阅读说明：本技术 车辆用灯具 (Vehicle lamp ) 是由 仲田裕介 豊岛隆延 佐藤典子 于 2020-02-20 设计创作，主要内容包括：车辆用灯具(1)具备：多个发光光学系统,其射出光；反射装置(50),其具有反射从多个发光光学系统射出的各个光的反射控制面(53),利用由该反射控制面(53)反射的光形成规定的配光图案；多个发光光学系统包括：第一发光光学系统(30),其具有第一光源(31)和主透镜(35),该主透镜(35)透过从第一光源(31)射出的光(L1)并照射到反射装置(50)的反射控制面(53)；第二发光光学系统(40),其具有第二光源(41)和反射器(42),该反射器(42)反射从第二光源(41)射出的光(L2)并照射到反射装置(50)的反射控制面(53)。(A vehicle lamp (1) is provided with: a plurality of light-emitting optical systems that emit light; a reflection device (50) having a reflection control surface (53) that reflects each of the lights emitted from the plurality of light-emitting optical systems, and forming a predetermined light distribution pattern by the light reflected by the reflection control surface (53); the plurality of light emitting optical systems include: a first light-emitting optical system (30) having a first light source (31) and a main lens (35), wherein the main lens (35) transmits light (L1) emitted from the first light source (31) and irradiates a reflection control surface (53) of a reflection device (50); and a second light-emitting optical system (40) having a second light source (41) and a reflector (42), wherein the reflector (42) reflects the light (L2) emitted from the second light source (41) and irradiates the reflection control surface (53) of the reflection device (50).)

1. A vehicle lamp is characterized by comprising:

a plurality of light-emitting optical systems that emit light;

a reflecting device having a reflecting surface that reflects each of the lights emitted from the plurality of light emitting optical systems, the reflecting device forming a predetermined light distribution pattern by the light reflected by the reflecting surface;

a plurality of the light emitting optical systems include: a first light-emitting optical system having a first light source and a lens that transmits light emitted from the first light source and irradiates a reflection surface of the reflection device; and a second light emission optical system having a second light source and a reflector that reflects light emitted from the second light source and irradiates a reflection surface of the reflection device.

2. A lamp for a vehicle as defined in claim 1,

the plurality of light emission optical systems may further include a third light emission optical system having a third light source and a reflector that reflects light emitted from the third light source and irradiates a reflection surface of the reflection device.

3. A lamp for a vehicle as claimed in claim 2,

the lens of the first light emission optical system intersects a predetermined plane that passes through a center of the reflection surface of the reflection device and is perpendicular to the reflection surface of the reflection device, the reflector of the second light emission optical system is located on one side of the predetermined plane, and the reflector of the third light emission optical system is located on the other side of the predetermined plane.

4. A lamp for a vehicle as claimed in claim 3,

the lens of the first light emission optical system, the reflector of the second light emission optical system, and the reflector of the third light emission optical system are located on a side of another predetermined plane that passes through a center of a reflection surface of the reflection device and is perpendicular to the predetermined plane and the reflection surface of the reflection device.

5. A lamp for a vehicle as defined in claim 4,

when a reflecting surface of the reflecting device is viewed in plan, the lens of the first light emission optical system, the reflector of the second light emission optical system, and the reflector of the third light emission optical system are arranged in a specific direction.

6. A lamp for a vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5,

when the reflecting surface of the reflecting device is viewed in a plan view, the lens of the first light emission optical system, the reflector of the second light emission optical system, and the reflector of the third light emission optical system do not overlap each other.

7. A lamp for a vehicle as defined in claim 1,

the plurality of light emission optical systems further include a fourth light emission optical system having a fourth light source and a lens that transmits light emitted from the fourth light source and irradiates a reflection surface of the reflection device.

8. A lamp for a vehicle as recited in claim 7,

the reflector of the second light emission optical system intersects a predetermined plane that passes through a center of the reflection surface of the reflection device and is perpendicular to the reflection surface of the reflection device, the lens of the first light emission optical system is located on one side of the predetermined plane, and the lens of the fourth light emission optical system is located on the other side of the predetermined plane.

9. A lamp for a vehicle as recited in claim 8,

the lens of the first light emission optical system, the reflector of the second light emission optical system, and the lens of the fourth light emission optical system are located on one side of another predetermined plane that passes through a center of a reflection surface of the reflection device and is perpendicular to the predetermined plane and the reflection surface of the reflection device.

10. A lamp for a vehicle as defined in claim 9,

when a reflecting surface of the reflecting device is viewed in a plan view, the lens of the first light emission optical system, the reflector of the second light emission optical system, and the lens of the fourth light emission optical system are arranged in a specific direction.

11. A lamp for a vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10,

when the reflecting surface of the reflecting device is viewed in a plan view, the lens of the first light emission optical system, the reflector of the second light emission optical system, and the lens of the fourth light emission optical system do not overlap each other.

12. A lamp for a vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11,

the projector further includes a projection lens that adjusts a divergence angle of light emitted from the reflector to form the predetermined light distribution pattern.

13. A lamp for a vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12,

the reflecting surface of the reflecting device is composed of reflecting surfaces of a plurality of reflecting elements capable of switching the toppling state independently,

the plurality of reflecting elements are inclined in a state corresponding to the predetermined light distribution pattern.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp.

Background

As a vehicle lamp, a vehicle headlamp typified by an automobile headlamp, a drawing device that draws an image on a road surface or the like, and the like are known. However, various configurations have been studied in order to make an image projected by a vehicle lamp a desired image.

Patent document 1 discloses a vehicle lamp including a single light-emitting optical system that emits light, and a reflection device that reflects the light emitted from the light-emitting optical system. The reflection Device is a so-called DMD (Digital micromirror Device) having a reflection control surface constituted by reflection surfaces of a plurality of reflection elements capable of individually switching an inclination state, and forms a light distribution pattern corresponding to the inclination state of the plurality of reflection elements by reflecting light emitted from the light emitting optical system on the reflection control surface. Therefore, the vehicle lamp can emit light of a predetermined light distribution pattern by controlling the tilt state of the plurality of reflecting elements. In patent document 1, the light-emitting optical system is configured by a light source that emits light and a lens that transmits the light emitted from the light source.

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2016-008043

Disclosure of Invention

Here, since the reflection device of patent document 1 forms a light distribution pattern by reflecting light by the reflection control surface, the intensity distribution of light in the light distribution pattern tends to be affected by the intensity distribution of light in the reflection control surface. Since the intensity distribution of the light on the reflection control surface depends on the intensity distribution of the light emitted from the light-emitting optical system, the intensity distribution of the light in the formed light distribution pattern tends to be affected by the intensity distribution of the light emitted from the light-emitting optical system. In patent document 1, light emitted from the light source is transmitted through the lens and emitted from the light emitting optical system, and the light is irradiated to the reflection control surface. In general, in a lens which is an optical member for refracting light, the intensity distribution of the emitted light tends to be affected by the intensity distribution of the incident light, and it tends to be difficult to change the intensity distribution of the light using the lens. Therefore, in the reflection device of patent document 1, the degree of freedom of the intensity distribution of the light in the light distribution pattern of the emitted light is limited, and it is sometimes desired to improve the degree of freedom of the intensity distribution of the light in the light distribution pattern. In addition, in the vehicle lamp, a large area in front of the vehicle may be irradiated with light, a large image may be drawn on a road surface, or the intensity of the irradiated light may be increased, so that a large amount of light may be required.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle lamp that can increase the amount of light emitted and improve the degree of freedom of the intensity distribution of light in the light distribution pattern of the emitted light.

In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle lamp according to the present invention includes: a plurality of light-emitting optical systems that emit light; a reflecting device having a reflecting surface that reflects each of the lights emitted from the plurality of light emitting optical systems, the reflecting device forming a predetermined light distribution pattern by the light reflected by the reflecting surface; a plurality of the light emitting optical systems include: a first light-emitting optical system having a first light source and a lens that transmits light emitted from the first light source and irradiates a reflection surface of the reflection device; and a second light emission optical system having a second light source and a reflector that reflects light emitted from the second light source and irradiates a reflection surface of the reflection device.

