阅读说明：本技术 投光装置及车辆用投光装置 (Light projecting device and light projecting device for vehicle ) 是由 竹本诚二 于 2021-04-26 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种投光装置及车辆用投光装置,可在使镜部进行扫描时抑制产生局部的光度的不均一。所述投光装置包括：光源(1),具有沿规定的方向排列配置的多个发光部(10)；多个凸状透镜(2),以与多个发光部相同的个数设置,由来自多个发光部(10)的光进行照射并且使光聚焦；光扫描器(4),具有将透过多个凸状透镜(2)的光在多个发光部(10)排列的方向扫描的镜部(4a)、及使镜部(4a)摇动的驱动源(4b)；以及投影透镜(3),配置于多个凸状透镜(2)与镜部(4a)之间,或配置于从镜部(4a)扫描的光投影的位置,多个凸状透镜(2)以在静止时透过多个凸状透镜(2)而聚焦的光接近的方式空开间隔地沿规定的方向排列配置。(The invention provides a light projecting device and a vehicle light projecting device, which can restrain local non-uniformity of light intensity when scanning a mirror part. The light projection device includes: a light source (1) having a plurality of light emitting sections (10) arranged in a predetermined direction; a plurality of convex lenses (2) which are provided in the same number as the plurality of light-emitting parts, and which are irradiated with light from the plurality of light-emitting parts (10) and focus the light; an optical scanner (4) having a mirror section (4a) for scanning light transmitted through the plurality of convex lenses (2) in the direction in which the plurality of light emitting sections (10) are arranged, and a drive source (4b) for oscillating the mirror section (4 a); and a projection lens (3) disposed between the plurality of convex lenses (2) and the mirror unit (4a) or at a position where light scanned from the mirror unit (4a) is projected, wherein the plurality of convex lenses (2) are arranged in a predetermined direction at intervals so that light focused by passing through the plurality of convex lenses (2) when the lens unit is stationary approaches each other.)

1. A light projecting device comprising:

a light source having a plurality of light emitting sections arranged in a predetermined direction;

a plurality of convex lenses provided in the same number as the plurality of light emitting sections, and configured to be irradiated with light from the plurality of light emitting sections and focus the light;

an optical scanner having a mirror portion for scanning light transmitted through the plurality of convex lenses in a direction in which the plurality of light emitting portions are arranged, and a drive source for swinging the mirror portion; and

a projection lens disposed between the plurality of convex lenses and the mirror unit or at a position where light scanned from the mirror unit is projected,

the plurality of convex lenses are arranged in a predetermined direction at intervals so that light passing through the plurality of convex lenses and focused when the lens is stationary approaches each other.

2. The light projection device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of adjacent convex lenses are arranged in the predetermined direction at intervals that are the same as or smaller than intervals at which the plurality of light emitting units are arranged in the predetermined direction.

3. The light projection device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of convex lenses are arranged so as to be shifted in a direction in which the plurality of convex lenses are arranged from positions facing the plurality of light emitting units.

4. The light projection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of convex lenses are configured in such a manner that: the size of the focal width of light in the direction in which the plurality of light-emitting sections are arranged at the position of incidence on the mirror section or the projection lens is equal to or smaller than the size of the interval between the adjacent light-emitting sections.

5. The light projection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the optical scanner has a control portion that controls the drive source,

the control section of the optical scanner is configured to control the drive source as follows: the scanning angle at the time of scanning the mirror portion is set to be equal to or less than a full half-value angle, which is an angle at half the value of the peak of the luminous intensity of the light reflected from the mirror portion at the time of rest.

6. The light projection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the plurality of convex lenses are configured such that virtual images of the plurality of convex lenses passing through a principal point and formed on the opposite side with the light source interposed therebetween are arranged in close proximity.

7. The light projection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein an incident angle of light from the light source when the mirror portion is at rest is 35 degrees or more and 45 degrees or less.

8. The light projection device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the projection lens is configured to form an image of the light along a direction in which the irradiated light is scanned, and to condense the light toward a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the irradiated light is scanned.

9. A vehicle light projector device mounted on a vehicle, for projecting light to the front of the vehicle, the vehicle light projector device comprising:

a light source having a plurality of light emitting sections arranged in a predetermined direction;

a plurality of convex lenses provided in the same number as the plurality of light emitting sections, and configured to be irradiated with light from the plurality of light emitting sections and focus the light;

an optical scanner having a mirror portion for scanning light passing through the plurality of convex lenses in a direction in which the plurality of light emitting portions are arranged, and a drive source for swinging the mirror portion; and

a projection lens disposed between the plurality of convex lenses and the mirror unit or at a position where light scanned from the mirror unit is projected,

the plurality of convex lenses are arranged in a predetermined direction at intervals so that light passing through the plurality of convex lenses and focused when the lens is stationary approaches each other.

