Lamp for vehicle

A lamp for a vehicle. The lamp includes a light source part that irradiates light, and a lens structure that forms a specific beam pattern by projecting the light radiated by the light source part to a front side, the lens structure includes a body part that forms a body of the lens structure, the body part includes an input area formed in the body part, and that inputs the light irradiated by the light source part to the body part, an output area formed on a surface of the body part, from which the light is output, and that outputs the light input to the body part to the front side.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0140507, filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Oct. 20, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a lamp for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Various kinds of lamps are mounted on vehicles according to functions thereof, and for example, low beam lamps, high beam lamps, and daytime running light (DRL) lamps are mounted.

High beam lamps are mainly used to secure fields of view for more distant distances when there is no vehicle that host vehicles face during nighttime, and low beam lamps may be used to secure proper fields of view of drivers while not hindering fields of views of facing vehicles when there are the facing vehicles. DRL lamps are lamps that are lighted to secure fields of view of drivers and inform other vehicles of locations of host vehicles in short visual distance situations, such as in rainy weathers or while they travel in interiors of tunnels, even during daytime.

In general, the low beam lamps implement low beam patterns by using projection type optical systems, and the DRL lamps implement DRL patterns through primary optics, include separate optical systems according to functions and kinds thereof, and implement different images.

According to a conventional technology, because various lamps are mounted on a vehicle, light emitting surfaces according to respective optical systems are different, and thus various needs of consumers cannot be satisfied in an aspect of designs of the vehicle when the lamp is lighted. In addition, because the optical systems have to be equipped according to their functions, they are inefficient in aspects of manufacturing costs and time, and a separate space is necessary and thus a total volume of headlamps increase.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present disclosure provides a lamp for a vehicle that implements a low beam pattern and a DRL pattern together by using one optical system and differentiates a front design by unifying daytime/nighttime lighting images of the lamp.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a lamp for a vehicle that minimizes a sense of break in an external appearance between an area for a low beam pattern and an area for a DRL pattern and make light emitting images uniform.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a lamp for a vehicle includes a light source part that irradiates light, and a lens structure that forms a specific beam pattern by projecting the light radiated by the light source part to a front side, the lens structure includes a body part that forms a body of the lens structure, the body part includes an input area formed in the body part, and that inputs the light irradiated by the light source part to the body part, an output area formed on a surface of the body part, from which the light is output, and that outputs the light input to the body part to the front side, and a recessed part formed to have a shape that is recessed toward a middle area of the body part in an upward/downward direction, and that shields at least a portion of the light input to the body part, and the output area includes a plurality of facets.

The light source part may include a first light source provided on a rear side of the body part, and a second light source provided on a lower side of the body part, and the input area may include a first input surface formed on a surface of the body part, which faces the rear side, and that inputs light output from the first light source to the body part, and a second input surface formed in the recessed part of the body part, and that inputs light output from the second light source to the body part.

The second light source may be provided in a recessed space defined by the recessed part to irradiate the light toward the second input surface.

The output area may include a first output part that forms a first light distribution pattern with the light irradiated by the first light source, and including a plurality of first facets, and a second output part that forms a second light distribution pattern with the light irradiated by the second light source, and including a plurality of second facets.

The second output part may be formed on an upper side of the first output part.

The first light distribution pattern may form a low beam pattern, and the second light distribution pattern may form a daytime running light (DRL) pattern.

The body part may include a shield part formed in a rear area of the recessed part, and that shields a portion of the light input from the first light source to the body part, and a cutoff edge formed at an upper end portion of the shield part and that forms a cutoff line of a low beam pattern.

The second input surface may be formed in a front area of the recessed part, and the second input surface may be formed to be inclined downwards from the cutoff edge toward the front side.

The second light source may be provided between the shield part and the second input surface.

A location of a focus of the plurality of first facets in a vertical direction may be the same as a location of a focus of the plurality of first facets in a horizontal direction.

A first focus formed by the plurality of first facets may be formed at a location corresponding to the cutoff edge.