In this vehicle lamp, light of a predetermined light distribution pattern is formed by light reflected by the reflection surface of the reflector. Here, as described above, since the intensity distribution of light on the reflection surface of the reflection device depends on the intensity distribution of light emitted from the light emission optical system, the intensity distribution of light in the formed light distribution pattern tends to be affected by the intensity distribution of light emitted from the light emission optical system. In this vehicle lamp, as described above, the light emitted from the plurality of light-emitting optical systems is irradiated onto the reflecting surface of the reflecting device. Therefore, compared to the case where light emitted from one light-emitting optical system is irradiated onto the reflection surface of the reflection device, the vehicle lamp can increase the amount of light irradiated onto the reflection surface of the reflection device and improve the degree of freedom of the intensity distribution of light on the reflection surface. Therefore, the vehicle lamp can increase the amount of light emitted and improve the degree of freedom of the intensity distribution of the light in the light distribution pattern of the emitted light. In addition, in the vehicular lamp, as described above, the plurality of light emitting optical systems include: a first light-emitting optical system having a first light source and a lens that transmits light emitted from the first light source and irradiates a reflection surface of the reflection device; and a second light emission optical system having a second light source and a reflector that reflects light emitted from the second light source and irradiates a reflection surface of the reflection device. The lens has both an incident surface and an exit surface, but the reflector as an optical member for reflecting light only has to have a reflecting surface, and there is a tendency that structural restrictions are less than those of the lens. Therefore, in general, the reflector tends to change the intensity distribution of incident light and emit the light more easily than the lens. Therefore, the vehicle lamp can improve the degree of freedom of the intensity distribution of the light in the reflecting surface, as compared with a case where the second light-emitting optical system is configured by the second light source and the lens that transmits the light emitted from the second light source and irradiates the reflecting surface of the reflecting device. Further, since the reflector reflects light, there is a case where the light reflected by the reflector is blocked by the light source, but since the lens transmits light, it is possible to suppress the light transmitted through the lens from being blocked by the light source. Therefore, compared to the case where the first light-emitting optical system is configured by the first light source and the reflector that reflects the light emitted from the first light source and irradiates the reflecting surface of the reflecting device, the vehicle lamp can suppress a decrease in the amount of light irradiated to the reflecting surface, and can suppress a decrease in the amount of light emitted from the vehicle lamp.

The plurality of light emission optical systems may further include a third light emission optical system having a third light source and a reflector that reflects light emitted from the third light source and irradiates a reflection surface of the reflection device.

With this configuration, the amount of light irradiated onto the reflecting surface of the reflecting device can be increased as compared with the case where light emitted from the two light-emitting optical systems is irradiated onto the reflecting surface of the reflecting device, and the degree of freedom of the intensity distribution of the light on the reflecting surface can be improved.

In a case where the plurality of light emission optical systems include a third light emission optical system, the lens of the first light emission optical system may intersect a predetermined plane that passes through a center of the reflection surface of the reflection device and is perpendicular to the reflection surface of the reflection device, the reflector of the second light emission optical system may be located on one side of the predetermined plane, and the reflector of the third light emission optical system may be located on the other side of the predetermined plane.

With this configuration, it is possible to suppress an increase in an incident angle of light incident on the reflection surface of the reflection device from the first light emission optical system in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined plane, as compared with a case where the lens of the first light emission optical system does not intersect the predetermined plane. Therefore, the irradiation pattern of the light emitted from the first light-emitting optical system on the reflection surface of the reflection device is easily symmetrical in the direction perpendicular to the predetermined plane. The light emitted from the second light-emitting optical system and the light emitted from the third light-emitting optical system are incident on the reflecting surface of the reflecting device from different sides with respect to the predetermined plane. Further, a portion for irradiating light to the reflection surface of the reflection device in each of the second light emission optical system and the third light emission optical system is a reflection surface of the reflector. Therefore, the irradiation pattern of the light emitted from the second light-emitting optical system on the reflection surface of the reflection device and the irradiation pattern of the light emitted from the third light-emitting optical system on the reflection surface of the reflection device are easily symmetrical to each other in the direction perpendicular to the predetermined plane. Therefore, the intensity distribution of light on the reflecting surface of the reflecting device can be easily made symmetrical in the direction perpendicular to the predetermined plane. Therefore, the light intensity distribution in the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the vehicle lamp is particularly useful when the light intensity distribution is approximately symmetrical in a predetermined direction.

In this case, the lens of the first light emission optical system, the reflector of the second light emission optical system, and the reflector of the third light emission optical system may be located on a side of another predetermined plane that passes through a center of a reflection surface of the reflection device and is perpendicular to the predetermined plane and the reflection surface of the reflection device.

In this case, when the reflecting surface of the reflecting device is viewed in plan, the lens of the first light emission optical system, the reflector of the second light emission optical system, and the reflector of the third light emission optical system may be arranged in a specific direction.

In a case where the plurality of light emission optical systems include a third light emission optical system, the lens of the first light emission optical system, the reflector of the second light emission optical system, and the reflector of the third light emission optical system may not overlap each other when the reflection surface of the reflection device is viewed in plan view.

With this configuration, as compared with a case where at least two of the lens of the first light-emitting optical system, the reflector of the second light-emitting optical system, and the reflector of the third light-emitting optical system overlap each other when the reflection surface of the reflection device is viewed in a plan view, it is possible to suppress blocking of a part of light emitted from the first light-emitting optical system by the member of the second light-emitting optical system and the member of the third light-emitting optical system, blocking of a part of light emitted from the second light-emitting optical system by the member of the first light-emitting optical system and the member of the third light-emitting optical system, blocking of a part of light emitted from the third light-emitting optical system by the member of the first light-emitting optical system and the member of the second light-emitting optical system.

The plurality of light emission optical systems may further include a fourth light emission optical system having a fourth light source and a lens that transmits light emitted from the fourth light source and irradiates a reflection surface of the reflection device.

With this configuration, the amount of light irradiated onto the reflecting surface of the reflecting device can be increased as compared with the case where light emitted from the two light-emitting optical systems is irradiated onto the reflecting surface of the reflecting device, and the degree of freedom of the intensity distribution of the light on the reflecting surface can be improved.

In a case where the plurality of light emission optical systems include a fourth light emission optical system, the reflector of the second light emission optical system intersects with a predetermined plane that passes through a center of the reflection surface of the reflection device and is perpendicular to the reflection surface of the reflection device, the lens of the first light emission optical system is located on one side of the predetermined plane, and the lens of the fourth light emission optical system is located on the other side of the predetermined plane.

With this configuration, an incident angle of light incident on the reflection surface of the reflection device from the second light emission optical system in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined plane can be suppressed from increasing, as compared with a case where the reflector of the second light emission optical system does not intersect the predetermined plane. Therefore, the irradiation pattern of the light emitted from the second light-emitting optical system on the reflection surface of the reflection device is easily symmetrical in the direction perpendicular to the predetermined plane. Further, when the reflection surface of the reflection device is viewed in plan, the light emitted from the first light-emitting optical system and the light emitted from the fourth light-emitting optical system enter the reflection surface of the reflection device from different sides with respect to the predetermined plane. Further, a portion for irradiating light to the reflection surface of the reflection device in each of the first light emission optical system and the fourth light emission optical system is an emission surface of the lens. Therefore, the irradiation pattern of the light emitted from the first light-emitting optical system on the reflection surface of the reflection device and the irradiation pattern of the light emitted from the fourth light-emitting optical system on the reflection surface of the reflection device are easily symmetrical to each other in the direction perpendicular to the predetermined plane. Therefore, the intensity distribution of light on the reflecting surface of the reflecting device can be easily made symmetrical in the direction perpendicular to the predetermined plane. Therefore, the light intensity distribution in the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the vehicle lamp is particularly useful when the light intensity distribution is approximately symmetrical in a predetermined direction.

In this case, the lens of the first light emission optical system, the reflector of the second light emission optical system, and the lens of the fourth light emission optical system may be located on a side of another predetermined plane that passes through a center of a reflection surface of the reflection device and is perpendicular to the predetermined plane and the reflection surface of the reflection device.

In this case, when the reflecting surface of the reflecting device is viewed in plan, the lens of the first light emission optical system, the reflector of the second light emission optical system, and the lens of the fourth light emission optical system may be arranged in a specific direction.

In a case where the plurality of light emission optical systems include a fourth light emission optical system, the lens of the first light emission optical system, the reflector of the second light emission optical system, and the lens of the fourth light emission optical system may not overlap each other when the reflection surface of the reflection device is viewed in a plan view.

With this configuration, as compared with a case where at least two of the lens of the first light-emitting optical system, the reflector of the second light-emitting optical system, and the lens of the fourth light-emitting optical system overlap each other when the reflection surface of the reflection device is viewed in a plan view, it is possible to suppress blocking of a part of light emitted from the first light-emitting optical system by the member of the second light-emitting optical system and the member of the fourth light-emitting optical system, blocking of a part of light emitted from the second light-emitting optical system by the member of the first light-emitting optical system and the member of the fourth light-emitting optical system, blocking of a part of light emitted from the fourth light-emitting optical system by the member of the first light-emitting optical system and the member of the second light-emitting optical system.

The light distribution device may further include a projection lens that adjusts a divergence angle of the light emitted from the reflection device and forming the predetermined light distribution pattern.

With this configuration, the size of the light distribution pattern of the emitted light can be easily set to a desired size, as compared with the case where the projection lens is not provided.

The reflecting surface of the reflecting device may be formed by reflecting surfaces of a plurality of reflecting elements which can be individually switched to the tilted state.