10. The vehicular light projection device according to claim 9, wherein the mirror portion is set in such a manner that: the angle at which the peak of the luminous intensity of the light reflected from the mirror portion is half the value when the mirror portion is at rest, that is, the full angle at half the value, is equal to or greater than the value of the product of the full angle at half the value of each of the plurality of light-emitting portions and the number of the plurality of light-emitting portions.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a light projection device and a light projection device for a vehicle, and more particularly to a light projection device including a light source having a plurality of light emitting sections and a light projection device for a vehicle.

Background

Conventionally, a light projection device including a light source having a plurality of light emitting sections and a light projection device for a vehicle are known (for example, see patent document 1).

Patent document 1 includes: a light source including a light emitting element; a mirror for reflecting light emitted from the light source; and an actuator for operation for reciprocating the mirror to scan the illumination region by the reflected light from the mirror.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2014-89990

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

In the case where a plurality of light emitting portions are provided as disclosed in patent document 1, if the intervals between the plurality of light emitting portions are wide, valleys having low luminous intensity are formed greatly between peaks of luminous intensity of each light emitting portion irradiated to the mirror portion in the intensity distribution of the irradiation light. Therefore, there are the following problems: when the mirror portion is rotated back and forth and the illumination area is scanned (scan) by the reflected light from the mirror portion, local unevenness in light intensity occurs.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a light projecting device and a vehicle light projecting device that can suppress occurrence of local unevenness in light intensity when scanning a mirror portion.

Means for solving the problems

A light projection device of a first aspect of the present invention includes: a light source having a plurality of light emitting sections arranged in a predetermined direction; a plurality of convex lenses provided in the same number as the plurality of light emitting sections, and configured to be irradiated with light from the plurality of light emitting sections and focus the light; an optical scanner having a mirror portion for scanning light transmitted through the plurality of convex lenses in a direction in which the plurality of light emitting portions are arranged, and a drive source for swinging the mirror portion; and a projection lens disposed between the plurality of convex lenses and the mirror portion or disposed so that light scanned from the mirror portion is transmitted therethrough, wherein the plurality of convex lenses are disposed in a predetermined direction with an interval therebetween so that light focused by transmitting the plurality of convex lenses at rest approaches each other. Here, the proximity includes a case where the lights are close to each other but do not intersect each other, in addition to a case where one ends of the irradiation ranges of the focused lights intersect each other.

In the light projection device according to the first aspect of the present invention, as described above, the plurality of convex lenses are arranged in a predetermined direction at intervals so that light focused by passing through the plurality of convex lenses at rest approaches each other. Thus, by the approach of the light transmitted through the convex lens when the lens is at rest, even when there is a distance between the light emitting parts, the local formation of a part with small luminous intensity can be suppressed, and thus, the nonuniformity of luminous intensity can be suppressed. As a result, by suppressing local unevenness in light intensity when the mirror portion is stationary, it is possible to suppress local unevenness in light intensity when the mirror portion is scanned.

In the light projection device according to the first aspect, the plurality of convex lenses adjacent to each other are preferably arranged in the predetermined direction at intervals which are the same as the intervals at which the plurality of light emitting units are arranged in the predetermined direction, or at intervals which are smaller than the intervals at which a large number of light emitting units are arranged in the predetermined direction. With this configuration, the interval between the adjacent convex lenses is equal to or smaller than the interval between the light emitting sections, and the interval between the adjacent focused lights can be reduced, so that the focused lights can be brought closer when the convex lenses focus the light from the light emitting sections. As a result, the formation of a portion with low luminous intensity due to the separation of lights can be suppressed, and thus, the nonuniformity of luminous intensity can be further suppressed.

In this case, the plurality of convex lenses are preferably arranged so as to be offset in the direction in which the plurality of convex lenses are arranged from positions facing the plurality of light emitting sections. With this configuration, the position at which light enters the plurality of convex lenses from the plurality of light emitting sections and the position at which light exits from the plurality of convex lenses can be adjusted, and thus the light passing through the convex lenses can be adjusted to approach each other.

In the light projection device according to the first aspect, the plurality of convex lenses are preferably arranged such that: the size of the light focusing width in the direction in which the plurality of light emitting sections are arranged at the position of incidence on the mirror section or the projection lens is equal to or smaller than the size of the interval between the adjacent light emitting sections. With this configuration, the size of the interval between the adjacent light emitting units is set to be equal to or smaller than the size of the interval between the adjacent light emitting units, whereby the area in which the focused light is superimposed can be suppressed from increasing, and the light intensity can be suppressed from locally increasing.