A location of a focus of the plurality of second facets in a vertical direction may be the same as or different from a location of a focus of the plurality of second facets in a horizontal direction.

A second focus that is a focus of the plurality of second facets in a vertical direction may be formed on a lower side of a first focus formed by the plurality of first facets.

The second light source may be located on the second focus.

The lamp may include a plurality of step connecting surfaces that connect the plurality of first facets such that the plurality of first facets are stepped, and an upward/downward cross-sectional shape of, among the plurality of step connecting surfaces, a step connecting surface that connects upwardly/downwardly adjacent ones of the plurality of first facets is inclined downwards as it goes to the front side.

Among the upwardly/downwardly adjacent ones of the plurality of first facets, the first facet disposed on a lower side may protrude toward the front side further than the first facet disposed on an upper side.

Among the upwardly/downwardly adjacent ones of the plurality of first facets, a radius of curvature of the first facet disposed on an upper side may be smaller than a radius of curvature of the first facet disposed on a lower side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

First, the embodiments described herein are embodiments that are suitable for understanding the technical features of a lamp for a vehicle according to the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described below or the technical features of the present disclosure are not limited by the described embodiments, and the present disclosure may be variously modified without departing from the technical scope of the present disclosure.

FIG.1is a perspective view illustrating a lamp for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.2is a side view illustrating the lamp for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.3is a side view illustrating the lamp for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, and is a view illustrating a case, in which a first light source is lighted.FIG.4is a side view illustrating the lamp for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, and is a view illustrating a case, in which a second light source is lighted.FIG.5illustrates a first output part according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, and is a view illustrating a case, in which a first facet has three or more steps vertically.FIG.6is a side view illustrating a first output part according to a comparative example of the present disclosure.

A lamp10for a vehicle according to the present disclosure may form two or more kinds of light distribution patterns. For example, the lamp10for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may implement a first light distribution pattern, and a second light distribution pattern that is different from the first light distribution pattern in one optical system at the same time. That is, the lamp10for a vehicle according to the present disclosure may form the first light distribution pattern and the second light distribution pattern with light output from the same light emitting surface of the one optical system.

As an example, the first light distribution pattern may be a low beam pattern, and the second light distribution pattern may be a daytime running light (DRL) pattern. However, the kinds of the first light distribution pattern and the second light distribution pattern are not limited to the above-described ones, and may be applied to various kinds of beam patterns.

Referring toFIGS.1to4(312), the lamp10for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a light source part100and a lens structure300.

The light source part100is configured to irradiate light. Various elements or devices, which may emit light, may be used for the light source part100. The light source part100may include a light source that generates light, and the light source, for example, may be a light emitting diode (LED). For example, the light source part100may include a first light source110for forming the first light distribution pattern, and a second light source120for forming the second light distribution pattern.

The lens structure300may form a specific beam pattern by projecting the light irradiated by the light source part100to the front side. Hereinafter, a direction, in which the light is output from the lens structure300, will be referred to as a front side, and an opposite direction to the front side will be referred to a rear side.

In detail, the lens structure300may include a body part310that forms a body of the lens structure300, and the body part310may be formed of a material that transmits input light. The body part310may include an input area320, an output area330, and a recessed part.

The input area320is formed in the body part310, and inputs the light irradiated by the light source part100, to the body part310. Furthermore, the output area330is formed on a surface of the body part310, from which the light is output, and outputs the light input to the body part310to the front side.

In detail, the input area320and the output area330may be integrally formed with the body part310. The output area330may be formed on the surface, from which the light is output, that is, a surface of the body part310, which faces the front side. The input area320may be formed on a surface that faces the light source part100, for example, may be formed on a surface, which faces the rear side or the lower side of the body part310.

The output area330may include a plurality of facets. For example, the output area330may be provided in a form of a multi-facet lens. Light emitting surfaces of at least some of the plurality of facets may have a shape of an aspheric lens or an anamorphic lens, but the kinds of the facets are not limited thereto.

The plurality of facets may be provided to have independent curvatures. Here, the expression of the independent curvatures means that the plurality of facets may be formed to have different sizes and different curvatures. For example, the plurality of facets may be formed of a group having the same size and curvature.

