Patent Publication Number: US-11644169-B1

Title: Lamp for vehicle and vehicle including the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0178503 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Dec. 14, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a lamp for a vehicle and a vehicle including the same. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Recently, the development of a lamp having a slim structure has been consistently conducted as a slim beam pattern has been required to be formed by a lamp mounted in a vehicle. In particular, recently, studies have been conducted on a lamp having a structure with a reduced height in an upward/downward direction by reflecting the customer&#39;s tendency to prefer a small beam pattern with a small width in the upward/downward direction. 
     As one of the methods of forming a beam pattern having a small width in the upward/downward direction and extending in a leftward/rightward direction, a plurality of small-sized optical modules is disposed in the leftward/rightward direction. That is, in the related art, the plurality of optical modules each forms a unit beam pattern having a smallest size, and the plurality of unit beam patterns are collected to implement a beam pattern having a small width in the upward/downward direction and extending in the leftward/rightward direction. 
     However, in the related art, the unit beam patterns respectively formed by the plurality of optical modules are disconnected, which makes it impossible to implement the beam pattern continuously extending in the leftward/rightward direction. For this reason, there is a problem in that the shape of the beam pattern cannot meet the customer&#39;s needs. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide a lamp for a vehicle, which is capable of forming a beam pattern having a continuous shape by removing interruption between beam patterns respectively formed by a plurality of optical modules provided in the lamp for a vehicle. 
     An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a lamp for a vehicle, the lamp including: a plurality of optical modules, in which the plurality of optical modules each includes: a light source configured to emit light; an inner lens disposed forward of the light source; a lens holder disposed at one side of the inner lens and provided to be in close contact with the inner lens; and a bezel disposed at the other side of the inner lens and provided to be in close contact with the inner lens, in which a through-hole is provided in at least one lateral surface of the lens holder so that the light emitted from the light source passes through the through-hole. 
     The bezel may include a light transmissive material. 
     The plurality of optical modules may be disposed in a leftward/rightward direction W, the lens holder may include: a first holder region disposed rearward of the inner lens and configured to press at least a part of a rear surface of the inner lens; and a second holder region extending rearward from one end of the first holder region based on the leftward/rightward direction W, and the through-hole may include a lateral through-hole provided in the second holder region. 
     The bezel may include: a first bezel region disposed forward of the inner lens and configured to press at least a part of a front surface of the inner lens; and a second bezel region extending rearward from one end of the first bezel region based on the leftward/rightward direction W, and the second bezel region may face the second holder region in the leftward/rightward direction W. 
     The lens holder may further include a third holder region extending rearward from one end of the first holder region based on an upward/downward direction H, and the third holder region may be made of a non-transmissive material. 
     The first bezel region may be disposed to face a peripheral region of the front surface of the inner lens, and a central region of the first bezel region may be opened in a forward/rearward direction. 
     The plurality of optical modules may include: a first optical module; and a second optical module disposed adjacent to one side of the first optical module in the leftward/rightward direction W, and the first bezel region of the first optical module and the second bezel region of the second optical module may be integrated. 
     The lens holder may further include a fourth holder region extending forward from one end of the first holder region based on the leftward/rightward direction W and configured to surround the inner lens from the outside in the leftward/rightward direction W. 
     The fourth holder region may be provided to be in close contact with a rear surface of the first bezel region. 
     The lens holder may further include a fifth holder region extending forward from one end of the first holder region based on the upward/downward direction H and configured to surround the inner lens from the outside in the upward/downward direction H. 
     The fifth holder region may be provided to be in close contact with a rear surface of the first bezel region. 
     The lateral through-hole may be provided in plural, and the plurality of lateral through-holes may be provided in the second holder region and spaced apart from one another in an upward/downward direction H. 
     The lamp may further include an optic member having light transmissivity and provided to be in close contact with a front surface of the first bezel region, and the optic member may have a shape having a length in a forward/rearward direction that increases in a downward direction. 
     The optic member may have a triangular prismatic shape. 
     The optic member may be provided in plural, and the plurality of optic members may be disposed along a peripheral region of the first bezel region. 
     The inner lens may be a micro-lens array (MLA). 
     The lamp may further include: a collimator disposed between the light source and the inner lens; and a heat sink provided to be in close contact with a rear portion of the light source. 
     The plurality of optical modules may be spaced apart from one another in a leftward/rightward direction W, and the lamp may further include: an additional light source disposed between the two optical modules adjacent to each other in the leftward/rightward direction W; and an additional bezel disposed forward of the additional light source and having two opposite ends disposed in the leftward/rightward direction W and provided to be in close contact with the bezels respectively provided in the two optical modules. 
     The bezel and the additional bezel may have different geometric shapes. 
     Another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a vehicle including: a lamp for a vehicle, including a plurality of optical modules, in which the plurality of optical modules each includes: a light source configured to emit light; an inner lens disposed forward of the light source; a lens holder disposed at one side of the inner lens and provided to be in close contact with the inner lens; and a bezel disposed at the other side of the inner lens and provided to be in close contact with the inner lens, in which a through-hole is provided in at least one lateral surface of the lens holder so that the light emitted from the light source passes through the through-hole. 