In the light projection device according to the first aspect, it is preferable that the optical scanner includes a control unit that controls the drive source, and the control unit of the optical scanner is configured to control the drive source such that: the scanning angle at the time of scanning the mirror portion is set to be equal to or less than a full half-value angle, which is an angle at half the value of the peak of the luminous intensity of the light reflected from the mirror portion at the time of rest. With this configuration, the scanning angle is equal to or smaller than the full half-value angle, and therefore the ranges of light irradiated during stationary and scanning partially overlap in the vicinity of the center of the mirror portion, and the light intensity in the vicinity of the center of the mirror portion can be made higher than that in other positions.

In the light projection device according to the first aspect, the plurality of convex lenses are preferably arranged so that virtual images of the plurality of convex lenses passing through the principal point and formed on the opposite side with the light source interposed therebetween are arranged in close proximity. With this configuration, the virtual images approach each other, and thus incident light to the mirror portion or the projection lens can approach each other by disposing the mirror portion or the projection lens at the same distance as the distance between the principal point and the virtual image.

In the light projection device according to the first aspect, the incident angle of light from the light source when the mirror portion is at rest is preferably 35 degrees or more and 45 degrees or less. The inventors have found that, with such a configuration, the distance between the mirror portion and the light source can be reduced by setting the incident angle to 35 degrees or more, and thus the light projection device can be suppressed from becoming large. The inventors have also found that the amount of light incident on the mirror portion can be suppressed from decreasing by setting the incident angle to 45 degrees or less.

In the light projection device according to the first aspect, the projection lens is preferably configured to form an image of the light along a direction in which the irradiated light is scanned, and to condense the light in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the irradiated light is scanned. With this configuration, a part of the light can be imaged to be uniformly irradiated, and a part of the light can be condensed to increase the light intensity.

A vehicle light projection device according to a second aspect of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle, and irradiates light to the front of the vehicle, and includes: a light source having a plurality of light emitting sections arranged in a predetermined direction; a plurality of convex lenses provided in the same number as the plurality of light emitting sections, and configured to be irradiated with light from the plurality of light emitting sections and focus the light; an optical scanner having a mirror portion for scanning light transmitted through the plurality of convex lenses in a direction in which the plurality of light emitting portions are arranged, and a drive source for swinging the mirror portion; and a projection lens disposed between the plurality of convex lenses and the mirror unit or at a position where light scanned from the mirror unit is projected, wherein the plurality of convex lenses are arranged in a predetermined direction at intervals so that light focused by passing through the plurality of convex lenses when the projection lens is stationary approaches each other.

In the light projection device according to the second aspect of the present invention, as described above, the plurality of convex lenses are arranged in a predetermined direction at intervals so that light focused through the plurality of convex lenses approaches each other when the light projection device is stationary. Thus, by the approach of light transmitted through the convex lens at rest, even when there is a distance between the light sources, the local formation of a portion with small luminous intensity can be suppressed, and thus, the nonuniformity of luminous intensity can be suppressed. As a result, by suppressing local unevenness in luminous intensity when the vehicle is stationary, it is possible to suppress local unevenness in luminous intensity when the vehicle is irradiated with light while scanning the mirror.

In the light projection device according to the second aspect, the mirror portion is preferably set such that: when the mirror portion is at rest, the angle at half maximum, which is the half maximum of the peak value of the luminous intensity of the light reflected from the mirror portion, is equal to or greater than the product of the half maximum total angle of each of the plurality of light emitting portions and the number of the plurality of light emitting portions. With this configuration, when part of the light is turned off, the light is turned off only at half the full angle of each of the plurality of light emitting parts, and thus the irradiation range can be suppressed from narrowing.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, as described above, it is possible to provide a light projection device and a vehicle light projection device that can suppress local unevenness in light intensity when scanning a mirror portion.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a view showing a vehicle provided with a light projecting device.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the light projector.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an optical scanner.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a positional relationship among the light emitting unit, the convex lens, the mirror unit, and the projection lens according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement of the light emitting section and the convex lens.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of arrangement of convex lenses.

Fig. 7 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between the light emitting section and the mirror section at full half-value angles.

Fig. 8 is a diagram for explaining a full half angle of the mirror portion at rest.

Fig. 9 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the operation angle and the light intensity when the scan angle is smaller than the full half-value angle at rest.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a relationship between the operation angle and the light intensity when the scan angle is smaller than the full half angle at rest.

Fig. 11 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between the operation angle and the light intensity when the full half-value angle and the scanning angle are the same at rest.

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a relationship between the operation angle and the light intensity when the half-value total angle and the scanning angle are the same at rest.

Fig. 13 is a diagram showing the relationship between the mirror distance, the angle, and the incident light amount ratio.

Fig. 14 is a diagram showing a positional relationship among the light emitting unit, the convex lens, the mirror unit, and the projection lens in the second embodiment.

Fig. 15 is a diagram showing a modification of the light projection device.

