Vehicle light

A vehicle light includes a light compartment, a first light emission unit, and a second light emission unit. The first light emission unit is arranged in the light compartment and includes a first light emission body and a light guide body configured to emit light by internally reflecting light from the first light emission body. The second light emission unit is arranged in the light compartment and includes a second light emission body and a reflector configured to reflect light from the second light emission body in a vehicle forward direction. The light guide body is arranged outward with respect to a vehicle widthwise direction in the light compartment, and a light emission portion of the light guide body at least partially overlaps a path of light reflected by the reflector.

BACKGROUND

The following description relates to a vehicle light.

2. Description of Related Art

A vehicle such as an automobile includes a vehicle light such as a headlight. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2011-18563 describes a vehicle light that includes multiple light emission units in a light compartment. The light emission units include a main light emission unit and a secondary light emission unit. The main light emission unit includes a main light emission element and a reflector, and the secondary light emission unit includes a secondary light emission element and a light guide body.

The vehicle light may be used in daytime in addition to nighttime so that the presence of the vehicle can be recognized. Accordingly, there is a need to improve the light distribution performance of the vehicle light.

SUMMARY

In one general aspect, a vehicle light includes a light compartment, a first light emission unit, and a second light emission unit. The first light emission unit is arranged in the light compartment and includes a first light emission body and a light guide body configured to emit light by internally reflecting light from the first light emission body. The second light emission unit is arranged in the light compartment and includes a second light emission body and a reflector configured to reflect light from the second light emission body in a vehicle forward direction. The light guide body is arranged outward with respect to a vehicle widthwise direction in the light compartment, and a light emission portion of the light guide body at least partially overlaps a path of light reflected by the reflector.

It is an object of the following description to provide a vehicle light that improves the light distribution performance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment of a vehicle light will now be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 4. In the description hereafter, the frame of reference for a vehicle forward direction, a vehicle widthwise direction, and a vehicle height direction will be a state in which the vehicle lights are mounted on the vehicle.

As shown inFIG. 1, the front of a vehicle10includes two vehicle lights11serving as headlights. The vehicle lights11are symmetrically arranged at left and right sides of the vehicle10. The vehicle lights11are configured similarly. The vehicle light11located at the right side of the vehicle10(left side inFIG. 1) will be described below.

The vehicle light11includes a housing12and an outer lens13that is a transparent cover coupled to an open front end of the housing12. The housing12and the outer lens13form a light compartment14. The light compartment14accommodates a first light emission device15and a second light emission device16. The first light emission device15is configured to be a headlight configured to provide low and high beams. The first light emission device15radially emits light outward from the light compartment14.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the second light emission device16includes a plurality of first light emission units17(17a,17b, and17c) and a second light emission unit18. Each of the first light emission units17includes a light guide body that emits light by internally reflecting the light from a light emission body. The second light emission unit18emits light by reflecting the light from the light emission body with a reflector.

The first light emission units17in the present embodiment include an upper light emission unit17alocated at an upper part of the housing12, a lower light emission unit17blocated at a lower part of the housing12, and a side light emission unit17clocated at a sideward part of the housing12. The upper light emission unit17aand the lower light emission unit17bsandwich the upper and lower sides of the first light emission device15in a front view of the vehicle light11. The side light emission unit17cis arranged between the upper light emission unit17aand the lower light emission unit17bat the right side of the vehicle10(left side inFIG. 3).

The upper light emission unit17ais a linear light emission unit that includes an upper light emission surface H1extending in the vehicle widthwise direction. The lower light emission unit17bis a linear light emission unit that includes a lower light emission surface H2extending in the vehicle widthwise direction. The lower light emission surface H2of the lower light emission unit17bincludes a widened part H2A projecting in a direction that intersects with the vehicle widthwise direction, in which the lower light emission unit17bextends. Accordingly, the lower light emission surface H2of the lower light emission unit17bemits light over a wider range in the direction intersecting the vehicle widthwise direction than the upper light emission surface H1of the upper light emission unit17a. The side light emission unit17cis a linear light emission unit that includes a side light emission surface H3extending in the vehicle height direction.

As shown inFIG. 3, the upper light emission unit17aincludes a first light guide body21that includes a rod-shaped first main body20. The upper light emission unit17afurther includes light sources Y1and Y2. The first main body20of the first light guide body21is formed to be substantially straight. Further, the first main body20of the first light guide body21includes a first end20aand a second end20b. The lower light emission unit17bincludes a second light guide body23that includes a rod-shaped second main body22and the plate-like widened part H2A projecting from an intermediate part of the second main body22. The lower light emission unit17bfurther includes light sources Y3and Y4. The second main body22of the second light guide body23has a substantially straight shape. The second main body22and the widened part H2A are formed integrally. Further, the second main body22of the second light guide body23includes a first end22aand a second end22b.