In this vehicle lamp, the light distribution pattern of the emitted light can be changed by controlling the inclination state of the plurality of reflecting elements constituting the reflecting surface of the reflecting device.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle lamp that can increase the amount of light emitted and improve the degree of freedom of the intensity distribution of light in the light distribution pattern of the emitted light.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic front view showing a vehicle including a vehicle lamp according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a luminaire along line II-II of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the lamp unit shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side view schematically showing the lamp unit shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view schematically showing a cross section in the thickness direction of a part of the reflection unit shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a front view schematically showing the reflection apparatus shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a light distribution pattern of high beam.

Fig. 8 is a view showing a part of the light distribution pattern of the high beam shown in fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a view showing one lamp of a vehicle lamp according to a second embodiment of the present invention, similarly to fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a view showing one lamp of a vehicle lamp according to a third embodiment of the present invention, similarly to fig. 2.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, a mode for implementing the vehicle lamp according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following exemplary embodiments are for easy understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention can be modified and improved from the following embodiments without departing from the gist thereof.

(first embodiment)

Fig. 1 is a schematic front view showing a vehicle including a vehicle lamp according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle lamp 1 of the present embodiment is a headlamp for an automobile. As shown in fig. 1, a vehicle 100 includes a pair of vehicle lamps 1 in each of the left and right directions in the front direction. The pair of vehicle lamps 1 included in the vehicle 100 are formed in symmetrical shapes with respect to each other in the left-right direction. In the vehicle lamp 1 of the present embodiment, the plurality of lamps 1a, 1b, and 1c are arranged side by side in the lateral direction, the lamp 1a is disposed on the outermost side of the vehicle 100, the lamp 1c is disposed on the center-most side of the vehicle 100, and the lamp 1b is disposed between the lamps 1a and 1 c. In the present embodiment, as described below, the lamp 1a and the lamp 1b are high beam lamps, and the lamp 1c is a low beam lamp. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 1 can switch the emitted light between the high beam and the low beam by switching the lamp emitting the light. The configuration of the lamp 1b and the lamp 1c is not particularly limited. The lamp 1b and the lamp 1c may have the same configuration as the lamp 1a, or may have a different configuration from the lamp 1 a. For example, the lamps 1b and 1c may be parabolic lamps, projector lamps, direct-lens lamps, or the like.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in fig. 1, and schematically shows a horizontal cross section of the lamp 1 a. As shown in fig. 2, a lamp 1a as a part of the vehicle lamp 1 mainly includes a housing 10 and a lamp unit 20. In the present embodiment, the lamp unit 20 is a lamp unit that emits a part of the high beam.

The housing 10 includes a lamp housing 11, a front cover 12, and a rear cover 13 as main components. The lamp housing 11 has a front opening, and the front cover 12 is fixed to the lamp housing 11 so as to close the front opening. An opening smaller than the front is formed in the rear of the lamp housing 11, and the rear cover 13 is fixed to the lamp housing 11 so as to close the opening.

A space formed by the lamp housing 11, the front cover 12 closing the front opening of the lamp housing 11, and the rear cover 13 closing the rear opening of the lamp housing 11 is a lamp chamber R in which the lamp unit 20 is housed.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the lamp unit shown in fig. 2, and is a perspective view of the lamp unit as viewed from the rear side. Fig. 4 is a side view schematically showing the lamp unit shown in fig. 2. As shown in fig. 2, 3, and 4, the lamp unit 20 of the present embodiment includes, as main components, a first light-emitting optical system 30, a second light-emitting optical system 40, a reflection device 50, a projection lens 60, and a light-absorbing plate 70, and is fixed to the housing 10 by a structure not shown. Note that, for ease of understanding, the light absorbing plate 70 is not shown in fig. 3.

In the present embodiment, the first light emission optical system 30 has the first light source 31, the main lens 35, and the auxiliary lens 36, and the second light emission optical system 40 has the second light source 41 and the reflector 42.

The first Light source 31 is a Light Emitting element that emits Light, and in the present embodiment, is a surface mount LED (Light Emitting Diode) that has a substantially rectangular Light Emitting surface and emits white Light. The first light source 31 is disposed such that the emission surface faces rearward. The lamp unit 20 includes a circuit board, not shown, on which the first light source 31 is mounted.

The auxiliary lens 36 is a lens that adjusts the divergence angle of incident light. The auxiliary lens 36 is disposed such that an incident surface of the auxiliary lens 36 faces an emission surface of the first light source 31, and light emitted from the first light source 31 enters the auxiliary lens 36, and the divergence angle of the light is adjusted by the auxiliary lens 36. In the present embodiment, the auxiliary lens 36 is a lens having a planar incident surface and a convex exit surface, and the divergence angle of the light emitted from the first light source 31 is adjusted to be small by the auxiliary lens 36.

The main lens 35 is a lens that adjusts the divergence angle of incident light. The main lens 35 is disposed such that an incident surface 35i of the main lens 35 faces an exit surface of the auxiliary lens 36, and light emitted from the exit surface of the auxiliary lens 36 enters the main lens 35, and the divergence angle of the light is adjusted by the main lens 35. The light whose divergence angle is adjusted by the main lens 35 in this way is irradiated to a reflection control surface of a reflection device 50 described later. That is, the light emitted from the first light source 31 and transmitted through the auxiliary lens 36 and the main lens 35 is emitted from the first light-emitting optical system 30. Therefore, a portion that irradiates light to the reflection control surface of the reflection device 50 in the first light emission optical system 30 is the exit surface 35o of the main lens 35. The irradiation pattern of the light irradiated on the reflection control surface of the reflection device 50 changes depending on the shapes of the incident surface 35i and the exit surface 35o of the main lens 35. The illumination pattern includes an intensity distribution of light. Therefore, by adjusting the shapes of the incident surface 35i and the output surface 35o, the irradiation pattern of the light irradiated to the reflection control surface of the reflection device 50 can be adjusted. In the present embodiment, the main lens 35 is a lens in which the incident surface 35i and the emission surface 35o are formed in a convex shape, and the light emitted from the first light source 31 and transmitted through the auxiliary lens 36 is condensed by the main lens 35 and is irradiated to the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50.

The second light source 41 is a light emitting element that emits light, and in the present embodiment, is a surface mount LED that emits white light with a substantially rectangular emission surface, as in the first light source 31. The second light source 41 is disposed such that the emission surface faces forward. The second light source 41 is mounted on the circuit board, as in the first light source.

The reflector 42 is configured to reflect the light emitted from the second light source 41 by the reflection surface 42r and to irradiate the light to a reflection control surface of a reflection device 50 described later. That is, the light emitted from the second light source 41 and reflected by the reflection surface 42r of the reflector 42 is emitted from the second light emission optical system 40. Therefore, a portion that irradiates light to the reflection control surface of the reflection device 50 in the second light emission optical system 40 is the reflection surface 42r of the reflector 42.

In the present embodiment, the reflector 42 is a curved plate-like member and is disposed so as to cover the second light source 41 from the front side. The surface of the reflector 42 on the second light source 41 side is a reflection surface 42r that reflects light emitted from the second light source 41. The reflection surface 42r is curved so as to be concave toward the side opposite to the second light source 41, and is configured to condense light emitted from the second light source 41 and irradiate the reflection control surface with the ellipsoidal curved surface as a fundamental tone, for example. The irradiation pattern of the light irradiated to the reflection control surface of the reflection device 50 changes depending on the shape of the reflection surface 42r of the reflector 42. The illumination pattern includes an intensity distribution of light. Therefore, by adjusting the shape of the reflection surface 42r, the irradiation pattern of the light irradiated to the reflection control surface of the reflection device 50 can be adjusted. As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the reflector 42 of the second light emission optical system 40 and the main lens 35 of the first light emission optical system 30 are juxtaposed in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, the end portion of the reflector 42 on the main lens 35 side and the end portion of the main lens 35 on the reflector 42 side are separated, and the main lens 35 and the reflector 42 do not overlap each other in the front-rear direction. The end of the reflector 42 on the side of the main lens 35 and the end of the reflector 35 on the side of the reflector 42 may be joined to each other.

The reflection Device 50 of the present embodiment is a so-called DMD (Digital micromirror Device), and includes a reflection portion 51 and an edge cover 52 as main components as shown in fig. 2. In fig. 2, the interior of the reflection unit 51 is not shown. The reflection unit 51 has a reflection control surface 53 that reflects incident light, and the reflection unit 51 is configured to form a predetermined light distribution pattern using light reflected by the reflection control surface 53. The light emitted from the first light-emitting optical system 30 and the light emitted from the second light-emitting optical system 40 are irradiated on the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection unit 51.