Description of the symbols

1: light source

2: convex lens

3. 20: projection lens

4: optical scanner

4 a: mirror part

4 b: driving source

7: control unit

10: light emitting part

100: light projector

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First embodiment

(Structure of electronic mirror for vehicle)

The structure of a light projection device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 13.

(moving body)

As shown in fig. 1, light projection device 100 according to the present embodiment is mounted on vehicle 110. The light projector 100 is configured to irradiate light to the front of the vehicle 110. In the present specification, the vertical direction is defined as the Z direction, the upward direction is defined as the Z1 direction, and the downward direction is defined as the Z2 direction. Two directions orthogonal to each other in a plane orthogonal to the Z direction are referred to as an X direction and a Y direction, respectively. In the X direction, one side is defined as the X1 direction, and the other side is defined as the X2 direction. In the Y direction, one side is the Y1 direction, and the other side is the Y2 direction. In the example shown in fig. 1, the front of the vehicle 110 is in the direction X1.

(Structure of light projecting device)

As shown in fig. 2, the light projection device 100 of the present embodiment includes a light source 1, a convex lens 2, a projection lens 3, an optical scanner 4, a detection unit 5, a scanning angle acquisition unit 6, and a control unit 7. The light projector 100 is configured to irradiate light in the traveling direction (X1 direction) of the vehicle 110.

The light source 1 is configured to output light. Specifically, the light source 1 includes a plurality of light emitting portions 10 arranged in a predetermined direction. In the first embodiment, the substrates are arranged in the X direction. In the present embodiment, the plurality of light-emitting portions 10 include a first light-emitting portion 10a, a second light-emitting portion 10b, a third light-emitting portion 10c, a fourth light-emitting portion 10d, and a fifth light-emitting portion 10 e. The light emitted from the plurality of light emitting sections 10 is irradiated to the mirror section 4a of the optical scanner 4 via the convex lens 2 and the projection lens 3. The Light source 1 includes, for example, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) or a Laser Diode (LD). In the present embodiment, the light source 1 includes an LED.

The convex lens 2 is configured to focus light irradiated from the light source 1. The convex lenses 2 are provided in the same number as the plurality of light emitting parts 10. The convex lens 2 is, for example, a magnifying lens or a focusing lens.

The projection lens 3 is irradiated with light focused by passing through the convex lens 2. The projection lens 3 is configured to focus the light focused by passing through the convex lens 2 further on a mirror portion 4a of the optical scanner 4. The projection lens 3 is disposed between the plurality of convex lenses and the mirror portion.

The optical scanner 4 includes a mirror portion 4a and a drive source 4 b. The optical scanner 4 is configured to scan light emitted from the plurality of light emitting portions 10 while oscillating the mirror portion 4a by plate waves generated by the driving source 4 b.

The mirror portion 4a is configured to scan the light transmitted through the projection lens 3 in a direction in which the plurality of light emitting portions 10 are arranged.

The drive source 4b is configured to swing the mirror portion 4 a. The drive source 4b includes, for example, a piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element is formed of lead zirconate titanate (PZT), for example. The details of the driving source 4b for swinging the mirror unit 4a will be described later.

The detection unit 5 is configured to detect an extinguished region Rs in the region Ri irradiated with the light scanned by the mirror unit 4 a. The detector 5 includes, for example, an optical imaging device (camera), a laser sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and the like.

The scanning angle acquiring unit 6 is configured to acquire a scanning angle θ of the mirror unit 4a (see fig. 4). The scanning angle acquiring unit 6 includes, for example, a magnetic angle sensor.

The control unit 7 is configured to control each unit of the light projection device 100. The control unit 7 is configured to control light irradiation by the light source 1. The control unit 7 is configured to control the optical scanner 4. The control unit 7 is configured to form an irradiation light region Ri and a light-shielded region Rs. The control Unit 7 includes a processor such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU).

(Structure of light projecting device)

As shown in fig. 3, the light projection device 100 includes a mirror portion 4a, a drive source 4b, a substrate 40, and a holding member 41. In the example shown in fig. 3, the direction perpendicular to the pivot axis Ax of the base plate 40 is the a direction, one side thereof is the a1 direction, and the other side thereof is the a2 direction. The direction in which the swing shaft Ax extends is referred to as the B direction, one side thereof is referred to as the B1 direction, and the other side thereof is referred to as the B2 direction. The direction perpendicular to the AB plane is the C direction, one side is the C1 direction, and the other side is the C2 direction.

The mirror portion 4a is configured to reflect light emitted from the light source 1. The mirror portion 4a includes a metal member having a flat plate shape. The mirror portion 4a includes, for example, an aluminum material. In the present embodiment, the mirror portion 4a is provided separately from the substrate 40. Specifically, the mirror portion 4a is provided in the mirror portion arrangement portion 40 d. In the example shown in fig. 3, the mirror portion 4a is shown hatched for convenience.

