even if the tip of the shade is thin, a dark part is generated to some extent, and thus a reduction in visibility is inevitable.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular headlamp capable of improving visibility when a high beam light distribution pattern is formed.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following means.
(1)
The vehicle headlamp of the present invention capable of solving the above-described problems is
A projection lens having an optical axis in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle;
A first semiconductor light emitting element that emits light substantially upward; and a first reflector that reflects light from the first semiconductor light emitting element forward and near the optical axis and converges in the vicinity of a rear focal point of the projection lens. A first optical system including:
A second semiconductor light-emitting element that emits light substantially downward; and a second reflector that reflects light from the second semiconductor light-emitting element forward toward the optical axis and converges in the vicinity of the rear focal point of the projection lens. A second optical system including:
A first cut-off line of a first light distribution pattern that is disposed in the vicinity of a rear focal point and projected from the first optical system through the projection lens, and a second light distribution projected from the second optical system through the projection lens. A light shielding member forming a second cut-off line of the pattern;
Reflecting light from the second semiconductor light emitting element forward to form a third light distribution pattern including at least a region between the first cutoff line and the second cutoff line without passing through the projection lens And a third reflector.

(2)
The vehicle headlamp according to (1), wherein the third reflector is formed continuously with the second reflector.

(3)
In the vehicle headlamp described in (2) above, the lower end position of the boundary between the second reflector and the third reflector and the lower end position of the projection lens coincide with the direction along the optical axis. A vehicle headlamp characterized by that.

(4)
In the vehicle headlamp according to any one of (1) to (3), the front end portion of the light shielding member has a sharp shape that decreases in thickness toward a front end edge portion. Vehicle headlamps.

(5)
In the vehicle headlamp according to any one of (1) to (4), the light shielding member is a plate-like member, and supports the first semiconductor light emitting element on an upper surface, and the second semiconductor light emitting device. A vehicular headlamp characterized by being integrated with a plate-like support portion for supporting an element on a lower surface.

  According to the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, when only the first optical system is turned on, a first light distribution pattern (low beam light distribution pattern) with a clear first cutoff line can be formed. Further, when the first optical system and the second optical system are turned on, in addition to the first light distribution pattern and the second light distribution pattern, between the first light distribution pattern and the second light distribution pattern in which dark portions are likely to occur. The light of the third light distribution pattern including the region can be additionally irradiated. Thereby, the visibility when the first optical system and the second optical system are turned on to form the high beam light distribution pattern can be improved.

It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the vehicle headlamp which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is AA sectional drawing of the vehicle headlamp in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the light distribution pattern formed with a vehicle headlamp, Comprising: (a) is a schematic diagram which shows a 1st light distribution pattern, (b) is a schematic diagram which shows a 2nd light distribution pattern, ( c) is a schematic diagram showing a third light distribution pattern. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the irradiation area | region by the vehicle headlamp.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of a vehicle headlamp according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle headlamp according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the vehicle headlamp in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a vehicle headlamp 10 according to the present embodiment includes a lamp body 11 that is open at the front, and a transparent outer cover 12 that is attached so as to cover the opening of the lamp body 11. And. The vehicle headlamp 10 is a headlamp that is provided at the front of the vehicle and illuminates the front of the vehicle.

  In this example, the front is the outer cover 12 side (left direction in FIG. 1) of the vehicle headlamp 10, and the rear is the lamp body 11 side opposite to the front (right direction in FIG. 1). It is.

  The outer cover 12 is fixed and attached to the lamp body 11 by bonding. By attaching the outer cover 12 to the lamp body 11, a sealed lamp chamber S is formed inside the vehicle headlamp 10.

  The vehicle headlamp 10 includes a projection lens 20, a first optical system 21, and a second optical system 22 in a lamp chamber S. The projection lens 20 has an optical axis Ax in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a first optical system 21 and a second optical system 22 are disposed behind the projection lens 20.

  The projection lens 20 has a planar incident surface 20a on the rear side and a convex lens surface 20b on the front side. The projection lens 20 collects light incident from the incident surface 20a and emits the light from the lens surface 20b.

  A first support plate 26 is supported on the rear plate 11a of the lamp body 11 by three bolts 25a, 25b, and 25c. A second support plate (support portion) 27 is formed integrally with the first support plate 26. The second support plate 27 extends substantially horizontally along the optical axis Ax in the vehicle longitudinal direction and is disposed between the first optical system 21 and the second optical system 22. The tip of the second support plate 27 functions as a light shielding member 28. It is preferable that the front end portion of the light shielding member 28 has a sharp shape that decreases in thickness toward the front end edge portion. The first support plate 26 is provided with a radiation fin 29 for releasing heat from a first semiconductor light emitting element 31 and a second semiconductor light emitting element 35 to be described later on the rear plate 11a side of the lamp body 11. Yes.

  The first optical system 21 is an optical system that forms a low beam light distribution pattern, and includes a first semiconductor light emitting element 31 and a first reflector 32. The first semiconductor light emitting element 31 is composed of an LED (Light Emitting Diode), and is fixed to the upper surface of the second support plate 27 and emits light substantially upward. The first reflector 32 has an inner surface composed of a free-form surface based on an ellipsoid, and reflects light from the first semiconductor light emitting element 31 forward and toward the optical axis Ax to be behind the projection lens 20. Converge to the vicinity of the focal point F.