Fig. 5 is a view schematically showing a cross section in the thickness direction of a part of the reflection portion shown in fig. 2, and a view schematically showing a cross section in the vertical direction of a part of the reflection portion. The reflection unit 51 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of reflection elements 54 two-dimensionally arranged on a substrate not shown, and the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection unit 51 is constituted by the reflection surfaces 54r of the plurality of reflection elements 54. The plurality of reflecting elements 54 are supported on the substrate so as to be individually tiltable around a rotation axis 54 a. The plurality of reflecting elements 54 are individually switchable to a first tilting state in which they are tilted by a predetermined angle to one side and a second tilting state in which they are tilted by a predetermined angle to the other side. A reflection unit drive circuit, not shown, is connected to the reflection unit 51, and the inclination state of each reflection element 54 is switched in accordance with an applied voltage applied to each reflection element 54 by the reflection unit drive circuit.

In the present embodiment, the rotation axes 54a of the plurality of reflection elements 54 are set to be substantially parallel to each other, and each reflection element 54 reflects the light from the first light emission optical system 30 and the light from the second light emission optical system 40 incident on the reflection surface 54r in the first tilted state in the first direction. On the other hand, each of the reflecting elements 54 reflects the light from the first light-emitting optical system 30 and the light from the second light-emitting optical system 40 incident on the reflecting surface 54r in the second tilted state toward a second direction different from the first direction. The plurality of reflection elements 54 may be configured to reflect the light from the first light emission optical system 30 and the light from the second light emission optical system 40 incident on the reflection surface 54r in the first tilted state in the first direction. For example, the plurality of reflective elements 54 may also include a plurality of reflective elements having a second direction different from the first direction. That is, the rotation axes 54a of the plurality of reflection elements 54 may be set to be non-parallel to each other.

As described above, the plurality of reflection elements 54 can be individually switched between the first tilted state tilted by a predetermined angle to one side and the second tilted state tilted by a predetermined angle to the other side. Therefore, the reflection unit 51 can form a predetermined light distribution pattern by the light emitted from the reflection control surface 53 in the first direction, for example, by controlling the tilt state of the reflection elements 54. Further, the reflection device 50 can change the light distribution pattern formed by the light emitted from the reflection control surface 53 in the first direction by controlling the tilt state of the reflection element 54. Further, by controlling the inclination state of the reflecting elements 54 with the lapse of time, the intensity distribution of light of the predetermined light distribution pattern can be made to be a predetermined intensity distribution. For example, the light amount per unit time of light emitted in the first direction from the reflecting element 54 repeatedly switched between the first tilted state and the second tilted state at predetermined time intervals is lower than the light amount per unit time of light emitted in the first direction from the reflecting element 54 which is always set to the first tilted state. According to the difference in the inclination state of the reflecting elements 54 with the lapse of time as described above, the light amount per unit time of the light emitted from the respective reflecting elements 54 toward the first direction changes. Therefore, by controlling the inclination state of the plurality of reflection elements 54 with the lapse of time, the intensity distribution of light in the light distribution pattern of light emitted in the first direction can be made to be a predetermined intensity distribution. In the present embodiment, the tilting state of the plurality of reflection elements 54 is controlled by a control unit, not shown, electrically connected to the reflection device 50, so that a part of the light distribution pattern of the high beam is formed by the light emitted from the reflection control surface 53 in the first direction. The number, shape, arrangement, size, and the like of the plurality of reflection elements 54 are not particularly limited. The reflection control surface 53 may be covered with a translucent member.

Fig. 6 is a front view schematically showing the reflection device shown in fig. 2, and is a front view of the reflection device 50 viewed from the reflection control surface 53 side. The reflection unit 51 of the present embodiment is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in front view, and the entire area in front view is a reflection control surface 53. The edge cover 52 covers the entire periphery of the side surface of the reflection unit 51 and the side opposite to the reflection control surface 53, and the reflection control surface 53 is exposed to the outside without being covered by the edge cover 52. The edge cover 52 is not particularly limited, and may not cover the back side of the reflection unit 51, or the reflection device 50 may not include the edge cover 52, for example.

The reflection device 50 as described above is configured such that light from the first light emission optical system 30 and light from the second light emission optical system 40 are irradiated to the reflection control surface 53, and light emitted from the reflection control surface 53 toward the first direction is incident on the projection lens 60. Specifically, the reflection device 50 of the present embodiment is arranged such that the reflection control surface 53 extends in the left-right direction substantially in parallel to the vertical direction and is positioned behind the first light-emitting optical system 30 and the second light-emitting optical system 40. Here, the reflection control surface 53 is the reflection control surface 53 in the case where the plurality of reflection elements 54 fall down in the state where the reflection surfaces 54r of the plurality of reflection elements 54 are positioned on the same plane. In the reflection device 50 arranged in this manner, the extending direction of the rotation axis 54a of the plurality of reflection elements 54 is set to be substantially parallel to the left-right direction. As shown in fig. 4, the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 is located above and behind the main lens 35 and the reflector 42.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, the main lens 35 and the reflector 42 are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction, which is a direction parallel to the reflection control surface 53. When a reference plane RP1 passing through the center 53c of the reflection control surface 53 and extending in the vertical direction perpendicular to the reflection control surface 53 is taken as a reference, the first light-emitting optical system 30 is positioned on one side with respect to the reference plane RP1, and the second light-emitting optical system 40 is positioned on the other side with respect to the reference plane RP 1. Therefore, the exit surface 35o of the main lens 35, which is a portion of the first light-emitting optical system 30 on which the reflection control surface 53 is irradiated with light, is positioned on the side with reference to the reference plane RP 1. The reflection surface 42r of the reflector 42, which is a portion of the second light-emitting optical system 40 on which the reflection control surface 53 is irradiated with light, is located on the other side with respect to the reference plane RP 1. As described above, since the extending direction of the rotation axis 54a of the reflection element 54 of the present embodiment is substantially parallel to the left-right direction, the reference plane RP1 of the present embodiment is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis 54 a. Here, as described above, the reflection control surface 53 is located above the main lens 35 and the reflector 42. Therefore, with a plane passing through the center 53c of the reflection control surface 53 and extending in the left-right direction perpendicularly to the above-described reference plane RP1 and reflection control surface 53 as another reference plane RP2, the main lens 35 and the reflector 42 are located on the side of the other reference plane RP 2. In addition, when the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 is viewed in plan, the main lens 35 and the reflector 42 do not overlap the reflection control surface 53. Further, as described above, since the main lens 35 and the reflector 42 do not overlap with each other in the front-rear direction, the main lens 35 and the reflector 42 do not overlap with each other when the reflection control surface 53 is viewed in a plan view. Further, since the main lens 35 and the reflector 42 are arranged in the left-right direction as described above, the main lens 35 and the reflector 42 are arranged in the left-right direction when the reflection control surface 53 is viewed in a plan view.

The projection lens 60 is a lens that adjusts the divergence angle of incident light. The projection lens 60 is disposed forward of the reflection device 50, and light emitted from the reflection control surface 53 in the first direction enters the projection lens 60, and the divergence angle of the light is adjusted by the projection lens 60. The light whose divergence angle is adjusted by the projection lens 60 in this way is emitted from the lamp 1a through the front cover 12. The projection lens 60 is a lens in which the incident surface 60i and the output surface 60o are formed in a convex shape, and the rear focal point of the projection lens 60 is located on or near the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50. The projection lens 60 is disposed such that the optical axis 60a of the projection lens 60 and the reference plane RP1 overlap each other.

In addition, the lower portion of the projection lens 60 is cut away. Specifically, as shown in fig. 4, the projection lens 60 is cut away on the side opposite to the optical axis 60a side of the projection lens 60 with reference to a plane RP inclined away from the optical axis 60a of the projection lens 60 as going through the lower portion of the projection lens 60 from the incident surface 60i side of the projection lens 60 toward the exit surface 60o side. Therefore, the bottom surface 60b formed on the projection lens 60 by cutting out the projection lens 60 as described above is located on the plane RP and is inclined away from the optical axis 60a of the projection lens 60 from the incident surface 60i side toward the exit surface 60o side. The plane that is a reference when the projection lens 60 is cut off may be inclined away from the optical axis 60a of the projection lens 60 as going from the incident surface 60i side of the projection lens 60 to the exit surface 60o side through the projection lens 60, and may be a curved surface. A part of the main lens 35 and a part of the reflector 42 are located in the space formed by thus cutting out the projection lens 60.

The light absorbing plate 70 is a plate-like member having light absorption properties, and is configured to convert most of incident light into heat. As shown in fig. 4, in the present embodiment, the light absorbing plate 70 is disposed forward and upward of the reflection device 50, and the light emitted from the reflection control surface 53 in the second direction enters the light absorbing plate 70, and most of the light is converted into heat. Examples of the light absorbing plate 70 include a plate-like member made of a metal such as aluminum, and having a surface subjected to aluminum anodizing blackening (black アルマイト). The light absorbing plate 70 may be formed integrally with the lamp housing 11 of the housing 10, or may be a part of the lamp housing 11.