The base plate 40 includes a pair of beam portions 40a, a support portion 40b, and a torsion portion 40 c. Further, the substrate 40 includes a mirror portion arrangement portion 40d on which the mirror portion 4a is arranged. The substrate 40 is made of, for example, a flat stainless steel material.

The pair of beam portions 40a are supported by the support portion 40b on the a1 direction side, respectively. In the example shown in fig. 3, the holding portion 40e is formed by increasing the width of the end portions of the pair of beam portions 40a on the a2 direction side in the B direction. The holding portion 40e is held by the holding member 41 by, for example, screw fastening.

The support portion 40b is configured to support the end portions of the pair of beam portions 40a on the a1 direction side. The support portion 40b is provided with a drive source 4 b. The support portion 40b has a holding portion 40f at an end portion on the side not supporting the pair of beam portions 40a in the a1 direction. The support portion 40b is fastened by a screw, for example, and is held by the holding member 41.

The torsion portion 40c supports the mirror portion 4a swingably about the swing axis Ax. The twisted portion 40c extends in a direction (direction B) orthogonal to a direction (direction a) in which the pair of beam portions 40a extend in a direction along the surface of the mirror portion 4 a. The twisted portion 40c has a columnar shape. Moreover, a pair of twisted portions 40c is provided. One of the pair of torsion portions 40c is connected to one of the pair of beam portions 40a, and the other torsion portion 40c is connected to the other beam portion 40 a. The pair of torsion portions 40c are connected to the mirror portion arrangement portion 40d, respectively.

The mirror portion disposing part 40d is configured to dispose the mirror portion 4 a. The mirror portion arrangement portion 40d is connected to the pair of beam portions 40a via the torsion portion 40 c.

The drive source 4b is configured to generate a plate wave for oscillating the mirror portion 4 a. The plate wave is a vibration in the XY plane direction generated by expansion and contraction in the C direction by the drive source 4 b. The drive source 4b is configured to oscillate the mirror portion 4a in a reciprocating manner around the axis of the predetermined oscillation axis Ax by the generated plate waves. That is, the optical scanner 4 is a resonance drive type optical scanner.

As shown in fig. 3, the holding member 41 is configured to hold the support portion 40 b. The holding member 41 holds the holding portion 40 f. The holding member 41 is configured to hold each of the pair of beam portions 40 a. The holding member 41 is configured to hold the holding portion 40e of the pair of beam portions 40 a.

As shown in fig. 3, the substrate 40 has the following shape: there is a space in which the mirror portion 4a oscillates back and forth around the axis of the pivot axis Ax. Although not shown in fig. 3, the holding member 41 also has the same shape as the substrate 40.

(arrangement of convex lens)

The arrangement of the convex lens 2 is described in detail based on fig. 4. In the first embodiment, the plurality of convex lenses 2 are arranged in a predetermined direction with an interval therebetween so that light focused by passing through the plurality of convex lenses 2 at rest approaches each other. In the first embodiment, irradiation ranges of adjacent focused lights shown by hatching intersect at one point.

As shown in fig. 5, the plurality of convex lenses 2 are arranged in the same number as the plurality of light emitting parts 10. The adjacent convex lenses 2 are arranged in the predetermined direction at an interval d2 which is the same as the interval d1 at which the light emitting parts 10 are arranged in the predetermined direction (X direction), or which is smaller than the interval d1 at which a large number of light emitting parts 10 are arranged in the predetermined direction (X direction). The interval d1 is a distance between centers of the adjacent light emitting parts 10, and the interval d2 is a distance between centers of the adjacent convex lenses 2. For example, when the distance d1 between the light emitting parts 10 is 4.0mm, the distance d2 between the convex lenses 2 is set to be 3.5mm to 4.0 mm.

Regarding the positional relationship among the light source 1, the plurality of convex lenses 2, the projection lens 3, and the mirror portion 4a, for example, the convex lens 2 may be disposed at a position where light irradiated from the light source 1 is condensed, or light irradiated from the light source 1 may be condensed after passing through the convex lens 2. The projection lens 3 is disposed at a position where the light passes through the convex lens 2 and is condensed. Then, the projection lens 3 is disposed at a position where a virtual image of the convex lens 2 is projected. Further, a mirror portion 4a is disposed at a position where the light refracted by the projection lens 3 is condensed. In addition, when the position of the mirror portion 4a is fixed, the position of the projection lens 3 (the distance between the mirror portion 4a and the projection lens 3) can be adjusted so that substantially all of the light emitted from the mirror portion 4a enters. However, when the area of the mirror surface portion of the mirror portion 4a is small, it is not necessary to adjust the position of the projection lens 3 when the light emitted from the mirror portion 4a and the distance between the mirror portion 4a and the projection lens 3 are substantially all incident on the projection lens 3.

