Abstract:
A head lamp in a vehicle may include a light source for emitting a light, a reflector for reflecting the light forward from the light source, a lens for transmitting the light being forwarded toward a front from the light source and the reflector, a holder having one end coupled to the lens and the other end coupled to the reflector to make the lens spaced at a predetermined distance from the reflector, and a movable shield disposed between the light source and the reflector and the lens for selectively shielding a portion of the light being forwarded toward the lens from the light source and the reflector, or not shielding the portion of the light being forwarded toward the lens from the light source and the reflector when being moved to create a space between the movable shield and a lower end of the holder to allow the light pass through.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority of Korean Patent Application Number 10-2013-0164098 filed on Dec. 26, 2013, the entire contents of which application are incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a head lamp in a vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a head lamp in a vehicle of which luminance efficiency is increased. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    In general, the head lamp in the vehicle is also called as a head light or a head lamp which is a lamp to light a front direction for safe running of the vehicle at night or in a dark space. Though it was mostly circular before, currently a lamp having a unique shape and structure is increasingly matched with a design of a vehicle body. 
         [0006]    The head lamp in a vehicle is made to have a light beam therefrom to be shifted in up/down directions for preventing a driver of an opposite vehicle from being dazzled by the light beam emitted from the head lamp. According to a safety standard, it is a regulation that a high beam is required to identify an obstacle existing at 100 m ahead of the vehicle and a low beam is required to identify an obstacle existing at 40 m ahead of the vehicle. 
         [0007]    In order to implement such a high beam and a low beam, there is a shield interposed between a light source and a lens. The shield is made to shield a portion of the light incident on the lens from the light source or a reflector. And, according to a shape and movement of the shield, the high beam or the low beam is implemented, selectively. 
         [0008]    However, since the light shielded by the shield is failed to be used as an effective light of the head lamp, there may be a limit of head lamp efficiency. And, if the luminance efficiency of the light passing through the shield is too low, the head lamp efficiency may become poor in comparison to a performance of the light source. 
         [0009]    The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a head lamp in a vehicle having improved luminance efficiency. Accordingly, the present invention, created for solving above and/or other problems, is to provide a head lamp in a vehicle which can improve luminance efficiency. And, the present invention is to provide a head lamp in a vehicle which can improve a performance of high beam with a simple configuration. 
         [0011]    According to various aspects of the present invention, a head lamp in a vehicle may include a light source for emitting a light, a reflector for reflecting the light forward from the light source, a lens for transmitting the light being forwarded toward a front from the light source and the reflector, a holder having one end coupled to the lens and the other end coupled to the reflector to make the lens spaced alt a predetermined distance from the reflector, and a movable shield disposed between the light source and the reflector and the lens for selectively shielding a portion of the light being forwarded toward the lens from the light source and the reflector, or not shielding the portion of the light being forwarded toward the lens from the light source and the reflector when being moved to create a space between the movable shield and a lower end of the holder to allow the light pass through. 
         [0012]    The movable shield may shield the portion of the light being forwarded toward the lens with one side, and the light emitted to the space formed between the movable shield and the lower end of the holder from the light source when the movable shield is moved may be reflected at the other side of the movable shield and directed to the front. 
         [0013]    The light reflected at the other side of the movable shield and directed to the front may produce a high beam. 
         [0014]    The movable shield may be hinge coupled to the holder and movable by a hinge motion. The head lamp may further include a solenoid connected to the movable shield for moving the movable shield upon having power supplied thereto. 
         [0015]    The head lamp may further include a fixed shield provided between the movable shield and the lens and having one side for shielding the portion of the light being forwarded toward the lens from the light source and the reflector and the other side for absorbing lights reflected and scattered by an inside surface of the holder and by an inside surface of the lens. 
         [0016]    The movable shield may be hinge coupled to the fixed shield and movable by a hinge motion. The head lamp may further include a solenoid coupled to the fixed shield connected to the movable shield for moving the movable shield upon having power supplied thereto. 
         [0017]    The head lamp may further include an elastic member provided to a portion at which the movable shield and the fixed shield are hinge coupled for returning the movable shield to an original position if power supply to the solenoid is cut off. 
         [0018]    The reflector may have a stopper formed thereon for being brought into contact with the moving movable shield for preventing the hinge motion of the movable shield from progressing excessively by the solenoid. The stopper may be formed to prevent impact of contact with the movable shield. 
         [0019]    The head lamp may further include a buffer portion formed at a portion the fixed shield is to be brought into contact with the movable shield for preventing an impact of contact with the fixed shield when the movable shield returns to the original position by the hinge motion owing to the elastic member. 