  The second optical system 22 is an optical system that forms a high beam light distribution pattern together with the first optical system 21, and includes a second semiconductor light emitting element 35 and a second reflector 36. The second semiconductor light emitting element 35 is made of an LED, and is fixed to the lower surface of the second support plate 27 and emits light substantially downward. The second reflector 36 has an inner surface that is a free-form surface based on an ellipsoidal surface, reflects light from the second semiconductor light emitting element 35 forward and toward the optical axis Ax, and is behind the projection lens 20. Converge to the vicinity of the focal point F.

  The second semiconductor light emitting element 35 constituting the second optical system 22 is preferably disposed on the rear side of the first semiconductor light emitting element 31 constituting the first optical system 21. As described above, by disposing the first semiconductor light emitting element 31 and the second semiconductor light emitting element 35 at different positions in the front-rear direction, heat generated in the first semiconductor light emitting element 31 and the second semiconductor light emitting element 35 is obtained. Can reduce the impact on the environment. In addition, with the arrangement of the first semiconductor light emitting element 31 and the second semiconductor light emitting element 35, the second reflector 36 constituting the second optical system 22 is more than the first reflector 32 constituting the first optical system 21. It is arranged on the rear side.

  A third reflector 41 is provided below the second reflector 36. The third reflector 41 has a paraboloid-shaped inner surface composed of a free-form surface based on a paraboloid, and directs light from the second semiconductor light emitting element 35 of the second optical system 22 forward. It is reflected and irradiated as parallel light substantially parallel to the optical axis Ax. The light from the second semiconductor light emitting element 35 reflected by the third reflector 41 is irradiated forward without passing through the projection lens 20. In addition, the reflective surface which consists of the inner surface of the 3rd reflector 41 may not be a paraboloid shape.

  The third reflector 41 need not be integral with the second reflector 36, but is preferably formed continuously with the second reflector 36. Further, it is preferable that the lower end position of the boundary between the second reflector 36 and the third reflector 41 and the lower end position of the projection lens 20 coincide with the direction along the optical axis Ax.

  The first support plate 26 on which the second support plate 27 is formed can be adjusted in the vertical and horizontal directions by adjusting the screwing amounts of the three bolts 25a, 25b, and 25c. Specifically, by adjusting the screwing amount of the upper bolt 25a, the vertical direction is adjusted, and by adjusting the screwing amount of the bolts 25b, 25c on both lower sides, the screwing in the horizontal direction is adjusted. The orientation is adjusted. Then, by adjusting the direction of the first support plate 26, the direction of the first semiconductor light emitting element 31 and the second semiconductor light emitting element 35 mounted on the second support plate 27 is adjusted, and the first optical system is adjusted. 21 and the optical axis of the second optical system 22 can be adjusted. This optical axis adjustment is performed, for example, when the vehicle headlamp 10 is attached to the vehicle.

  In the vehicle headlamp 10 having the above structure, the first light distribution pattern projected from the first optical system 21 through the projection lens 20 and the second light distribution pattern projected from the second optical system 22 through the projection lens 20 are: A first cutoff line and a second cutoff line are formed by the light shielding member 28 whose front end is disposed in the vicinity of the rear focal point F of the projection lens 20.

  As a result, the irradiation light projected from the first optical system 21 through the projection lens 20 is, as shown in FIG. 3A, the first light distribution pattern whose upper side is cut by the first cutoff line CL1 by the light shielding member 28. The region of Lp1 is irradiated. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3B, the irradiation light projected from the second optical system 22 through the projection lens 20 has a second light distribution pattern Lp2 whose lower side is cut by the second cutoff line CL2 by the light shielding member 28. The area is irradiated.

  Thus, the light shielding member 28 has a function as a shade that forms a cut-off line in the light distribution pattern. Further, it is preferable that the surface of the light shielding member 28 is a reflective surface. Accordingly, the light shielding member 28 reflects light from the first semiconductor light emitting element 31 and the second semiconductor light emitting element 35, thereby increasing the amount of light incident on the projection lens 20 and improving the light utilization efficiency. it can.

  In addition, a part of the light from the second semiconductor light emitting element 35 of the second optical system 22 is reflected to the front by the third reflector 41 and is irradiated light that does not pass through the projection lens 20, and this irradiated light is As shown in FIG. 3C, the region of the horizontally long third light distribution pattern Lp3 is irradiated. The irradiation light of the third light distribution pattern Lp3 guided forward by the third reflector 41 includes at least an irradiation region between the first cutoff line CL1 and the second cutoff line CL2.

  In the vehicle headlamp 10 having the above configuration, only the first optical system 21 is turned on when a low beam light distribution pattern is formed forward of the vehicle. Thus, when only the 1st optical system 21 is lighted, 1st light distribution pattern Lp1 with clear 1st cut-off line CL1 is formed (refer Fig.3 (a)).

