Lamp for vehicle

Provided is a lamp for a vehicle capable of forming a plurality of different beam patterns. The vehicle lamp includes a light source system, a lens system, and a shield system. The lens system includes a plurality of incident lenses onto which light emitted from the light source system is incident and a plurality of exit lenses to output the light incident thereto from the plurality of incident lenses to form a predetermined beam pattern. The shield system includes a plurality of main shields to block some of light beams from being directed to the plurality of exit lenses, wherein each of the plurality of shields includes a blocking surface to block a light beam from being directed to the plurality of exit lenses and at least one transmission hole formed in the blocking surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0090242 filed on Jul. 21, 2020, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a lamp for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a lamp for a vehicle capable of forming a plurality of different beam patterns.

2. Description of Related Art

A vehicle is equipped with various types of lamps having an illumination function to easily identify objects located around the vehicle during low-light conditions (e.g., night driving), and a signaling function to inform a driver of another vehicle or a pedestrian around the vehicle of a driving state of the vehicle.

For example, head lamps and fog lamps are mainly intended for the illumination functions. Turn signal lamps, tail lamps, brake lamps, and the like are mainly for the signaling functions. Installation standards and requirements of the lamps are stipulated by laws and regulations to fully exhibit corresponding functions.

In general, a lamp for each function is installed in the vehicle. In this case, not only an optical system constituting each lamp is required separately, but also an installation space required for each lamp is increased, such that there is a possibility that cost increases and space utilization decreases.

Further, some of light beams irradiated from each lamp is blocked via a shield, based on a beam pattern to be formed by each lamp. In this case, there is a possibility that the light efficiency may decrease due to the light blocked by the shield.

Accordingly, there is a need for a scheme for simplifying a configuration required to implement at least two functions, thereby reducing the cost and improving the space utilization, and further improving light efficiency.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present disclosure provide a lamp for a vehicle in which a configuration may be simplified and a cost may be lowered via shared use of an optical system for forming different beam patterns.

Further, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a lamp for a vehicle in which light efficiency may be improved by reusing the light that is blocked by a shield.

Objects in accordance with the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned purpose. Other objects and advantages in accordance with the present disclosure not mentioned above may be understood from following descriptions and more clearly understood from embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure. Further, it will be readily appreciated that the purposes and advantages in accordance with the present disclosure may be realized by features and combinations thereof as disclosed in the claims.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle lamp may include a light source system, a lens system, and a shield system. The lens system may include a plurality of incident lenses onto which light emitted from the light source system is incident; and a plurality of exit lenses to output the light incident thereto from the plurality of incident lenses to form a predetermined beam pattern. The shield system may include a plurality of main shields to block some of light beams from being directed to the plurality of exit lenses. In particular, each of the plurality of main shields may include a blocking surface to block at least some of the light beams from being directed to the plurality of exit lenses; and at least one transmission hole formed within the blocking surface to allow transmission of some other of the light beams.

The light source system may include a first light source for generating light for forming a first beam pattern; a second light source for generating light for forming a second beam pattern; and an optical path adjustment member for adjusting a path of light emitted from at least one of the first light source or the second light source. The first light source and the second light source may be configured to respectively generate light beams having different luminous intensities. The first light source may be disposed near a central axis of the lens system, and the second light source may be disposed above and/or below the first light source.

Some of light beams blocked by the blocking surface of each of the plurality of main shields among entire light beams emitted from at least one of the first light source or the second light source may be transmitted to the plurality of exit lenses through the at least one transmission hole. The at least one transmission hole may be arranged in a regular pattern in each of the plurality of main shields. The at least one transmission hole may allow the beam pattern to expand downwards to form an expanded region.

A position of the at least one transmission hole in one of the plurality of main shields may be formed differently from a position of the at least one transmission hole in another of the plurality of main shields. A position of the at least one transmission hole formed in each of the plurality of main shields may vary based on at least one of a distance or a direction of each main shield from a reference main shield.

The shield system may further include a plurality of auxiliary shields respectively disposed in front of the plurality of main shields. A top of each of the plurality of auxiliary shields may be disposed below a top of corresponding main shield among the plurality of main shields.