Furthermore, the plurality of facets of the output area330may be divided into a group for forming the first light distribution pattern and a group for forming the second light distribution pattern.

The recessed part has a shape that is recessed toward a middle area of the body part310in an upward/downward direction, and shields at least a portion of the light that is input to the body part310.

In detail, the recessed part may have a shape that is recessed toward the middle area from a lower surface312of the body part310. Then, the recessed part may be formed to be disposed on a path, in which a portion of the light input to the body part310travels, and may be configured such that a portion of the light is shielded to form a specific pattern.

For example, a shield part341formed in the recessed part may shield a portion of the light that travels after being input from the rear surface of the body part310to form a cutoff line of a low beam pattern that is the first light distribution pattern. In detail, the lens structure300may be formed to have a structure for minimizing loss of light, and may form the recessed part by deforming a partial shape of the body part310to form the cutoff line. Accordingly, the cutoff line may be formed while not provided with a separate shield member.

In this way, the lamp10for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may implement the low beam pattern and the DRL pattern together by using one optical system, and a design of the front surface may be differentiated by unifying the daytime and night lighting images of the lamp.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, by implementing a surface light emitting image by providing the plurality of facets in the output area330, a sense of breakoff between the area for the low beam pattern and the area for the DRL pattern may be minimized, and the light emitting image may become uniform.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, a cutoff line of the low beam pattern may be formed even when a separate shield member is not provided, by forming the recessed part in the body part310of the lens structure300.

Meanwhile, the light source part100may include the first light source110and the second light source120.

The first light source110may be provided on a rear side of the body part310, and may form the first light distribution pattern. Furthermore, the second light source120may be provided on a lower side of the body part310, and may form the second light distribution pattern. For example, the first light source110and the second light source120may be light emitting diodes (hereinafter, referred to as an LED). However, the kinds of the first light source110and the second light source120are not limited thereto.

A collimator200may be provided between the first light source110and the lens structure300, and may convert the light radiated from the first light source110to light that is parallel to an optical axis of the lens structure300and input the light to the lens structure300.

The input area320may include a first input surface321and a second input surface322.

The first input surface321may be formed on the surface of the body part310, which faces the rear side, and may input the light output from the first light source110to the body part310. The second input surface322may be formed on the recessed part of the body part310, and may input the light output from the second light source120to the body part310.

In detail, the body part310may include an upper surface311that connects the first input surface321and the output area330, the lower surface312that is disposed to face the upper surface311, and a side surface313that is disposed between the upper surface311and the lower surface312. Here, the light input from the first and second light sources to the body part310may not be totally reflected on the upper surface311, the lower surface312, and the side surface313of the body part310. The recessed part may be formed to be recessed toward a central portion of the body part310in one area of the lower surface312.

The first input surface321may be formed on the surface of the body part310, which faces the rear side, and may input the light output from the first light source110to the body part310. For example, the first input surface321may be formed to have a shape that is convex toward the rear side. The light emitted by the first light source110may be input to the body part310through the first input surface321and be output to the front side through the output area330to form the first light distribution pattern.

The second input surface322may be formed on the recessed part of the body part310, and may input the light output from the second light source120to the body part310. The light emitted by the second light source120may be input to the body part310through the second input surface322and be output to the front side through the output area330to form the second light distribution pattern.

For example, the second light source120may be provided in the recessed space defined by the recessed part to irradiate the light toward the second input surface322. However, a location of the second light source120is not limited thereto, and may be formed on a lower side of the recessed space as long as the light may be irradiated toward the second input surface322.

Meanwhile, the body part310may include the shield part341and a cutoff edge343.

The shield part341may be formed in a rear area of the recessed part, and may shield a portion of the light that is input from the first light source110to the body part310. Furthermore, the cutoff edge343may be formed at an upper end portion of the shield part341, and may form the cutoff line of the low beam pattern.