  When the high beam distribution pattern is formed in front of the vehicle, the first optical system 21 and the second optical system 22 are turned on. As described above, when the first optical system 21 and the second optical system 22 are turned on, in addition to the first light distribution pattern Lp1, the second light distribution pattern Lp2 with a clear second cutoff line CL2 is formed. As shown in FIG. 4 (see FIG. 3B), a high beam light distribution pattern is formed. At this time, if only the first light distribution pattern Lp1 and the second light distribution pattern Lp2 are provided, a dark portion D is likely to occur in a region between the first light distribution pattern Lp1 and the second light distribution pattern Lp2. In the present embodiment, in addition to the first light distribution pattern Lp1 and the second light distribution pattern Lp2, the third reflector 41 is also provided in a region between the first light distribution pattern Lp1 and the second light distribution pattern Lp2 in which the dark portion D is likely to occur. Is irradiated with the light of the third light distribution pattern Lp3.

  Thus, according to the vehicle headlamp 10 according to the present embodiment, when only the first optical system 21 is turned on, the first cut-off line CL1 forms a clear low-beam first light distribution pattern Lp1. it can. When the first optical system 21 and the second optical system 22 are turned on, in addition to the first light distribution pattern Lp1 and the second light distribution pattern Lp2, the first light distribution pattern Lp1 and the second light distribution pattern Lp1 that are likely to cause a dark portion D are generated. The light of the third light distribution pattern Lp3 including the region between the light distribution pattern Lp2 and the light distribution pattern Lp2 can be additionally irradiated to form a high beam light distribution pattern. Thereby, the visibility when the high beam light distribution pattern is formed can be improved.

  Further, if the third reflector 41 is continuously formed with respect to the second reflector 36 and provided without a gap, the light from the second semiconductor light emitting element 35 incident on the regions of the second reflector 36 and the third reflector 41 is received. It can be used without waste, and the light utilization efficiency can be increased.

  When the second reflector 36 is extended so as to extend below the projection lens 20, the light incident on the extension region is difficult to control via the projection lens 20 in terms of angle. On the other hand, if the lower end position of the boundary between the second reflector 36 and the third reflector 41 and the lower end position of the projection lens 20 coincide with each other in the direction along the optical axis Ax, the light reflected by the second reflector 36 is reflected. Can be satisfactorily guided to the projection lens 20, and the light utilization efficiency can be improved. Moreover, since the light which does not pass through the projection lens 20 is irradiated forward by the third reflector 41, the light use efficiency can be enhanced.

  Further, by making the front end portion of the light shielding member 28 have a sharp shape with a thickness decreasing toward the front end edge portion, the interval between the first cutoff line CL1 and the second cutoff line CL2 can be made as narrow as possible. Visibility at the time of forming the high beam light distribution pattern can be further improved by reducing the area of the dark part D.

  Further, since the plate-like second support plate 27 that supports the first semiconductor light emitting element 31 on the upper surface and the second semiconductor light emitting element 35 on the lower surface and the light shielding member 28 that forms the cut-off line are integrated, There is no need to provide the member 28 separately, and the structure can be simplified.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using the embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made to the above-described embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10: Headlamp for vehicles, 20: Projection lens, 21: 1st optical system, 22: 2nd optical system, 27: 2nd support plate (support part), 28: Light-shielding member, 31: 1st semiconductor light-emitting device 32: First reflector, 35: Second semiconductor light emitting element, 36: Second reflector, 41: Third reflector, Ax: Optical axis, CL1: First cut-off line, CL2: Second cut-off line, Lp1: First Light distribution pattern, F: Back focus, Lp2: Second light distribution pattern, Lp3: Third light distribution pattern

Claims (5)

A projection lens having an optical axis in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle;
A first semiconductor light emitting element that emits light substantially upward; and a first reflector that reflects light from the first semiconductor light emitting element forward and near the optical axis and converges in the vicinity of a rear focal point of the projection lens. A first optical system including:
A second semiconductor light-emitting element that emits light substantially downward; and a second reflector that reflects light from the second semiconductor light-emitting element forward toward the optical axis and converges in the vicinity of the rear focal point of the projection lens. A second optical system including:
A first cut-off line of a first light distribution pattern that is disposed in the vicinity of a rear focal point and projected from the first optical system through the projection lens, and a second light distribution projected from the second optical system through the projection lens. A light shielding member forming a second cut-off line of the pattern;
Reflecting light from the second semiconductor light emitting element forward to form a third light distribution pattern including at least a region between the first cutoff line and the second cutoff line without passing through the projection lens A vehicle headlamp comprising a third reflector. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1,
The vehicle headlamp, wherein the third reflector is formed continuously with the second reflector. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 2,
A vehicular headlamp, wherein a lower end position of a boundary between the second reflector and the third reflector and a lower end position of the projection lens coincide with each other in a direction along the optical axis. The vehicle headlamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the front end portion of the light shielding member has a sharp shape with a thickness decreasing toward a front end edge portion. The vehicle headlamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The light shielding member is a plate-like member, and is integrated with a plate-like support portion that supports the first semiconductor light emitting element on an upper surface and supports the second semiconductor light emitting element on a lower surface. Lighting.

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