The lens system may further include a first optical member having an incident surface and an exit surface, wherein the plurality of incident lenses are arranged on the incident surface of the first optical member; and a second optical member having an incident surface and an exit surface, wherein the incident surface of the second optical member faces the exit surface of the first optical member, and the plurality of exit lenses are arranged on the exit surface of the second optical member. The plurality of main shields may be arranged on the incident surface of one of the first optical member or the second optical member, and the plurality of auxiliary shields may be arranged on the exit surface of one of the first optical member or the second optical member.

The lamp for the vehicle according to the present disclosure as described above may have one or more of following effects. A plurality of different beam patterns may be formed by light beams respectively incident from light sources having different positions. Thus, the optical system for forming the plurality of different beam patterns may be shared, thus allowing the configuration to be simplified, and the cost to be reduced.

Further, the beam pattern may be expanded by forming at least one transmission hole in a blocking surface of the shield that blocks some of light beams incident from the light source system in order to form a cut-off line of the beam pattern. Thus, visibility and the light efficiency may be improved.

In addition to the effects as described above, specific effects in accordance with the present disclosure will be described together with the detailed description set forth below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS

In some embodiments, well-known steps, structures and techniques will not be described in detail to avoid obscuring the invention.

Embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to plan and cross-section illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments of the invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. In the drawings, respective components may be enlarged or reduced in size for convenience of explanation.

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described with reference to drawings for describing a lamp for a vehicle based on exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 1 and 2are perspective views showing a lamp for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 3is a side view showing a lamp for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 4andFIG. 5are exploded perspective views showing a lamp for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 5, a lamp1for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include a light source system100, a lens system200, and a shield system300.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an example in which the lamp1for a vehicle is used as a head lamp to secure a front view by irradiating light in a driving direction of the vehicle when the vehicle is operating in low-light conditions such as at night or in a dark place such as a tunnel is described. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The lamp1for the vehicle according to the present disclosure may be used not only for the head lamp, but also for various lamps installed in the vehicle such as daytime running lamps, tail lamps, brake lamps, fog lamps, position lamps, turn signal lamps, and backup lamps. The lamp1for the vehicle according to the present disclosure may be used for a single purpose among the aforementioned purposes, or may be used for a combination of two or more purposes.

The light source system100may include a first light source110, a second light source120, and an optical path adjustment member130, and may generate light having an amount and/or a color suitable for use in the lamp1for the vehicle according to the present disclosure.

The first light source110may generate light for forming a first beam pattern. The second light source120may generate light to form a second beam pattern that is different from the first beam pattern. In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the description is given for an example in which the first beam pattern provides a low beam pattern in which light is irradiated onto an area below a predetermined cut-off line so that glare does not occur to a driver of a proceeding vehicle or an on-coming vehicle, whereas the second beam pattern may provide a beam pattern corresponding to a daytime running lamp (DRL) that enables easy identification of an object during daytime driving of the vehicle. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The beam patterns respectively formed using the light beams emitted from the first light source110and the second light source120may be variously changed based on the functions of the lamp1for the vehicle according to the present disclosure.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an example in which each of the first light source110and the second light source120includes at least one semiconductor light emission device such as light emitting diode (LED) will be described. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Each of the first light source110and the second light source120may employ not only the semiconductor light emission device, but also various other types of light sources such as a bulb or a laser diode (LD). Optical elements such as lenses, mirrors, prisms, and reflectors that affect light properties such as a path or brightness of each of the light beams emitted from the first light source110and the second light source120may be additionally used depending on a type of the light source.

As described above, the lamp1for the vehicle according to the present disclosure may include the first light source110and the second light source120to generate the first beam pattern and the second beam pattern, respectively. Thus, an optical system may be shared for generating the first beam pattern and the second beam pattern. Accordingly, the configuration of the lamp may be simplified, and the cost thereof may be reduced.

Further, in an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a case where the light emitted from the second light source120has a relatively low luminous intensity compared to that of the light emitted from the first light source110is described by way of example. However, this is to help understanding the present disclosure and is only an example. The disclosure is not limited thereto, and the luminous intensity of each of light beams respectively emitted from the first light source110and the second light source120may vary based on each of the beam patterns respectively formed using the light beams emitted from the first light source110and the second light source120.