In detail, the shield part341may be formed by depositing a material that shields light. For example, the shield part341may be formed by depositing an aluminum material, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The light input through the first input surface321may be interrupted from being reflected by the shield part341and traveling forwards. A shape of the upper end portion of the low beam pattern may be determined according to a shape of the cutoff edge343. Here, the shape of the cutoff edge343is not limited, and may be variously determined according to a design specification for forming the low beam pattern.

The second input surface322may be formed in a front area of the recessed part, and the second input surface322may be formed to be inclined downwards from the cutoff edge343toward the front side.

In detail, the recessed part may be formed to be recessed toward a central area from the lower surface312of the body part310, the shield part341may be formed on a surface that is adjacent to the first input surface321, and the second input surface322may be formed on a surface that is adjacent to the output area330. The cutoff edge343may be formed in a part, in which the shield part341and the second input surface322meet each other.

For example, the second input surface322may be formed to be inclined downwards as it goes to the front side. Accordingly, the light input from the second light source120may travel toward a second output part335located on an upper side of the output area330. However, inclination angles and shapes of the shield part341and the second input surface322are not limited to the illustrated embodiment described above.

Furthermore, for example, the second light source120may be provided between the shield part341and the second input surface322. In detail, the second light source120may be located on a lower side of an area, in which the second input surface322is formed, with respect to an optical axis direction (the X axis direction). However, a location of the second light source120is not limited thereto.

The output area330may include a first output part331and the second output part335.

The first output part331may form the first light distribution pattern with the light irradiated by the first light source110, and may include a plurality of first facets332. Furthermore, the second output part335may form the second light distribution pattern with the light irradiated by the second light source120, and may include a plurality of second facets336. That is, the first output part331and the second output part335may be formed on the front side of the body part310to be provided in the one optical system.

For example, the first facet332and the second facet336may be formed to have a curved shape that is convex toward the front side, and may be formed to have different curvatures. The plurality of first facets332and the plurality of second facets336may be provided in a horizontal direction (the Y axis direction) and a vertical direction (the Z axis direction), respectively. As an example, the plurality of second facets336may be arranged vertically in one step, and three second facets336may be arranged horizontally. Furthermore, the plurality of first facets332may be arranged vertically in two steps and three first facets332may be arranged horizontally (seeFIGS.1to4), or may be arranged vertically in three or more steps (seeFIG.5).

The first output part331including the plurality of first facets332may form the first light distribution pattern, and the second output part335including the plurality of second facets336may form the second light distribution pattern. Here, the first light distribution pattern may be a low beam pattern, and the second light distribution pattern may be a daytime running light (DRL) pattern. That is, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the low beam pattern and the DRL pattern may be implemented in the one optical system.

Here, the second output part335may be formed on an upper side of the first output part331. That is, the plurality of second facets336may be located on an upper side of the plurality of first facets332.

Meanwhile, a location of a focus of the plurality of first facets332in the vertical direction (the Z axis direction) may be the same as a location of a focus of the plurality of first facets332in the horizontal direction (the Y axis direction).

In detail, the plurality of first facets332may form one focus in the vertical direction, and the plurality of first facets332may form one focus in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, the focuses of the plurality of first facets in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction may be located at the same location. Hereinafter, the focus formed by the plurality of first facets332will be referred to as a first focus F1.

The first focus F1formed by the plurality of first facets332may be formed at a location corresponding to the cutoff edge343. That is, the cutoff edge343may be disposed on the focus of the first output part331.

Meanwhile, the location of the focus of the plurality of second facets336in the vertical direction may be the same as or different from the location of the focus of the plurality of second facets336in the horizontal direction.

In detail, the plurality of second facets336may form one focus in the vertical direction, and the plurality of second facets336may form one focus in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, the focuses of the plurality of second facets336in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction may be located at the same location or different locations. Hereinafter, the focus formed by the plurality of second facets336in the vertical direction will be referred to as a second focus F2.

The second focus F2that is the focus of the plurality of second facets336in the vertical direction may be formed on a lower side of the first focus F1formed by the plurality of first facets332. For example, the second focus F2may be disposed on a lower side of the first focus F1, and may be disposed on a front side of the first focus F1. However, a location of the second focus F2is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and may be disposed at various locations according to a design specification of the lens structure300.