Next, the operation of the vehicle lamp 1 will be described. Specifically, the operation of emitting the high beam will be described.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the lamp 1a and the lamp 1b of the vehicle lamp 1 are high beam lamps, and a high beam light distribution pattern is formed by light emitted from the lamp 1a and light emitted from the lamp 1 b.

As shown in fig. 2, 3, and 4, in the lamp 1a, white light L1 and L2 are emitted from the first light source 31 and the second light source 41 by supplying power from a power source not shown. The light L1 emitted from the first light source 31 passes through the auxiliary lens 36 and the main lens 35 and is emitted from the first light-emitting optical system 30. The light L1 emitted from the first light-emitting optical system 30 is condensed and applied to the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50, and is reflected by the reflection control surface 53. The light L2 emitted from the second light source 41 is reflected by the reflecting surface 42r of the reflector 42 and emitted from the second light-emitting optical system 40. The light L2 emitted from the second light-emitting optical system 40 is condensed and applied to the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50, and is reflected by the reflection control surface 53. In the present embodiment, the lights L1 and L2 are irradiated to the entire surface of the reflection control surface 53.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a light distribution pattern of high beam. In fig. 7, S denotes a horizontal line, and the light distribution pattern is indicated by a thick line. In the light distribution pattern PH of high beam shown in fig. 7, the region HA1 is the region having the highest light intensity, and the light intensity is reduced in the order of the region HA2, the region HA3, and the region HA 4. In the present embodiment, the region PHA including the entire region HA1 and a part of the region HA2 in the high beam light distribution pattern PH is formed by the light emitted from the lamp 1a, and the regions other than the region PHA are formed by the light emitted from the lamp 1 b.

Fig. 8 is a view showing a part of the light distribution pattern of the high beam shown in fig. 7, and a view showing a region PHA formed by the light emitted from the lamp 1 a. As shown in fig. 8, the light intensity is different in the region HA1 where the light intensity is high, the region HA1a is the region where the light intensity is highest, the light intensity becomes lower in the order of the region HA1b, the region HA1c, and the region HA1d, and the intensity in the region HA2 is lower than the intensity in the region HA1 d. The region HA1a overlaps the center PHAc of the region PHA, and the light intensity distribution of the region PHA is substantially bilaterally symmetric. That is, the inclination state of the plurality of reflecting elements 54 of the reflecting portion 51 in the reflecting device 50 of the lamp 1a is controlled so that the light LF emitted from the reflection control surface 53 in the first direction becomes light forming such a region PHA in the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam. Therefore, the light distribution pattern formed by the light LF emitted in the first direction from the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection unit 51 becomes the region PHA in the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam, and the light LF passes through the projection lens 60 and is emitted from the lamp 1a through the front cover 12. Most of the light LS emitted from the reflection control surface 53 in the second direction enters the light absorbing plate 70 and is converted into heat. Although the illustration is omitted, in the present embodiment, the irradiation pattern of the light L1 emitted from the emission surface 35o of the main lens 35 and irradiated on the reflection control surface 53 is substantially symmetrical in the left-right direction. The intensity distribution of light in the irradiation pattern is a distribution in which the intensity of the reflection control surface 53 is high on the center 53c side and the intensity decreases from the center 53c side toward the outer edge side. That is, the shapes of the incident surface 35i and the output surface 35o of the main lens 35 are adjusted so that the irradiation pattern is as described above. The irradiation pattern of the light L2 reflected by the reflection surface 42r of the reflector 42 and irradiated on the reflection control surface 53 is substantially symmetrical in the left-right direction. The intensity distribution of light in the irradiation pattern is a distribution in which the intensity of the reflection control surface 53 is high on the center 53c side and the intensity decreases from the center 53c side toward the outer edge side. That is, the shape of the reflecting surface 42r of the reflector 42 is adjusted so that the irradiation pattern becomes as described above. Therefore, the irradiation pattern of the reflection control surface 53 is substantially symmetrical in the left-right direction with respect to the light beam L1 emitted from the emission surface 35o of the main lens 35 and irradiated to the reflection control surface 53 and the light beam L2 reflected by the reflection surface 42r of the reflector 42 and irradiated to the reflection control surface 53. The intensity distribution of light in the irradiation pattern is a distribution in which the intensity of the reflection control surface 53 is high on the center 53c side and the intensity decreases from the center 53c side toward the outer edge side.

In the present embodiment, as described above, by controlling the tilt state of the plurality of reflection elements 54 of the reflection unit 51, a part of the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam is formed by the light emitted from the lamp 1 a. The other part of the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam is formed by the light emitted from the lamp 1 b. Then, a high beam is emitted from the vehicle lamp 1. Note that the region PHA formed by the light emitted from the lamp 1a may overlap with the region formed by the light emitted from the lamp 1 b.

As described above, the vehicle lamp 1 according to the present embodiment includes the first light-emitting optical system 30 that emits the light L1, the second light-emitting optical system 40 that emits the light L2, and the reflection device 50. The reflection unit 50 has a reflection control surface 53, and the reflection control surface 53 reflects the light L1 emitted from the first light-emitting optical system 30 and the light L2 emitted from the second light-emitting optical system 40, and forms a predetermined light distribution pattern by the light reflected by the reflection control surface 53.

Here, since the reflection device 50 forms a light distribution pattern by reflecting light by the reflection control surface 53, the intensity distribution of the light LF in the formed light distribution pattern tends to be affected by the intensity distribution of the light on the reflection control surface 53A. In the vehicle lamp 1 of the present embodiment, as described above, the light L1 emitted from the first light-emitting optical system 30 and the light L2 emitted from the second light-emitting optical system 40 are irradiated to the reflection control surface 53. Therefore, compared to the case where light emitted from one light-emitting optical system is applied to the reflection control surface 53, the vehicle lamp 1 according to the present embodiment can increase the amount of light applied to the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 and improve the degree of freedom of the intensity distribution of the light on the reflection control surface 53. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 1 of the present embodiment can increase the amount of light emitted and improve the degree of freedom of the intensity distribution of the light in the light distribution pattern of the emitted light.

In the vehicle lamp 1 of the present embodiment, the first light-emitting optical system 30 includes the first light source 31 and the main lens 35, and the main lens 35 transmits the light L1 emitted from the first light source 31 and irradiates the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50. The second light-emitting optical system 40 includes a second light source 41 and a reflector 42, and the reflector 42 reflects the light L2 emitted from the second light source 41 and irradiates the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50. Here, as described above, the lens has both the incident surface and the exit surface, but the reflector as the optical member that reflects light only has to have a reflecting surface, and there is a tendency that structural restrictions are less than those of the lens. Therefore, in general, the reflector tends to change the intensity distribution of incident light and emit the light more easily than the lens. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 1 according to the present embodiment can improve the degree of freedom of the intensity distribution of the light on the reflection control surface 53, as compared with the case where the second light-emitting optical system 40 is configured by the second light source 41 and the lens that transmits the light L2 emitted from the second light source 41 and irradiates the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50. Further, as described above, since the reflector reflects light, there is a case where light reflected by the reflector is blocked by the light source, but since the lens transmits light, it is possible to suppress light transmitted through the lens from being blocked by the light source. Therefore, compared to the case where the first light-emitting optical system 30 is configured by the first light source 31 and the reflector that reflects the light L1 emitted from the first light source 31 and irradiates the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50, the vehicle lamp 1 of the present embodiment can suppress a decrease in the amount of light irradiated to the reflection control surface 53 and can suppress a decrease in the amount of light emitted from the vehicle lamp 1.

The vehicle lamp 1 according to the present embodiment further includes a projection lens 60 that adjusts the divergence angle of the light LF emitted from the reflector 50 and forming a predetermined light distribution pattern. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 1 according to the present embodiment can easily make the size of the light distribution pattern of the emitted light a desired size, as compared with the case where the projection lens 60 is not provided.

In the vehicle lamp 1 of the present embodiment, the reflection control surface 53 of the reflector 50 is formed by the reflection surfaces 54r of the plurality of reflection elements 54 that can individually switch the tilt state. Therefore, by controlling the tilt state of the plurality of reflection elements 54, the light distribution pattern of the emitted light can be changed.

In the vehicle lamp 1 of the present embodiment, the projection lens 60 is cut away on the side opposite to the optical axis 60a side of the projection lens 60 with reference to the plane RP inclined away from the optical axis 60a of the projection lens 60 as passing through the projection lens 60 from the incident surface 60i side toward the exit surface 60o side of the projection lens 60. Therefore, the components can be disposed in the space formed by cutting out the projection lens 60, and the vehicle lamp can be downsized. Further, the bottom surface 60b formed on the projection lens 60 by cutting out the projection lens 60 is inclined so as to be away from the optical axis 60a of the projection lens 60 from the incident surface 60i side toward the output surface 60o side. Therefore, compared to a case where the bottom surface 60b formed on the projection lens 60 by cutting out the projection lens 60 is parallel to the optical axis 60a of the projection lens 60 or a case where the bottom surface 60b formed on the projection lens 60 by cutting out the projection lens 60 is inclined so as to approach the optical axis 60a of the projection lens 60 from the incident surface 60i side toward the exit surface 60o side, it is possible to suppress reflection of light incident on the projection lens 60 at the bottom surface 60b and to suppress light from being emitted in an undesired direction.