The optical path adjustment member130may be disposed in front of the first light source110and the second light source120and may control a light path such that the light emitted from at least one of the first light source110or the second light source120travels in a direction parallel to a central axis C of the lens system200, that is, the front-and-rear direction. This configuration may allow the light emitted from at least one of the first light source110or the second light source120to be incident onto the lens system200with a minimal loss and may allow the light to be incident uniformly onto the lens system200.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a case where the optical path adjustment member130is embodied as a Fresnel lens will be described by way of example. The Fresnel lens may include several annular lenses to allow construction of a thin optical path adjustment member and to control the light path such that the light emitted from at least one of the first light source110or the second light source120travels in the front-and-rear direction. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. The optical path adjustment member130may employ not only the Fresnel lens, but also various types of collimator lenses capable of adjusting the path of light emitted from at least one of the first light source110or the second light source120, such as an aspherical lens.

The first light source110may be disposed at or near the central axis C of the lens system200, for example, at or below the central axis C, while the second light source120may be disposed above and/or below the first light source110. This configuration allows a cut-off line of the low beam pattern formed by the light emitted from the first light source110to be disposed in a correct position. Further, due to this configuration, a beam pattern corresponding to the daytime running lamp formed by the light emitted from the second light source120may include at least a portion disposed above and/or below the low beam pattern so that the portion may be identified without affecting the cut-off line of the low beam pattern.

FIGS. 1 to 5show an example where the second light sources120are disposed above and below the first light source110, respectively. In this case, the first beam pattern formed when the first light source110is turned on may correspond to a low beam pattern in which the light is irradiated onto an area below the cut-off line CL having a predetermined shape as shown inFIG. 6. The second beam patterns may be respectively formed below and above the low beam pattern, as shown inFIG. 7, when the second light sources120respectively located below and above the first light source110are turned on.

FIG. 7shows an example of the second beam pattern including a plurality of beam patterns P11and P12in which at least a portion thereof is disposed above and below the low beam pattern. The upper beam pattern P11among the plurality of beam patterns P11and P12may be formed by the second light source120that is positioned below the first light source110, while the lower beam pattern P12among the plurality of beam patterns P11and P12may be formed by the second light source120that is positioned above the first light source110. It is preferable that the second light source120is positioned below and/or above the first light source110so that easy identification of the pattern may be possible even at a relatively long distance.

In the above exemplary embodiment, a case where the light source system100includes the first light source110for forming the first beam pattern and the second light source120for forming the second beam pattern is described by way of example. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The number or the location of light sources included in the light source system100may vary depending on a type of the beam pattern formed by the lamp1for the vehicle according to the present disclosure.

The lens system200may include an incident lens unit210and an exit lens unit220. The incident lens unit210may include a first optical member211and a plurality of incident lenses212. The first optical member211may be made of a material through which light transmits, such as glass, so that the light incident from the light source system100may proceed to the exit lens unit220that is disposed in front of the incident lens unit210.

The plurality of incident lenses212may be disposed on an incident surface211aof the first optical member211that faces the light source system100. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of incident lenses212may be made of a material such as polymer or epoxy, and may employ a micro-lens having a relatively short focal point distance to reduce an overall size of the lamp1for the vehicle according to the present disclosure for miniaturization. The plurality of incident lenses212may be arranged in a matrix form including at least one row extending in a horizontal direction and at least one column extending in a vertical direction. The row in the left-and-right direction of the plurality of incident lenses212may be horizontal or inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction.

The exit lens unit220may include a second optical member221and a plurality of exit lenses222. The second optical member221may be oriented so that an incident surface221athereof faces an exit surface211bof the first optical member211. The plurality of exit lenses222may be arranged on the exit surface221bof the second optical member221. The second optical member221may be made of a material that transmits light in a similar manner as the first optical member211. Similar to the plurality of incident lenses212, each of the plurality of exit lenses222may be embodied as a micro-lens having a relatively short focal point distance. The plurality of exit lenses222may be arranged in a matrix form including at least one row extending in a horizontal direction and at least one column extending in a vertical direction. The row in the left-and-right direction of the plurality of exit lenses222may be inclined by an angle that corresponds to the inclination angle of the row in the left-and-right direction of the plurality of incident lenses212.

