Patent ID: 8858049
Filing Date: 2014-10-14
Classification: F21S,F21W

Abstract:
1. A vehicle lighting unit having an upper first optical axis extending in a front-rear direction of a vehicle and a lower second optical axis extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and positioned below the first optical axis, the vehicle lighting unit comprising: a first lens disposed on the first optical axis and having a focal point on a vehicle rear-side of the first lens; a second lens disposed on the second optical axis and having a focal point on a vehicle rear-side of the second lens; a semiconductor light-emitting device disposed on a rear side of the vehicle rear-side focal point of the first lens and configured to emit light substantially upward, the semiconductor light-emitting device having an element optical axis; a first reflector disposed above the semiconductor light-emitting device such that light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting device in a narrow angle direction with respect to the element optical axis of the semiconductor light-emitting device is incident on the first reflector; a shade disposed between the first lens and the semiconductor light-emitting device and configured to block part of light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting device and reflected by the first reflector; a second reflector disposed between the first lens and the first reflector such that light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting device in a wide angle direction with respect to the element optical axis of the semiconductor light-emitting device is incident on the second reflector, the light emitted in the narrow angle direction and incident on the first reflector having a luminous intensity higher than does the light emitted in the wide angle direction and incident on the second reflector; and a third reflector disposed between the second lens and the vehicle rear-side focal point of the second lens, wherein the first reflector includes a revolved ellipsoidal reflector having a first focal point substantially at the semiconductor light-emitting device and a second focal point substantially at the vehicle rear-side focal point of the first lens, the second reflector includes a revolved ellipsoidal reflector having a first focal point substantially at the semiconductor light-emitting device and a second focal point between the second reflector and the third reflector, the third reflector is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane such that a vehicle front-side edge of the third reflector is located below the second optical axis and a vehicle rear-side edge of the third reflector is located above the second optical axis, the second focal point of the second reflector between the second reflector and the third reflector is located at a position symmetric to a position below the second optical axis with respect to the third reflector used as a symmetry plane, and the third reflector is inclined at an inclination angle with respect to the horizontal plane adjusted such that light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting device, reflected by the second reflector, focused at the second focal point of the second reflector, reflected by the third reflector, and passing through the second lens is directed in a direction at a predetermined upward angle greater than zero with respect to the horizontal plane.