(second embodiment)

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to fig. 9. The same or equivalent components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description thereof is omitted unless otherwise specified.

Fig. 9 is a view showing one lamp of a vehicle lamp according to a second embodiment of the present invention similarly to fig. 2, and is a view showing a lamp 1a similarly to fig. 2. As shown in fig. 9, the lamp unit 20 of the present embodiment is different from the lamp unit 20 of the first embodiment mainly in that the lamp unit 20 further includes a third light-emitting optical system 80.

The third light emission optical system 80 includes a third light source 81 and a reflector 82, similarly to the second light emission optical system 40. The third light source 81 is a surface-mount LED having a substantially rectangular light emitting surface and emitting white light, as in the second light source 41. The third light source 81 is disposed so that its emission surface faces forward, and is mounted on a circuit board, not shown, in the same manner as the second light source 41.

The reflector 82 of the third light-emitting optical system 80 is configured to reflect the light emitted from the third light source 81 by the reflection surface 82r and to irradiate the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 with the light. That is, the light emitted from the third light source 81 and reflected by the reflecting surface 82r of the reflector 82 is emitted from the third light emission optical system 80. Therefore, a portion of the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 that irradiates light to the third light emission optical system 80 is the reflection surface 82r of the reflector 82.

In the present embodiment, the reflector 82 is a curved plate-like member and is disposed so as to cover the third light source 81 from the front side. A surface of the reflector 82 on the third light source 81 side is a reflection surface 82r that reflects light emitted from the third light source 81. The reflection surface 82r is curved so as to be concave toward the side opposite to the third light source 81 side, and is configured to condense light emitted from the third light source 81 and irradiate the reflection control surface 53 with the light, for example, based on a spheroid curved surface.

In the present embodiment, the first light-emitting optical system 30, the second light-emitting optical system 40, and the third light-emitting optical system 80 are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction at a position lower than the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50. Specifically, the main lens 35 of the first light emission optical system 30, the reflector 42 of the second light emission optical system 40, and the reflector 82 of the third light emission optical system 80 are arranged in the left-right direction at a predetermined interval. In the direction in which these components are juxtaposed, the main lens 35 is located between the reflector 42 of the second emission optical system 40 and the reflector 82 of the third emission optical system 80. The second light-emitting optical system 40 and the third light-emitting optical system 80 arranged in this manner are configured to be symmetrical to each other in the left-right direction. In addition, the main lens 35 of the first light emission optical system 30 intersects a reference plane RP1 passing through the center of the reflection control surface 53 and perpendicular to the reflection control surface 53, the reflector 42 of the second light emission optical system 40 is located on the side of the reference plane RP1, and the reflector 82 of the third light emission optical system 80 is located on the other side of the reference plane RP 1. As described above, the first light-emitting optical system 30, the second light-emitting optical system 40, and the third light-emitting optical system 80 are located below the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50. Therefore, the main lens 35, the reflector 42, and the reflector 82 are located on the side compared with the reference plane RP2, which reference plane RP2 passes through the center of the reflection control surface 53 and is perpendicular to the above-described reference plane RP1 and the reflection control surface 53. In addition, when the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 is viewed in plan, the main lens 35, the reflector 42, and the reflector 82 do not overlap the reflection control surface 53. Further, as described above, since the main lens 35, the reflector 42, and the reflector 82 are arranged in the left-right direction at a predetermined interval, the main lens 35, the reflector 42, and the reflector 82 do not overlap with each other when the reflection control surface 53 is viewed in a plan view. In addition, when the reflection control surface 53 is viewed in a plan view, the main lens 35, the reflector 42, and the reflector 82 are juxtaposed in the left-right direction.

In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the region PHA in the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam is formed by the light emitted from the lamp 1a, and the regions other than the region PHA are formed by the light emitted from the lamp 1 b. In the lamp 1a, the light L1 emitted from the first light source 31 passes through the auxiliary lens 36 and the main lens 35 and is emitted from the first light-emitting optical system 30. The light L1 emitted from the first light-emitting optical system 30 is condensed and applied to the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50, and is reflected by the reflection control surface 53. The light L2 emitted from the second light source 41 is reflected by the reflecting surface 42r of the reflector 42 and emitted from the second light-emitting optical system 40. The light L2 emitted from the second light-emitting optical system 40 is condensed and applied to the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50, and is reflected by the reflection control surface 53. The light L3 emitted from the third light source 81 is reflected by the reflecting surface 82r of the reflector 82 and emitted from the third light-emitting optical system 80. The light L3 emitted from the third light-emitting optical system 80 is condensed and applied to the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50, and is reflected by the reflection control surface 53. In the present embodiment, the light beams L1, L2, and L3 are irradiated to the entire surface of the reflection control surface 53. The irradiation pattern of the light combined by the lights L1, L2, and L3 on the reflection control surface 53 is substantially symmetrical in the left-right direction, and the intensity distribution of the light in the irradiation pattern is a distribution in which the intensity is high on the center 53c side of the reflection control surface 53 and the intensity is decreased from the center 53c side toward the outer edge side. That is, the shapes of the incident surface 35i and the exit surface 35o of the main lens 35, the shape of the reflection surface 42r of the reflector 42, and the shape of the reflection surface 82r of the reflector 82 are adjusted so that the irradiation pattern is as described above. Then, the inclination state of the plurality of reflecting elements 54 of the reflecting unit 51 in the reflecting device 50 is controlled so that the light LF emitted from the reflection control surface 53 in the first direction becomes the light forming the region PHA in the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam. Therefore, the light distribution pattern formed by the light LF emitted in the first direction from the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection unit 51 becomes the region PHA in the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam, and the light LF passes through the projection lens 60 and is emitted from the lamp 1a through the front cover 12.

As described above, the vehicle lamp 1 according to the present embodiment includes the first light-emitting optical system 30, the second light-emitting optical system 40, and the third light-emitting optical system 80. Therefore, compared to the case where the light emitted from the two light-emitting optical systems strikes the reflection control surface 53, the vehicle lamp 1 according to the present embodiment can increase the amount of light striking the reflection control surface 53 and improve the degree of freedom of the intensity distribution of the light on the reflection control surface 53.

As described above, in the vehicle lamp 1 of the present embodiment, the main lens 35 of the first light emission optical system 30 intersects the reference plane RP1 that passes through the center 53c of the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 and is perpendicular to the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50, the reflector 42 of the second light emission optical system 40 is positioned on the side of the reference plane RP1, and the reflector 82 of the third light emission optical system 80 is positioned on the other side of the reference plane RP 1. Therefore, as compared with the case where the main lens 35 of the first light-emitting optical system 30 does not intersect the reference plane RP1 that passes through the center 53c of the reflection control surface 53 and is perpendicular to the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50, it is possible to suppress an increase in the incident angle of the light L1 that is incident from the first light-emitting optical system 30 on the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 in the direction perpendicular to the reference plane RP 1. Therefore, the irradiation pattern of the light L1 emitted from the first light-emitting optical system 30 on the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 is easily symmetrical in the direction perpendicular to the reference plane RP 1. When the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 is viewed in plan, the light L2 emitted from the second light-emitting optical system 40 and the light L3 emitted from the third light-emitting optical system 80 enter the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 from different sides with reference to the reference plane RP 1. The portions of the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 that irradiate light to the second light emission optical system 40 and the third light emission optical system 80 are the reflection surfaces 42r and 82r of the reflectors 42 and 82. Therefore, it is easy to make the irradiation pattern of the light L2 emitted from the second light-emitting optical system 40 on the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 and the irradiation pattern of the light L3 emitted from the third light-emitting optical system 80 on the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 symmetrical to each other in the direction perpendicular to the reference plane RP 1. Therefore, it is easy to make the intensity distribution of the light on the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 symmetrical in the direction perpendicular to the reference plane RP 1. Therefore, the light intensity distribution in the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the vehicle lamp 1 is particularly useful when the light intensity distribution is approximately symmetrical in a predetermined direction. The main lens 35 may be disposed so as not to intersect with a reference plane RP1 that passes through the center 53c of the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 and is perpendicular to the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50. In addition, the reflector 42 and the reflector 82 may be disposed on the same side with respect to the reference plane RP 1.