The shield system300may be disposed between the plurality of incident lenses212and the plurality of exit lenses222to block or obstruct some of light beams from being incident on the plurality of exit lenses222, and thus to form a beam pattern that is suitable for a function of the lamp1for the vehicle according to the present disclosure.

The shield system300may include a plurality of main shields310and a plurality of auxiliary shields320. As shown inFIG. 8, each of the plurality of main shields310may include a center of a top edge311thereof that is disposed near a focal point F formed between a corresponding incident lens among the plurality of incident lenses212and a corresponding exit lens among the plurality of exit lenses222. Light may be blocked by a blocking surface312that extends downwardly from the top edge, so that the low beam pattern may be formed in which the light is irradiated on a region below the predetermined cut-off line CL as shown inFIG. 6.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a case in which the plurality of main shields310and the plurality of auxiliary shields320are respectively formed on both opposing surfaces of one of the first optical member211or the second optical member221will be described by way of example. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. One of the plurality of main shields310or the plurality of auxiliary shields320may be formed on any surface of one of the first optical member211or the second optical member221, while the other of the plurality of main shields310or the plurality of auxiliary shields320may be formed on any surface of the other of the first optical member211or the second optical member221.

FIG. 9is a schematic diagram showing a front surface of the shield according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular,FIG. 9shows an example of one of the plurality of main shields310. Referring toFIG. 9, the top edge311of each of the plurality of main shields310according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include an inclined edge311adisposed at a center thereof, and a lower edge311band an upper edge311chaving different vertical levels, while the inclined edge311ais disposed therebetween. Accordingly, as shown inFIG. 6, the cut-off line CL of the low beam pattern formed by the lamp1for the vehicle according to the present disclosure may have an inclined line CL1, and an upper line CL2and an lower line CL3having different vertical levels while the inclined line CL1is disposed therebetween.

A shape of the top edge311of each of the plurality of main shields310is not limited to the example described above. Depending on a country or a region, an entirety of the top edge311may have the same vertical level or portions of the top edge311may have different vertical levels.

Each of the plurality of main shields310may include a blocking surface312that blocks light traveling to each of the plurality of exit lenses222. The blocking surface312may extend downwardly from the top edge311. In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one transmission hole313may be formed in the blocking surface312of each of the plurality of main shields310.

At least one transmission hole313may have an area of 100 μm2to 40,000 μm2. When the area of the at least one transmission hole313is smaller than 100 μm2, light distribution performance due to the light passing through the at least one transmission hole313may be deteriorated. When the area of the at least one transmission hole313is greater than 40,000 μm2, light may be concentrated on a specific area, thereby causing glare.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a case in which a plurality of transmission holes313are formed in the blocking surface312of each of the plurality of main shields310will be described by way of example. Each of the plurality of transmission holes313may have various shapes such as a circle, a polygon, or the like. Some of the plurality of transmission holes313may have a shape different from that of others.

The plurality of transmission holes313may be uniformly distributed or dispersed throughout the blocking surface312. When the plurality of transmission holes313are non-uniformly distributed, that is, are arranged in an concentrated manner across the blocking surface312, the light that passes through the plurality of transmission holes313may be non-uniformly irradiated. In other words, The irradiated area may be arranged in an concentrated manner, increasing a possibility that the non-uniform brightness may occur.

In this regard, it may be understood that when the plurality of transmission holes313are uniformly distributed throughout the blocking surface312, they are distributed in a non-concentrated manner in a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, and a diagonal direction.

The plurality of transmission holes313may transmit some of the light beams emitted from the second light source120therethrough without being blocked by the blocking surface312. Accordingly, visibility of the beam pattern may be improved by expanding a lower region of the second beam pattern formed by light emitted from the second light source120.

As shown inFIG. 10, when the plurality of transmission holes313are formed in the blocking surface312of each of the plurality of main shields310, an expanded region A may be generated so that the lower beam pattern P12among the second beam patterns P11and P12may expand downwards, compared to when the plurality of transmission holes313are not formed in the blocking surface312.

When the positions of the plurality of transmission holes313are the same in the plurality of main shields310, there may be a limit to increasing a size of the expanded region A. Further, there is a possibility that the light may be concentrated in a specific region, causing glare. For this reason, the positions of the plurality of transmission holes313may be different in one of the plurality of main shields310than the positions of the plurality of transmission holes313formed in another of the plurality of main shields310.