The convex lenses 2 are arranged so as to be offset in the direction (X direction) in which the convex lenses 2 are arranged from positions facing the plurality of light emitting units 10, depending on the distance d2 between the convex lenses 2, the size of the convex lenses 2 in the X direction, and the like. At this time, adjustment is performed so that light can be incident from the light source 1 and incident on the projection lens 3 in a state where the virtual image V is close to.

The plurality of convex lenses 2 are arranged in such a manner that: at the position where the light enters the projection lens 3, the size of the light focusing width in the direction (X direction) in which the plurality of light emitting portions 10 are arranged is equal to or smaller than the size of the interval d1 between the adjacent light emitting portions 10. The size of the light focusing width is obtained by subtracting the length d3 of one side of the light emitting section 10 on the irradiation surface side from the width W1 of the light irradiated to the projection lens 3. For example, when the length d3 of one side of the light emitting part 10 is 1mm and the distance d1 of the light emitting part 10 is 4mm, the light incident on the light emitting part 10 of the convex lens 2 is set so as to be widened by 2mm in each of the X1 direction and the X2 direction and focused. At this time, the length d4 in the X direction of the virtual image V is set to be 4 mm.

As shown in fig. 6, as an adjustment method of the positions of the plurality of convex lenses 2, the distance is adjusted as follows: the virtual images V of the plurality of convex lenses 2 passing through the principal point P of the projection lens 3 and formed on the opposite side with the light emitting section 10 therebetween are arranged in close proximity. At this time, the projection lens 3 is arranged so that the distance from the principal point P to the virtual image V in the Y direction is the same as the distance from the principal point P to the projection lens 3.

The convex lens 2 is configured in such a manner that: the full angle at half maximum 12, which is a range of angles at half maximum of the peak value of the luminous intensity of the light reflected from the mirror portion 4a when the mirror portion is at rest, is equal to or greater than the product of the full angle at half maximum 13 of each of the plurality of light emitting portions 10 and the number of the plurality of light emitting portions 10. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a relationship between the luminous intensity of each light emitting unit 10 and the angle of the mirror unit 4a in the case where the number of light emitting units 10 is five, and one of the light emitting units 10 is shown by hatching. As shown in fig. 7, the range of overlap between the plurality of light-emitting portions 10 is preferably small, and thus the value is set to be equal to the product of the full half-value angle 13 of each of the plurality of light-emitting portions 10 and the number of the plurality of light-emitting portions 10.

(Structure of optical scanner)

The control section 7 of the optical scanner 4 controls the drive source 4b in such a manner that: the scanning angle θ during scanning of the mirror portion 4a is set to be equal to or smaller than a full half-value angle, which is an angle at half the value of the peak of the mirror portion 4a during rest. In fig. 8, the horizontal axis represents the scanning angle θ, and the vertical axis represents the light intensity. Fig. 8 is a graph showing the distribution 11 of luminous intensity at the scanning angle θ, and the full half-value angle 12 is an angular range showing a half value of the peak of the distribution 11. For example, when the scanning angle θ of the mirror portion 4a at rest is an angle of-15 degrees and a half value of the peak of the luminous intensity is displayed at an angle of 15 degrees, the absolute value of the difference between 15 degrees and-15 degrees is 30 degrees.

Fig. 9 (a) shows a relationship between the full half angle 12 and the luminous intensity at rest when the mirror portion 4a is swung at a full half angle or less. When the scanning angle θ is smaller than the full half angle 12, the scanning angle θ is shifted in the negative direction from the state of fig. 9 (a) to the state of fig. 9 (b) of fig. 9, and the scanning angle θ is shifted in the positive direction to the state of fig. 9 (c) of fig. 9. Since the time for which the light is irradiated is shortened as the light travels in the positive and negative directions from the hatched portion which is the portion overlapping with the still state, the light intensity is reduced because the time for which the light is irradiated is shortened as the light is directed toward the end portion for the white portion which is not overlapping with the still state. Thus, the trapezoidal shape shown in fig. 10 is obtained.

Fig. 11 (a) shows a relationship between the full half-value angle 12 and the luminous intensity at rest when the mirror portion 4a is swung at or below the full half-value angle. When the scanning angle θ is the same as the full half-value angle 12, the scanning angle θ degree is moved in the negative direction from the state of fig. 11 (a) as in fig. 11 (b), and the scanning angle θ degree is moved in the positive direction as in fig. 11 (c). In this way, the portion overlapping with the stationary state becomes a line, and the time of irradiation becomes shorter as it goes to the end portion, and the light intensity decreases. Thus, the triangle is formed as shown in fig. 12.