As shown inFIG. 3, the side light emission unit17cincludes a third light guide body25that includes a rod-shaped third main body24. The side light emission unit17cfurther includes a light source Y5. The third main body24of the side light emission unit17cincludes a first end24a. The third main body24further includes a first branched portion and a second branched portion that are branched off from the first end24ain two directions. The branching point is located at the middle of the third main body24. The first branched portion is connected to an intermediate part of the second light guide body23, specifically, a part between the first end22aand the widened part H2A, and integrated with the second light guide body23. That is, in the present embodiment, the second light guide body23that forms the lower light emission unit17bis integrated with the third light guide body25that forms the side light emission unit17c. Further, the second branched portion includes a second end24b.

The first light guide body21, the second light guide body23, and the third light guide body25described above are arranged in the housing12of the vehicle light11, and respectively form the upper light emission unit17a, the lower light emission unit17b, and the side light emission unit17c. Further, the first light guide body21, the second light guide body23, and the third light guide body25may be formed from a resin, for example, an acrylic resin.

The light sources Y1to Y5are light emission bodies that emit light toward the first light guide body21, the second light guide body23, and the third light guide body25. The light sources Y1to Y5are arranged in the housing12of the vehicle light11. Each of the light sources in the present embodiment is configured by a base plate, on which a light emitting diode (LED) is mounted. The base plate of each light source may include one or more LEDs.

The housing12of the vehicle light11includes the first light source Y1that emits incident light toward the first end20aof the first light guide body21and the second light source Y2that emits incident light toward the second end20bof the first light guide body21. Further, the housing12of the vehicle light11includes the third light source Y3that emits incident light toward the first end22aof the second light guide body23and the fourth light source Y4that emits incident light toward the second end22bof the second light guide body23. The housing12of the vehicle light11also includes the fifth light source Y5that emits incident light toward the third light guide body25.

FIG. 4mainly shows the second light emission unit18. More specifically, the second light emission unit18includes a plurality of sixth light sources Y6and a reflector27. The reflector27includes a reflection surface26that faces the front and reflects the light from the sixth light sources Y6. The sixth light sources Y6are arranged next to one another in the height direction of the vehicle light11and emit light toward the reflection surface26of the reflector27.

FIG. 4shows a partition wall28that partitions the light compartment14of the vehicle light11. More specifically, the partition wall28is arranged between the first light emission device15and the second light emission device16. The third light guide body25of the side light emission unit17cis arranged in front of the reflector27of the second light emission device16. In the present embodiment, the third light guide body25is arranged to partially overlap the reflection surface26of the reflector27in the front-rear direction in a front view. The third light guide body25is arranged outward with respect to the vehicle widthwise direction in the light compartment14. That is, in the present embodiment, the third light guide body25is arranged close to the side of the vehicle10. Further, the third light guide body25is arranged so that its light emission portion is entirely located in the path of the light reflected by the reflector27. The entire light emission portion corresponds to the outline of the light guide body in the cross section shown inFIG. 4. Further, an inner lens29is arranged in front of the third light guide body25. The dashed arrows inFIG. 4indicate the path of the light reflected by the reflector27and path of light emitted by the third light guide body25.

The operation of the vehicle light11in the present embodiment will now be described.

When the second light emission device16is activated, the first to sixth light sources Y1to Y6emit light. As a result, the upper light emission unit17ainternally reflects the light from the first and second light sources Y1and Y2with the first light guide body21and emits light linearly. That is, the light of the light sources Y1and Y2entering the first light guide body21is internally reflected by the first light guide body21and linearly emitted from the first light guide body21. The lower light emission unit17binternally reflects the light from the third and fourth light sources Y3and Y4with the second light guide body23and emits light linearly. That is, the light of the third and fourth light sources Y3and Y4entering the second light guide body23is internally reflected by the second light guide body23and linearly emitted from the second light guide body23. Consequently, the vehicle light11emits light over a wide range in the vehicle widthwise direction.

In addition to the light of the third and fourth light sources Y3and Y4, the light of the fifth light source Y5enters the second light guide body23through the third light guide body25. This increases the amount of light entering the lower light emission unit17bcompared to the first light guide body21of the upper light emission unit17aand increases the light emission intensity of the lower light emission unit17b. Further, the widened part H2A of the second light guide body23emits light so that the lower light emission unit17bhas a wider light emission range than the upper light emission unit17a.

The light of the sixth light sources Y6is reflected by the reflection surface26of the reflector27toward the inner lens29and emitted through the inner lens29toward the front of the vehicle10as diffused light. In addition, the side light emission unit17carranged at the side of the vehicle10internally reflects the light of the fifth light source Y5that enters the third light guide body25and emits light linearly. That is, the light from the fifth light source Y5entering the third light guide body25is internally reflected by the third light guide body25and linearly emitted from the third light guide body25. Moreover, in this present embodiment, the side light emission unit17cis arranged to partially overlap the reflection surface26of the reflector27. Accordingly, the vehicle light11mixes the light reflected by the reflector27and directed toward the front of the vehicle10with the light emitted from the side light emission unit17ctoward the side of the vehicle10. This allows for the emission of light that is entirely seamless from the front to the side of the vehicle10.