For example, the positions of the plurality of transmission holes313in the plurality of main shields310may be different from one another as shown inFIG. 11.FIG. 11shows an example in which a plurality of transmission holes313are arranged in each of the plurality of main shields310in a regular pattern, and the positions of the plurality of transmission holes313in each of the plurality of main shields310are respectively displaced from the positions of the plurality of transmission holes313of a reference shield, which is the top left shield, depending on the direction and distance from the reference shield.

In other words, as shown inFIG. 11, the top left shield, which is used as the reference shield, may have a plurality of transmission holes313, and a top middle shield may have a plurality of transmission holes313whose positions are respectively displaced toward the right side by a first distance from the positions of the plurality of transmission holes313of the reference shield. Subsequently, a top right shield may have a plurality of transmission holes313whose positions are respectively displaced toward the right side by a second distance that is greater than the first distance from the positions of the plurality of transmission holes313of the reference shield. Further, a bottom left shield may have a plurality of transmission holes313whose positions are respectively displaced in the downward direction by the first distance from the positions of the plurality of transmission holes313of the reference shield. A bottom middle shield may have a plurality of transmission holes313whose positions are respectively displaced in the right-downward direction by the first distance in each direction from the positions of the plurality of transmission holes313of the reference shield. Further, a bottom right shield may have a plurality of transmission holes313whose positions are respectively displaced in the right-downward direction by the second distance in each direction from the positions of the plurality of transmission holes313of the reference shield.

In this regard, the dotted lines inFIG. 11indicate the position of each of the plurality of transmission holes313formed in the reference shield. A direction of an arrow indicates the direction in which the plurality of transmission holes313in a corresponding shield are respectively displaced with respect to the positions of the plurality of transmission holes313formed in the reference shield. A length of the arrow indicates a distance by which the plurality of transmission holes313in a corresponding shield are respectively displaced from the plurality of transmission holes313formed in the reference shield. The displacement distance may be proportional to the distance between the corresponding shield and the reference shield.

As described above, in an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the positions of the plurality of transmission holes313in the plurality of main shields310may be formed differently from one another. Accordingly, an area to which light is irradiated through the plurality of transmission holes313may become relatively wider. Thus, the light may be prevented from being concentrated on a specific area, and may be more uniformly irradiated onto the entire region. Thus, the glare may be suppressed more effectively.

Each of the plurality of auxiliary shields320may be disposed in front of each of the plurality of main shields310, and may prevent the light from being irradiated onto a region above the cut-off line of the beam pattern formed by the plurality of main shields310, thereby preventing the glare.

In other words, the plurality of auxiliary shields320may allow the upper line CL2and the lower line CL3to extend horizontally as shown in the cut-off line CL ofFIG. 6. The upper line CL2and the lower line CL3of the cut-off line CL are mainly formed by light beams exiting from lower ones of the plurality of exit lenses222. In this regard, the plurality of auxiliary shields320may block some of the light beams from being incident to lower ones of the plurality of exit lenses222. Thus, the upper line CL2and the lower line CL3of the cut-off line CL may be formed to extend more horizontally, compared to a beam pattern formed when the plurality of auxiliary shields320are omitted (shown with the dotted line inFIG. 12). Accordingly, the beam pattern ofFIG. 6may be formed more effectively.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, it may be seen that a top of each of the plurality of auxiliary shields320is disposed below a top of a corresponding main shield among the plurality of main shields310. This is because when the top of each of the plurality of auxiliary shields320is disposed above the top of the corresponding main shield, the amount of blocked light may be relatively increased, thereby reducing the light efficiency.

Further, a protrusion321(see e.g.,FIG. 4) that protrudes upwards may be formed on a portion of the top of each of the plurality of auxiliary shields320. The protrusion321may suppress the glare and may prevent the glare from being directed to a driver of a vehicle in front of the vehicle having the lamp1according to the present disclosure.

As described above, in the lamp1for the vehicle according to the present disclosure, at least some of light beams blocked by the plurality of main shields310may be used to expand the beam pattern, thereby improving the light efficiency.

In concluding the detailed description, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many variations and modifications can be made to the exemplary embodiments without substantially departing from the principles of the present invention. Therefore, the disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.