         [0020]    The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary head lamp in a vehicle in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded perspective view of an exemplary head lamp in a vehicle in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  illustrates a longitudinal half sectional view of an exemplary head lamp in a vehicle in accordance with the present invention, before a movable shield is moved. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  illustrates a schematic view showing moving of a movable shield in an exemplary head lamp in a vehicle in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  illustrates a longitudinal half sectional view of an exemplary head lamp in a vehicle in accordance with the present invention, after a movable shield is moved. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6A  illustrates a schematic view showing a movable shield in an exemplary head lamp in a vehicle in accordance with the present invention, returning to an original position. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6B  is a partially enlarged view of  FIG. 6A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that present description is not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a head lamp in a vehicle in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded perspective view of a head lamp in a vehicle in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the head lamp in a vehicle  1  in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention includes a light source  80 , a reflector  70 , a lens  20 , a lens seating ring  10 , a holder  30 , a fixed shield  40 , a movable shield  50 , and a solenoid  60 . 
         [0030]    The light source  80  functions to receive electric energy and convert the electric energy received thus to light energy. And, the light source  80  includes a light emitting portion  82 . The light emitting portion  82  is a portion the light energy converted thus, i.e., a light, is emitting therefrom. Moreover, the light emitting portion  82  is arranged in the head lamp  1 . 
         [0031]    The reflector  70  is coupled to the light source  80 , and the light emitting portion  82  of the light source  80  is placed in, and arranged on an inner side of, the reflector  70 . And, the reflector  70  is provided to reflect at least a portion of the light emitted from the light emitting portion  82  of the light source  80  toward a front of the head lamp  1 . Moreover, the reflector  70  is formed in a half cut eclipse shape or substantially in a half cut eclipse shape. The shape of the reflector  70  may be the same as or similar to those in the art, and thus more detailed description of the shape of the reflector  70  will be omitted. 
         [0032]    The lens  20  is provided to focus the light emitted from the light emitting portion  82  and direct the light to the front of the head lamp  1 . And, an overall shape of the lens  20  is formed in a circular shape that is an overall shape of a general lens. Moreover, in order to achieve a required aberration correction state with a small number of faces, the lens  20  may be an aspherical lens. 
         [0033]    The lens seating ring  10  is formed in an annular shape to surround the circular lens  20 . And, the lens  20  is seated on an inside circumference of the lens seating ring  10 . 
         [0034]    The holder  30  has a cylindrical shape or substantially a cylindrical shape in overall with opened both sides for coupling to the main lens  20  and the lens seating ring  10 . And, in a state a circular circumference of the lens  20  is in contact with a circumference of the opened one side of the holder  30 , as the annular lens seating ring  10  is coupled to the holder  30  while surrounding the lens  20 , the holder  30  and the lens  20  are coupled, together. 
         [0035]    The fixed shield  40  is interposed between the light emitting portion  82  and the lens  20 . And, the fixed shield  40  is formed to have a plate shape for shielding a portion of the light forwarded toward the lens  20  from the light emitting portion  82  of the light source  80  and the reflector  70 . In the meantime, the plate shape of the fixed shield  40  has one side for shielding a portion of the light forwarded toward the lens  20 , and the other side for absorbing the lights reflected and scattered at an inside surface of the holder  30  and an inside surface of the lens  20 . In this case, the fixed shield  40  is arranged such that the one side of the fixed shield  40  faces a rear of the head lamp  1 , and the other side of the fixed shield  40  faces the front of the head lamp  1 . 
         [0036]    The fixed shield  40  is coupled to the other opened side of the holder  30 . And, the other opened side of the holder  30  is coupled to the reflector  70 , and the fixed shield  40  is interposed between the other side of the holder  30  and one end of the reflector  70 . That is, the holder  30  is arranged to space the lens  20  and the fixed shield  40  as much as a width of the holder  30 . 
         [0037]    The movable shield  50  is interposed between the reflector  70  and the fixed shield  40 . And, the movable shield  50  is coupled to, such as hinge coupled to, a lower end of the fixed shield  40 . Moreover, the movable shield  50  is formed to have a plat shape. In the meantime, the plate shape of the movable shield  50  has one side formed for shielding the light, and the other side formed for reflecting the light. In the meantime, the hinge coupling of the movable shield  50  is not limited to the lower end of the fixed shield  40 , but the hinge coupling of the movable shield  50  may be to the holder  30 . 
         [0038]    The solenoid  60  is coupled to the fixed shield  40 , and provided for making the movable shield  50  hinge coupled to the fixed shield  40  to make a hinge motion. In this case, the solenoid  60  may be an ON/OFF solenoid  60  which is operated in two stages of ON or OFF depending on supply or cut off of power thereto. 
         [0039]    The lens seating ring  10  has an extended coupling portion  12  formed thereon extended toward the holder  30  from the annular circumference of the holder  30  for coupling to the holder  30 , the holder  30  has a two ended coupling portion  32  formed thereon having one end for coupling to the extended coupling portion  12  and the other end for coupling to the reflector  70 , and the reflector  70  has a holder coupling portion  72  for coupling to the other end of the holder coupling portion  32 . That is, by coupling of the extended coupling portion  12 , the two ended coupling portion  32 , and the holder coupling portion  72 , the lens seating ring  10 , the holder  30  and the reflector  70  are coupled together. 