The present embodiment has the advantages described below.

(1) An optical system using the reflector27is combined with an optical system using the third light guide body25. Specifically, the third light guide body25is arranged to overlap the reflection surface26of the reflector27. Accordingly, the light reflected by the reflector27and the light emitted from the third light guide body25allow for recognition of the illumination of the vehicle light11from both the front and the side of the vehicle10. Thus, the vehicle light11has relatively high light distribution performance.

(2) The vehicle light11of the present embodiment combines the optical system using the reflector27with the optical system using the third light guide body25. Thus, the vehicle light11is configured to be a daytime running lamp. In addition, the vehicle light11is configured to be a clearance lamp. That is, the vehicle light11in the present embodiment is configured to be both a daytime running lamp and a clearance lamp.

(3) A daytime running lamp may be formed by a single optical system using a light guide body or a single optical system using a reflector as long as the necessary amount of light can be emitted. However, a light guide body emits light by internally reflecting light. Accordingly, the optical system using a light guide body has a low light distribution efficiency and requires a light source with a high brightness (such as bright LED) to emit a sufficient amount of light. Further, with the optical system using a reflector, light concentrates at the front of the reflector. Accordingly, many light sources are required to emit light over a wide range. In other words, a daytime running lamp using only one of these optical systems will either increase energy consumption or lower the aesthetic appeal when illuminated. In this regard, the vehicle light11of the present embodiment combines the optical system using a light guide body with the optical system using a reflector and effectively uses each optical system so that the vehicle light11has a relatively superior light distribution performance.

(4) The third light guide body25is arranged in the path of the light reflected by the reflector27and located outward with respect to the vehicle widthwise direction in the light compartment14. Accordingly, the light directed toward the side of the vehicle10by the third light guide body25is provided in addition to the light reflected by the reflector27and directed toward the front. Thus, even when the optical system using the reflector27does not include many light emission bodies, light is emitted over a wide range.

(5) The first to third light guide bodies21,23, and25form the upper light emission unit17a, the lower light emission unit17b, and the side light emission unit17c, respectively. The light of the light emission body enters through the corresponding end of each of the first to third light guide bodies21,23, and25. This allows for a wide range light emission with fewer light emission bodies compared to a structure in which light enters from a side surface of a light guide body.

(6) The upper light emission unit17aand the lower light emission unit17beach include a light guide body. Thus, each of the upper light emission unit17aand the lower light emission unit17bincludes a light emission surface that emits light over a wide range with fewer light emission bodies. Further, the design can be improved with the upper light emission unit17aand the lower light emission unit17b. The upper light emission unit17a, the lower light emission unit17b, and the side light emission unit17cextend along the periphery of the light compartment14and allow the vehicle light to have a relatively superior design.

(7) The second light guide body23of the lower light emission unit17bis integrated with the third light guide body25of the side light emission unit17c. This increases the amount of light entering the second light guide body23. As a result, the intensity of the light emitted from the lower light emission unit17bis higher than the upper light emission unit17aand the design can thereby be further improved.

The present embodiment may be modified as follows. The present embodiment and the following modifications can be combined as long as the combined modifications remain technically consistent with each other.

The combination of the optical system using a reflector and the optical system using a light guide body in the embodiment may be used for a use other than the daytime running lamp and the clearance lamp.

The combination of the optical system using a reflector and the optical system using a light guide body in the embodiment may be employed to a taillight serving as a vehicle light in addition to or instead of a headlight.

The upper light emission unit17a, the lower light emission unit17b, and the side light emission unit17cmay have any design (shape). For example, the upper light emission unit17a, the lower light emission unit17b, and the side light emission unit17cdoes not have to be linear, and may be curved, corrugated, or a zigzagged. Further, the upper light emission unit17amay have the same design as the lower light emission unit17b.

The first to third light guide bodies21,23, and25may have any form. For example, the first to third light guide bodies21,23, and25may be rod-shaped so as to have a circular cross-section or rod-shaped so as to have an oval cross-section.

The second light emission device16may include only one of the upper light emission unit17aand the lower light emission unit17b. That is, the second light emission device16does not have to include the upper light emission unit17aor the lower light emission unit17b. Further, the second light emission device16may include only the side light emission unit17cand not include the upper light emission unit17aand the lower light emission unit17b.

The light emission portion of the third light guide body25may partially overlap the reflection surface26of the reflector27. In other words, the third light guide body25may be partially arranged in the path of light reflected by the reflector27.

The second light guide body23of the lower light emission unit17bmay be formed separately from the third light guide body25of the side light emission unit17c. Further, the third light guide body25of the side light emission unit17cmay be integrated with the first light guide body21of the upper light emission unit17ainstead of the second light guide body23of the lower light emission unit17b.

Light may enter the upper light emission unit17afrom only one end. In the same manner, light may enter the lower light emission unit17bfrom only one end.

The light emission body that forms the first to sixth light sources may be a LED chip or a light bulb.