Fig. 13 is a graph in which a graph showing a relationship between the mirror distance and the scanning angle θ and a graph showing a relationship between the scanning angle θ and the incident light amount ratio are superimposed. When the incident angle of light from the light source 1 is smaller than 35 degrees when the mirror portion 4a is at rest, the mirror distance increases, and the configuration of the light projector 100 increases. When the scanning angle θ exceeds 45 degrees, the mirror distance cannot be reduced as read from a graph showing the relationship between the mirror distance and the scanning angle θ. When the scanning angle θ exceeds 45 degrees, the light amount may be reduced according to a graph showing a relationship between the scanning angle θ and the incident light amount ratio. Therefore, the incident angle of light from the light emitting section 10 when the mirror section 4a is at rest is preferably 35 degrees or more and 45 degrees or less. The mirror distance is a distance between the mirror portion 4a and the light emitting portion 10.

(formation of irradiation region and quenching region)

The control unit 7 controls the area and the light distribution of the light emitted from the plurality of light emitting units 10. The control unit 7 controls the area and distribution of light emitted from the plurality of light emitting units 10 as a so-called Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB) system. Specifically, as shown in fig. 2, the control unit 7 is configured to perform control such that: on the basis of the detection result obtained by the detection unit 5 and the scanning angle θ (see fig. 4) of the mirror unit 4a obtained by the scanning angle obtaining unit 6, the light-on state and the light-off state of the light-emitting unit 10 that emits light scanning to the light-off region Rs among the plurality of light-emitting units 10 are switched, and the light-off region Rs and the light-irradiation region Ri are formed.

The control unit 7 sets, as an extinguished region Rs, a region in which the presence of the opposing vehicle is detected in the region Ri of the irradiated light, based on the detection result obtained by the detection unit 5. Based on the scanning angle θ of the mirror portion 4a, the control portion 7 sets the light emitting portion 10 that emits light scanned to the extinguished region Rs to the extinguished state, and sets the other light emitting portions 10 to the lit state, thereby forming the region Ri of the irradiation light and the extinguished region Rs.

(Effect of the first embodiment)

In the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

In the first embodiment, as described above, the plurality of convex lenses 2 are arranged in a predetermined direction at intervals so that light focused by passing through the plurality of convex lenses 2 at rest approaches each other. Thus, by the approach of the light transmitted through the convex lens 2 when the lens is at rest, the local formation of a portion with small luminous intensity can be suppressed even when there is a distance between the light emitting parts 10, and thus, the nonuniformity of luminous intensity can be suppressed. As a result, by suppressing the local unevenness of the luminous intensity when the mirror portion 4a is stationary, the local unevenness of the luminous intensity can be suppressed when the mirror portion is caused to scan.

In the first embodiment, as described above, the plurality of convex lenses 2 adjacent to each other are arranged in the predetermined direction at the same interval d1 at which the plurality of light emitting parts 10 are arranged in the predetermined direction, or at the interval d2 smaller than the interval d1 at which a large number of light emitting parts 10 are arranged in the predetermined direction. Thus, since the interval between the adjacent convex lenses 2 is equal to or smaller than the interval between the light emitting sections 10, the interval between the adjacent focused lights can be reduced, and thus the focused lights can be brought closer when the convex lenses 2 focus the light from the light emitting sections 10. As a result, the formation of a portion with low luminous intensity due to the separation of lights can be suppressed, and thus, the nonuniformity of luminous intensity can be further suppressed.

In the first embodiment, as described above, the plurality of convex lenses 2 are arranged so as to be offset from the positions facing the plurality of light emitting units 10 in the direction in which the plurality of convex lenses 2 are arranged. Thus, the position where light enters the plurality of convex lenses 2 from the plurality of light emitting parts 10 and the position where light exits from the plurality of convex lenses 2 can be adjusted, and thus the light passing through the convex lenses 2 can be adjusted to approach each other.

In the first embodiment, the plurality of convex lenses 2 are arranged such that: the size of the light focusing width in the direction in which the plurality of light emitting sections 10 are arranged at the position of incidence on the mirror section 4a or the projection lens 3 is equal to or smaller than the size of the interval between the adjacent light emitting sections 10. Accordingly, by setting the size of the interval d1 between the adjacent light emitting units 10 to be equal to or smaller, the region in which the focused lights overlap can be suppressed from increasing, and thus the light intensity can be suppressed from locally increasing.

In the first embodiment, as described above, the optical scanner 4 includes the control unit 7 that controls the drive source 4b, and the control unit 7 of the optical scanner 4 is configured to control the drive source 4b such that: the scanning angle θ during scanning of the mirror portion 4a is set to be equal to or smaller than a full half-value angle, which is an angle at half the value of the peak of the luminous intensity of the light reflected from the mirror portion 4a during standstill. Accordingly, since the scanning angle θ is equal to or smaller than the full half angle, the ranges of light irradiated during the stationary state and during the scanning partially overlap in the vicinity of the center of the mirror portion 4a, and the light intensity in the vicinity of the center of the mirror portion 4a can be made higher than that in other positions.