The second light source120may be located on the second focus F2. In detail, the second light source120may be provided at a location corresponding to the focus of the second facet336in the vertical direction to irradiate the light toward the second input surface322. The light input through the second input surface322may be output to the front side through the second output part335.

Meanwhile, a plurality of step connecting surfaces333that connect the plurality of first facets332such that the plurality of first facets332are stepped may be provided. Furthermore, a cross-sectional shape of, among the plurality of step connecting surfaces333, the step connecting surface333that connects first facets332aand332bdisposed to be adjacent to each other in the vertical direction (the Y axis direction) may be formed to be inclined downwards as it goes to the front side. For reference, inFIG.5, reference numeral “P” is an imaginary surface obtained by extending the step connecting surface333.

In detail, the plurality of first facets332provided in the first output part331may be formed to be stepped from each other, and the step connecting surface333may be a surface that connects the first facets332aand332bdisposed to be adjacent to each other in the upward/downward direction. On a plane obtained by cutting the first output part331by a plane (the XY plane) that is parallel to an optical axis and is perpendicular to the first output part331, the step connecting surface333may be formed to be inclined downwards as it goes to the front side.

Furthermore, among upwardly/downwardly adjacent ones of the plurality of first facets332, the first facet332bdisposed on a lower side may protrude toward the front side further than the first facet332adisposed on an upper side. That is, the plurality of first facets332aand332bof the first output part331may be formed to be stepped to protrude to the front side as it goes downwards.

Accordingly, the light output through the first output part331may be minimized from traveling upwards from the step connecting surface333to minimize a glare phenomenon in the light distribution pattern.

In detail, the step connecting surface333may be formed to be inclined to form a specific angle with the optical axis, and the light may travel upwards according to an angle of the step connecting surface333to generate the glare phenomenon.FIG.6illustrates a first output part331′ according to a comparative example of the present disclosure. The first output part331′ according to the comparative example includes a plurality of first facets332′, and step connecting surfaces333′ that connect them. The first output part331′ according to the comparative example is formed to be stepped to protrude as it goes upwards, and the step connecting surfaces333′ that connect the plurality of first facets332′ are formed to be inclined upwards as it goes to the front side. As in the comparative example, when the step connecting surface333′ is formed to be inclined upwards, the light that reached the first output part331′ may totally reflected by the step connecting surface333′, and may travel upwards (see direction B). Due to refraction of the light, the glare phenomenon may be generated, and thus a performance of the lamp may be degraded.

In the first output part331according to the present disclosure, the step connecting surface333may be formed to be inclined downwards as it goes to the front side and the first facet332disposed on the lower side may be formed to protrude further, whereby a phenomenon, in which the light is totally reflected by the step connecting surface333, may be prevented. Accordingly, the glare phenomenon may be minimized and thus the performance of the lamp may be enhanced (seeFIGS.2to5).

Furthermore, for example, among the upwardly/downwardly adjacent ones of the plurality of first facets332, a radius of curvature of the first facet332disposed on the upper side may be formed to be smaller than a radius of curvature of the first facet332disposed on lower side. Accordingly, a phenomenon, in which the light travels upwards on the step connecting surface333, may be prevented more effectively.

In this way, the lamp for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may implement the low beam pattern and the DRL pattern together by using one optical system, and a design of the front surface may be differentiated by unifying the daytime and night lighting images of the lamp.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, by implementing a surface light emitting image by providing the plurality of facets in the output area, a sense of breakoff between the area for the low beam pattern and the area for the DRL pattern may be minimized, and the light emitting image may become uniform.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, a cutoff line of the low beam pattern may be formed even when a separate shield member is not provided, by forming the recessed part in the body part of the lens structure.

Although the specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been described until now, the spirit and scope of the present disclosure are not limited to the specific embodiments, and may be variously corrected and modified by an ordinary person in the art, to which the present disclosure pertains, without changing the essence of the present disclosure claimed in the claims.