As described above, in the vehicle lamp 1 of the present embodiment, when the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 is viewed in a plan view, the main lens 35 of the first light emission optical system 30, the reflector 42 of the second light emission optical system 40, and the reflector 82 of the third light emission optical system 80 do not overlap each other. Therefore, as compared with the case where at least two of the main lens 35, the reflector 42, and the reflector 82 overlap each other in the plan view of the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50, it is possible to suppress the blocking of part of the light L1 emitted from the first light-emitting optical system 30 by the member included in the second light-emitting optical system 40 and the member included in the third light-emitting optical system 80, the blocking of part of the light L2 emitted from the second light-emitting optical system 40 by the member included in the first light-emitting optical system 30 and the member included in the third light-emitting optical system 80, or the blocking of part of the light L3 emitted from the third light-emitting optical system 80 by the member included in the first light-emitting optical system 30 and the member included in the second light-emitting optical system 40. The main lens 35, the reflector 42, and the reflector 82 may be arranged such that at least two of them overlap each other when the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 is viewed in plan.

(third embodiment)

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to fig. 10. The same or equivalent components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description thereof is omitted unless otherwise specified.

Fig. 10 is a view showing one lamp of a vehicle lamp according to a third embodiment of the present invention similarly to fig. 3, and is a view showing a lamp 1a similarly to fig. 2. As shown in fig. 10, the lamp unit 20 of the present embodiment is different from the lamp unit 20 of the first embodiment mainly in that it further includes a fourth light-emitting optical system 90.

The fourth light emission optical system 90 includes a fourth light source 91, a main lens 95, and an auxiliary lens 96, similarly to the first light emission optical system 30. The fourth light source 91 is a surface-mount LED having a substantially rectangular light emitting surface and emitting white light, as in the first light source 31. The fourth light source 91 is disposed so that the emission surface faces rearward, and is mounted on a circuit board, not shown, in the same manner as the first light source 31.

The auxiliary lens 96 is a lens for adjusting the divergence angle of incident light, similarly to the auxiliary lens 36 of the first light-emitting optical system 30. The auxiliary lens 96 is disposed such that an incident surface of the auxiliary lens 96 faces an emission surface of the fourth light source 91, and light emitted from the fourth light source 91 enters the auxiliary lens 96, and the divergence angle of the light is adjusted by the auxiliary lens 96. In the present embodiment, the auxiliary lens 96 is a lens having a planar incident surface and a convex output surface, and the divergence angle of the light output from the fourth light source 91 is adjusted to be small by the auxiliary lens 96.

The main lens 95 is a lens for adjusting the divergence angle of incident light, similarly to the main lens 35 of the first light-emitting optical system 30. The main lens 95 is disposed such that an incident surface 95i of the main lens 95 faces an exit surface of the auxiliary lens 96, and light emitted from the exit surface of the auxiliary lens 96 enters the main lens 95, and the divergence angle of the light is adjusted by the main lens 95. The light whose divergence angle is adjusted by the main lens 95 in this way is applied to the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50. That is, the light emitted from the fourth light source 91 and transmitted through the auxiliary lens 96 and the main lens 95 is emitted from the fourth light-emitting optical system 90. Therefore, a portion that irradiates light to the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 in the fourth light-emitting optical system 90 is the exit surface 95o of the main lens 95. In the present embodiment, the main lens 95 is a lens in which the incident surface 95i and the emission surface 95o are formed in a convex shape, and the light emitted from the fourth light source 91 and transmitted through the auxiliary lens 96 is condensed by the main lens 95 and is irradiated to the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50.

In the present embodiment, the first light-emitting optical system 30, the second light-emitting optical system 40, and the fourth light-emitting optical system 90 are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction at a position lower than the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50. Specifically, the main lens 35 of the first light emission optical system 30, the reflector 42 of the second light emission optical system 40, and the main lens 35 of the fourth light emission optical system 90 are arranged in the left-right direction at a predetermined interval. In the direction in which these components are juxtaposed, the reflector 42 of the second light emission optical system 30 is located between the main lens 35 of the first light emission optical system 30 and the main lens 95 of the fourth light emission optical system 90. The first light-emitting optical system 30 and the fourth light-emitting optical system 90 arranged in this manner are configured to be symmetrical to each other in the left-right direction. In addition, the reflector 42 of the second light emission optical system 40 intersects with a reference plane RP1 passing through the center of the reflection control surface 53 and perpendicular to the reflection control surface 53, the main lens 35 of the first light emission optical system 30 is located on the side of the reference plane RP1, and the main lens 95 of the fourth light emission optical system 90 is located on the other side of the reference plane RP 1. As described above, the first light-emitting optical system 30, the second light-emitting optical system 40, and the fourth light-emitting optical system 90 are located below the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50. Therefore, the main lens 35, the reflector 42, and the main lens 95 are located on the side compared with the reference plane RP2, which reference plane RP2 passes through the center of the reflection control surface 53 and is perpendicular to the above-described reference plane RP1 and the reflection control surface 53. In addition, when the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 is viewed in plan, the main lens 35, the reflector 42, and the main lens 95 do not overlap the reflection control surface 53. Further, as described above, since the main lens 35, the reflector 42, and the main lens 95 are arranged in the left-right direction at a predetermined interval, the main lens 35, the reflector 42, and the main lens 95 do not overlap with each other when the reflection control surface 53 is viewed in a plan view. In addition, when the reflection control surface 53 is viewed in a plan view, the main lens 35, the reflector 42, and the main lens 95 are arranged in the left-right direction.

In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the region PHA in the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam is formed by the light emitted from the lamp 1a, and the regions other than the region PHA are formed by the light emitted from the lamp 1 b. In the lamp 1a, the light L1 emitted from the first light source 31 passes through the auxiliary lens 36 and the main lens 35 and is emitted from the first light-emitting optical system 30. The light L1 emitted from the first light-emitting optical system 30 is condensed and applied to the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50, and is reflected by the reflection control surface 53. The light L2 emitted from the second light source 41 is reflected by the reflecting surface 42r of the reflector 42 and emitted from the second light-emitting optical system 40. The light L2 emitted from the second light-emitting optical system 40 is condensed and applied to the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50, and is reflected by the reflection control surface 53. The light L4 emitted from the fourth light source 91 passes through the auxiliary lens 96 and the main lens 95 and is emitted from the fourth light-emitting optical system 90. The light L4 emitted from the fourth light-emitting optical system 90 is condensed and applied to the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50, and is reflected by the reflection control surface 53. In the present embodiment, the light beams L1, L2, and L4 are irradiated to the entire surface of the reflection control surface 53. The irradiation pattern of the light combined by the lights L1, L2, and L4 on the reflection control surface 53 is formed to be substantially symmetrical in the left-right direction, and the intensity distribution of the light in the irradiation pattern is a distribution in which the intensity is high on the center 53c side of the reflection control surface 53 and decreases from the center 53c side toward the outer edge side. That is, the shapes of the incident surface 35i and the output surface 35o of the main lens 35, the shape of the reflection surface 42r of the reflector 42, and the shapes of the incident surface 95i and the output surface 95o of the main lens 95 are adjusted so that the irradiation pattern is as described above. Then, the inclination state of the plurality of reflecting elements 54 of the reflecting unit 51 in the reflecting device 50 is controlled so that the light LF emitted from the reflection control surface 53 in the first direction becomes the light of the region PHA in the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam. Therefore, the light distribution pattern formed by the light LF emitted in the first direction from the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection unit 51 becomes the region PHA in the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam, and the light LF passes through the projection lens 60 and is emitted from the lamp 1a through the front cover 12.

As described above, the vehicle lamp 1 according to the present embodiment includes the first light-emitting optical system 30, the second light-emitting optical system 40, and the fourth light-emitting optical system 90. Therefore, compared to the case where the light emitted from the two light-emitting optical systems strikes the reflection control surface 53, the vehicle lamp 1 according to the present embodiment can increase the amount of light striking the reflection control surface 53 and improve the degree of freedom of the intensity distribution of the light on the reflection control surface 53.

As described above, in the vehicle lamp 1 of the present embodiment, the reflector 42 of the second light emission optical system 40 intersects the reference plane RP1 that passes through the center 53c of the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 and is perpendicular to the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50, the main lens 35 of the first light emission optical system 30 is positioned on the side of the reference plane RP1, and the main lens 95 of the fourth light emission optical system 90 is positioned on the other side of the reference plane RP 1. Therefore, as compared with the case where the reflector 42 of the second light-emitting optical system 40 does not intersect the reference plane RP1 that passes through the center 53c of the reflection control surface 53 and is perpendicular to the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50, it is possible to suppress an increase in the incident angle of the light L2 that is incident from the second light-emitting optical system 40 to the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 in the direction perpendicular to the reference plane RP 1. Therefore, the irradiation pattern of the light L2 emitted from the second light-emitting optical system 40 on the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 is easily symmetrical in the direction perpendicular to the reference plane RP 1. Further, the light L1 emitted from the first light-emitting optical system 30 and the light L4 emitted from the fourth light-emitting optical system 90 enter the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 from mutually different sides with reference to the reference plane RP 1. Further, the portions that irradiate light to the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 in each of the first light-emitting optical system 30 and the fourth light-emitting optical system 90 are the emission surfaces 35o, 95o of the main lenses 35, 95. Therefore, it is easy to make the irradiation pattern of the light L1 emitted from the first light-emitting optical system 30 on the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 and the irradiation pattern of the light L4 emitted from the fourth light-emitting optical system 90 on the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 symmetrical to each other in the direction perpendicular to the reference plane RP 1. Therefore, it is easy to make the intensity distribution of the light on the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 symmetrical in the direction perpendicular to the reference plane RP 1. Therefore, the light intensity distribution in the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the vehicle lamp 1 is particularly useful when the light intensity distribution is approximately symmetrical in a predetermined direction. It should be noted that the reflector 42 may be disposed so as not to intersect the reference plane RP1 that passes through the center 53c of the reflecting control surface 53 of the reflecting device 50 and is perpendicular to the reflecting control surface 53 of the reflecting device 50. The main lens 35 and the main lens 95 may be disposed on the same side with respect to the reference plane RP 1.