         [0040]    Formed on the fixed shield  40 , there are a securing portion  42  extended from the plate shape of the fixed shield  40  for coupling to the holder  30  to secure the fixed shield  40 , a solenoid coupling portion  44  extended from the plate shape of the fixed shield  40  for the solenoid  60  to couple thereto, and a movable shield coupling portion  46  extended from the plate shape of the fixed shield  40  for hinge coupling to the movable shield  50 . In the meantime, the holder  20  has a fixed shield coupling portion  34  formed thereon additionally for coupling to the securing portion  42 . 
         [0041]    Formed on the movable shield  50 , there are a hinge portion  56  for hinge coupling to the fixed shield  40 , and a solenoid connection portion  58  for connection to the solenoid  60 . 
         [0042]    The solenoid  60  includes a movable portion  62  movable as the power is supplied or cut off thereto/therefrom, and the solenoid connection portion  58  of the movable shield  50  is connected to the movable portion  62  of the solenoid  60 . And, the solenoid connection portion  58  is moved by movement of the movable portion  62 , which makes the movable shield  50  to move. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  illustrates a longitudinal half sectional view of a head lamp in a vehicle in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, before a movable shield is moved. Referring to  FIG. 3 , before movement, the movable shield  50  is arranged to shield a light proceeding toward the lens  20  reflected at the reflector  70  to form the high beam or a light proceeding toward the lens  20 , directly. That is, the movable shield  50  has one side arranged to shield the light proceeding toward the lens  20  from the reflector  70  and the light emitting portion  82 . In this case, a light not shielded by the movable shield  50  is directed to and transmitted through the lens  20  to form the low beam, and the other side of the fixed shield  40  arranged in front of the movable shield  50  functions to absorb reflected and scattered lights. 
         [0044]      FIG. 3  illustrates that paths of the light shielded by the movable shield  50  and the light transmitting through the lens  20  to form the low beam are shown in solid lined arrows, and the reflected and scattered lights absorbed to the other side of the fixed shield  40  are shown in dotted arrow line(s). 
         [0045]      FIG. 4  illustrates a schematic view showing moving of a movable shield in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 4 , if the movable shield makes the hinge motion as power is supplied to the solenoid  60 , and the movable portion  62  of the solenoid  60  is moved, a space is opened, through which a light can pass between a lower end of the holder  30  and the hinge portion  56 . In this case, the hinge portion  56  is arranged below the lower end of the holder  30 , and the movable shield  50  makes the hinge motion in a direction moving away from the lower end of the holder  30  centered on the hinge portion  56 . In this case, in order to prevent the hinge motion of the movable shield from progressing excessively, the reflector  70  has a stopper  74  formed thereon to be brought into contact with the movable shield  50  being moved thus. And, the stopper  74  is formed to absorb an impact caused by the hinge motion of the movable shield  50 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 5  illustrates a longitudinal half sectional view of a head lamp in a vehicle in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, after a movable shield is moved. Referring to  FIG. 5 , after the movement, the movable shield  50  is arranged to form a space through which a light can pass between the fixed shield  40  and the movable shield  50 . In this case, the light emitted from the light emitting portion  82  of the light source  80  through the space formed between the fixed shield  40  and the movable shield  50  is reflected at the other side of the movable shield  50  and directed to form the high beam, and the light shielded by one side of the movable shield  50  before the movable shield  50  is moved transmits through the lens  20  and developed to form the high beam. Therefore, a high beam directing area is enlarged than a case when only the light transmitting through the lens  20  forms the high beam. In the meantime, the light which transmits through the lens  20  and is developed to form the low beam may always be developed without being shielded. 
         [0047]      FIG. 5  shows paths of lights transmitting through the lens  20  to form the low beam and the high beam and lights reflected at the other side of the movable shield  50  to form the high beam with dotted arrow line(s). 
         [0048]      FIG. 6  illustrates a schematic view showing a movable shield in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, returning to an original position.  FIG. 6A  is a partially enlarged view of  FIG. 6 . Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 6A , if the movable shield  50  returns to an original position as power supply to the solenoid  60  is cut off, and movement of the movable portion  62  of the solenoid  60  is stopped, the space is closed, through which the light can pass between the lower end of the holder  30  and the hinge portion  56 . In this case, the hinge portion  56  has an elastic member  90  provided thereto, and the movable shield  50  makes a hinge motion in a direction the movable shield  50  is returned to an original position by elastic force of the elastic member  90  as power supply to the solenoid  60  is cut off. In this case, the movable shield  50  may be brought into contact with the fixed shield  40  as the movable shield  50  returns to the original position, and the fixed shield  40  has a buffer portion  48  formed thereon for being brought into contact with the other side of the movable shield  50  and absorbing an impact caused by the hinge motion of the movable shield  50 . 
         [0049]    Thus, the head lamp in a vehicle in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention can increase utilization efficiency of the light emitted from the light emitting portion  82  by utilizing the light shielded by the movable shield  50 . And, the enlarged high beam directing area enables to improve and secure vehicle running safety owing to movement of the movable shield  50 . 
         [0050]    For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms “upper” or “lower”, “front” or “rear”, and etc. are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures. 
         [0051]    The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.