In the first embodiment, as described above, the plurality of convex lenses 2 are arranged so that the virtual images V of the plurality of convex lenses 2 passing through the principal point P and formed on the opposite side with the light source 1 interposed therebetween are close to each other. Thereby, the virtual image V approaches, and by arranging the mirror portion 4a or the projection lens 3 at the same distance as the distance between the principal point P and the virtual image V, the incident lights to the mirror portion 4a or the projection lens 3 can approach each other.

In the first embodiment, as described above, the incident angle of the light from the light source 1 when the mirror portion 4a is at rest is 35 degrees or more and 45 degrees or less. Thus, the inventors have found that the distance between the mirror portion 4a and the light source 1 can be reduced by setting the incident angle to 35 degrees or more, and thus the light projection device 100 can be suppressed from being enlarged. The inventors have also found that the amount of light incident on the mirror portion 4a can be suppressed from decreasing by setting the incident angle to 45 degrees or less.

In the first embodiment, as described above, the plurality of convex lenses 2 are set such that: the full angle at half maximum 12, which is an angle at half maximum of the peak value of the luminous intensity of the light reflected from the mirror portion 4a when the mirror portion is at rest, is equal to or greater than the product of the full angle at half maximum 13 of each of the plurality of light emitting portions 10 and the number of the plurality of light emitting portions 10. Thus, when part of the light is extinguished, the light is extinguished to the extent that the half value of each of the plurality of light emitting portions 10 is full angle, and thus the irradiation range can be suppressed from becoming narrow.

[ second embodiment ]

Next, the structure of the light projection device 200 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 14. In the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the projection lens 20 is a cylindrical lens (cylindrical lens) disposed at a position where the light scanned from the mirror portion 4a is projected. In the second embodiment, the projection lens 20 is disposed at a position irradiated with the light reflected by the mirror portion 4 a.

The cylindrical lens has different magnifications in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. Therefore, the resolution of light shielding can be minimized by imaging in the horizontal direction, and the light intensity can be improved by converging in the vertical direction. The cylindrical lens forms an image of the light along the direction in which the irradiated light is scanned, and condenses the light in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the irradiated light is scanned.

The other structure of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.

(Effect of the second embodiment)

In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the plurality of convex lenses 2 are arranged in a predetermined direction at intervals so that light focused by passing through the plurality of convex lenses 2 at rest approaches each other. Thus, by the approach of the light transmitted through the convex lens 2 when the lens is at rest, the local formation of a portion with small luminous intensity can be suppressed even when there is a distance between the light emitting parts 10, and thus, the nonuniformity of luminous intensity can be suppressed. As a result, by suppressing the local unevenness of the luminous intensity when the mirror portion 4a is stationary, the local unevenness of the luminous intensity can be suppressed when the mirror portion is caused to scan.

In the second embodiment, as described above, the projection lens 20 is configured to form an image of light along the direction in which the irradiated light is scanned, and to condense the light in the direction orthogonal to the direction in which the irradiated light travels. Thus, a part of the light can be imaged to be uniformly irradiated, and a part of the light can be condensed to further increase the light intensity.

Other effects of the second embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment.

[ modified examples ]

The embodiments disclosed herein are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown by the claims rather than the description of the embodiments, and includes all modifications (variations) equivalent in meaning and scope to the claims.

For example, in the first and second embodiments, the vehicle light projector according to the present invention has the ADB function, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the vehicle light projector device of the present invention may not have the ADB function.

For example, in the first and second embodiments, the convex lenses are arranged in the predetermined direction at the same intervals as the light emitting parts are arranged in the predetermined direction, or at intervals smaller than the intervals at which a large number of light emitting parts are arranged in the predetermined direction. For example, the plurality of convex lenses may be arranged at intervals larger than those at which the plurality of light emitting units are arranged in a predetermined direction in order to adjust the irradiation position from the convex lens to the mirror unit or the projection lens.

In the first and second embodiments, the plurality of convex lenses are arranged so as to be offset in the direction in which the plurality of convex lenses are arranged from the positions facing the plurality of light emitting sections. For example, the plurality of convex lenses may be arranged so as to be located at positions facing the plurality of light emitting units.

In the first and second embodiments, an example is shown in which the control unit is configured to control the drive source in such a manner that: the scanning angle at the time of scanning the mirror portion is set to be equal to or less than a full half-value angle at which the peak value of the luminous intensity of the light reflected from the mirror portion at the time of rest becomes half. For example, the control unit may set the scanning angle at the time of scanning by the mirror unit to be larger than the full half angle. In this case, the scanning angle of the mirror portion may be set to 1.3 times the full half-value angle.

In the first embodiment, the example in which the projection lens is provided is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in fig. 15, a cylindrical lens 30 may be disposed in addition to the projection lens.