As described above, in the vehicle lamp 1 of the present embodiment, when the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 is viewed in a plan view, the main lens 35 of the first light emission optical system 30, the reflector 42 of the second light emission optical system 40, and the main lens 95 of the fourth light emission optical system 90 do not overlap with each other. Therefore, as compared with the case where at least two of the main lens 35, the reflector 42, and the main lens 95 overlap each other in the plan view of the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50, it is possible to suppress the blocking of part of the light L1 emitted from the first light-emitting optical system 30 by the member included in the second light-emitting optical system 40 and the member included in the fourth light-emitting optical system 90, the blocking of part of the light L2 emitted from the second light-emitting optical system 40 by the member included in the first light-emitting optical system 30 and the member included in the fourth light-emitting optical system 90, or the blocking of part of the light L4 emitted from the fourth light-emitting optical system 90 by the member included in the first light-emitting optical system 30 and the member included in the second light-emitting optical system 40. The main lens 35, the reflector 42, and the main lens 95 may be arranged such that at least two of them overlap each other when the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50 is viewed in plan.

The present invention will be described below by taking the above embodiments as examples, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

For example, in the above embodiment, the vehicle lamp 1 is a lamp that emits high beam or low beam, but the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, the vehicle lamp 1 may be a lamp that irradiates a subject such as a road surface with light that forms an image. In the case where the vehicle lamp is a lamp for irradiating light constituting an image to an object to be irradiated such as a road surface, the direction of light emitted from the vehicle lamp and the position where the vehicle lamp is mounted on the vehicle are not particularly limited.

In the above embodiment, the light distribution pattern of the high beam is formed by the light emitted from the lamp 1a and the light emitted from the lamp 1 b. However, the vehicle lamp 1 may form a predetermined light distribution pattern such as a high beam only by the light emitted from the lamp 1 a. In this case, the tilt state of the plurality of reflection elements 54 of the reflection unit 51 in the reflection device 50 of the lamp 1a is controlled so that the light LF emitted from the reflection control surface 53 in the first direction becomes light forming a predetermined light distribution pattern.

In addition, in the first embodiment, the vehicle lamp 1 has two light emitting optical systems 30 and 40, in the second embodiment, the vehicle lamp 1 has three light emitting optical systems 30, 40 and 80, and in the third embodiment, the vehicle lamp 1 has three light emitting optical systems 30, 40 and 90. However, the vehicle lamp 1 may have a plurality of light emitting optical systems, and the number of light emitting optical systems is not particularly limited.

In the above-described embodiment, the plurality of light-emitting optical systems are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction, but the plurality of light-emitting optical systems may be arranged in parallel in the up-down direction, or may not be arranged in a specific direction, and the arrangement direction and the arrangement order are not particularly limited. For example, in the second embodiment, the main lens 35, the reflector 42, and the reflector 82 may be arranged in an arc shape recessed toward the side opposite to the reflection device 50 side as viewed from the direction along the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50. That is, the main lens 35 may be disposed on the front side of the reflectors 42 and 82. In the third embodiment, the main lens 35, the reflector 42, and the main lens 95 may be arranged in an arc shape recessed toward the side opposite to the reflection device 50 side as viewed from the direction along the reflection control surface 53 of the reflection device 50. That is, the reflector 42 may be disposed on the front side of the main lens 35 and the main lens 95.

In the second embodiment, the second light emission optical system 40 and the third light emission optical system 80 are configured to be symmetrical, and in the third embodiment, the first light emission optical system 30 and the fourth light emission optical system 90 are configured to be symmetrical. However, these light emitting optical systems may be configured asymmetrically. In the above embodiment, the first light emission optical system 30 and the fourth light emission optical system 90 have the auxiliary lenses 36 and 96, but the auxiliary lenses 36 and 96 may not be provided. In this case, it is preferable that the main lens 35 also serves as the auxiliary lens 36, and the main lens 95 also serves as the auxiliary lens 96. That is, it is preferable that the main lens 35 is configured to irradiate the reflection control surface 53 with light emitted from the emission surface 35o of the main lens 35 while adjusting the divergence angle of the light emitted from the first light source 31 to be small. Further, the main lens 95 is preferably configured to irradiate the reflection control surface 53 with light emitted from the emission surface 95o of the main lens 95 while adjusting the divergence angle of the light emitted from the fourth light source 91 to be small. In the above embodiment, the reflectors 42 and 82 are formed in a curved surface shape for condensing light emitted from the light sources 41 and 81 and applying the light to the reflection control surface 53. However, the reflectors 42 and 82 may be configured to be able to irradiate the reflection control surface 53 with light emitted from the light sources 41 and 81.

In the above embodiment, the light beams L1, L2, L3, and L4 emitted from the light-emitting optical system are irradiated to the entire surface of the reflection control surface 53. However, the light L1, L2, L3, and L4 emitted from the light-emitting optical system may be irradiated to the reflection control surface 53, or may be irradiated to only a part of the reflection control surface 53.

In the above embodiment, the reflection device 50 is a so-called DMD having the reflection control surface 53 constituted by the reflection surfaces 54r of the plurality of reflection elements 54 capable of individually switching the inclination state. However, the reflecting device may have a reflecting surface that reflects each of the lights emitted from the plurality of light emitting optical systems, and a predetermined light distribution pattern may be formed by the light reflected by the reflecting surface. Examples of such a reflective device include LCOS (Liquid Crystal On Silicon) which is a reflective Liquid Crystal panel.

The LCOS includes a silicon substrate, a transparent electrode, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the electrode and the transparent electrode, and a plurality of electrodes for independently controlling electric potentials are arranged in a matrix on a surface of the silicon substrate. In the LCOS, by independently controlling the potentials of the plurality of electrodes, respectively, the refractive index of the liquid crystal layer sandwiched between each electrode and the transparent electrode is independently changed. Therefore, light entering from the transparent electrode side, reflected by the electrode, and emitted from the transparent electrode side passes through the liquid crystal layer having a refractive index corresponding to the potential of the electrode. Therefore, the phase of light incident on the LCOS is adjusted at portions corresponding to the respective electrodes, and the light with the modulated phase distribution is emitted from the LCOS. Since the lights having different phases interfere with each other and are diffracted, the LCOS diffracts the incident light according to a pattern formed by the refractive index of the liquid crystal layer corresponding to each electrode, and emits light of a light distribution pattern based on the refractive index pattern. As described above, in the LCOS, light incident from the transparent electrode side is reflected by the electrode and emitted from the transparent electrode side, and a light distribution pattern is formed by the light emitted from the transparent electrode side. Therefore, in the LCOS, the surface of the electrode on the transparent electrode side is a reflection surface for reflecting light, and a light distribution pattern is formed by the light reflected by the surface of the electrode on the transparent electrode side. In addition, the LCOS can change the light distribution pattern formed by light reflected by the surface of the electrode on the side of the transparent electrode by controlling the potentials of the plurality of electrodes.

In the above embodiment, the light sources 31, 41, 81, and 91 are surface-mount LEDs. However, the light source is not particularly limited, and for example, the light source may be a laser element that emits laser light.

According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle lamp that can increase the amount of light emitted and improve the degree of freedom of the intensity distribution of light in the light distribution pattern of the emitted light, and that can be used in the field of vehicle lamps such as automobiles.

Description of the reference numerals

Vehicle lamp 1

1a, 1b, 1c lamp

10 frame body

20 luminaire unit

30 first light-emitting optical system

31 first light source

35 Main lens

36 auxiliary lens

40 second light-emitting optical system

41 second light source

42 reflector

42r reflecting surface

50 reflection device

51 reflection part

53 reflective control surface (reflective surface)

54 reflective element

54r reflecting surface

60 projection lens

80 third light-emitting optical system

81 third light source

82 reflector

90 fourth light-emitting optical system

91 fourth light source

95 Main lens

96 auxiliary lens

RP1, RP2 reference plane