     According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide the lamp for a vehicle, which is capable of forming a beam pattern having a continuous shape by removing interruption between beam patterns respectively formed by the plurality of optical modules provided in the lamp for a vehicle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a view perspective view illustrating a structure of a lamp for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating a structure when the lamp for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is cut in a horizontal direction. 
         FIG.  3    is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-section made when one optical module provided in the lamp for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is cut in the horizontal direction. 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-section made when one of the optical modules provided in the lamp for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is cut in a direction parallel to a forward/rearward direction and a vertical direction. 
         FIG.  5    is a transparent perspective view illustrating internal components surrounded by a bezel in the lamp for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    is a front view illustrating a lamp for a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present disclosure when viewed from the front side. 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view illustrating an optic member provided in the lamp for a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  8    is a side view illustrating the lamp for a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present disclosure when viewed from the lateral side. 
         FIG.  9    is a top plan view illustrating a lamp for a vehicle according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure when viewed from above. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, a lamp for a vehicle and a vehicle according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     Lamp for Vehicle 
       FIG.  1    is a view perspective view illustrating a structure of a lamp for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG.  2    is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating a structure when the lamp for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is cut in a horizontal direction.  FIG.  3    is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-section made when one optical module provided in the lamp for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is cut in the horizontal direction, and  FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-section made when one of the optical modules provided in the lamp for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is cut in a direction parallel to a forward/rearward direction and a vertical direction.  FIG.  5    is a transparent perspective view illustrating internal components surrounded by a bezel in the lamp for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  to  5   , a lamp  10  for a vehicle (hereinafter, referred to as a ‘lamp’) according to the present disclosure may include a plurality of optical modules  100 . The plurality of optical modules  100  may each form a predetermined unit beam pattern, and the plurality of unit beam patterns may be collected to implement one beam pattern. In particular, as described below, according to the present disclosure, the plurality of unit beam patterns may be continuously connected, such that the beam pattern having a continuous shape in one direction may be implemented. 
     The plurality of optical modules  100  may each include: a light source  110  configured to emit light; an inner lens  120  disposed forward of the light source  110 ; a lens holder  130  disposed at one side of the inner lens  120  and provided to be in close contact with the inner lens  120 ; and a bezel  140  disposed at the other side of the inner lens  120  and provided to be in close contact with the inner lens  120 . That is, according to the present disclosure, the lens holder  130  and the bezel  140  may fix the inner lens  120  by being in close contact with the inner lens  120 . 
     In this case, as illustrated in  FIG.  5   , according to the present disclosure, a through-hole S may be formed in at least one lateral surface of the lens holder  130  and provide a route through which the light emitted from the light source  110  passes. In addition, the bezel  140  may include a light transmissive material. In particular, the bezel  140  may be made of a light transmissive material. In contrast, the lens holder  130  may be made of a non-transmissive material. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  1  to  5   , the lens holder  130  may be configured to surround not only the inner lens  120 , but also the other components such as the light source  110  provided in the optical module  100 . Therefore, the light beam, which reaches the lens holder  130  made of a non-transmissive material among the light beams emitted from the light source  110 , cannot pass through the lens holder  130 . 
     However, as described above, according to the present disclosure, because the through-hole S is formed in the lens holder  130 , at least some of the light beams, which are emitted from the light source  110  and reach the lens holder  130 , may propagate to the outside through the through-hole S. Therefore, according to the present disclosure, a relatively large unit beam pattern may be formed in one direction by the optical module  100  in comparison with a case in which no through-hole S is formed. 
     More specifically, as illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the plurality of optical modules  100  may be disposed in a leftward/rightward direction W. The lens holder  130  may include: a first holder region  131  disposed rearward of the inner lens  120  and configured to press at least a part of a rear surface of the inner lens  120 ; and a second holder region  132  extending rearward from one end of the first holder region  131  based on the leftward/rightward direction W. In this case, the through-hole S may be a lateral through-hole S provided in the second holder region  132 . Therefore, according to the present disclosure, the beam pattern formed by each of the optical modules  100  is formed not only by the light emitted from the light source  110  and propagating to the outside through the inner lens  120 , but also by the light propagating to the outside through the lateral through-hole S provided in the second holder region  132 . Therefore, the two beam patterns formed by the two optical modules  100  adjacent to each other in the leftward/rightward direction W may be continuously connected. Therefore, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to implement a beam pattern that is slim in an upward/downward direction H and has continuous brightness in the leftward/rightward direction W. For example, as illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the lateral through-hole S may be provided in plural, and the plurality of lateral through-holes S may be provided in the second holder region  132  and spaced apart from one another in the upward/downward direction H. However, only the single lateral through-hole S may be provided in the second holder region  132 . Alternatively, the plurality of lateral through-holes S may be spaced apart from one another in a forward/rearward direction. 
     Meanwhile, it should be interpreted that the configuration in which the plurality of optical modules  100  is disposed in the leftward/rightward direction W may include a case in which the optical modules  100  are disposed so that the distance from the rear side to the optical module increases in one direction of the leftward/rightward direction W, as illustrated in  FIG.  1   . 
     Meanwhile, similar to the lens holder  130 , the bezel  140  may also be divided into a plurality of regions. For example, the bezel  140  may include: a first bezel region  141  disposed forward of the inner lens  120  and configured to press at least a part of a front surface of the inner lens  120 ; and a second bezel region  142  extending rearward from one end of the first bezel region  141  based on the leftward/rightward direction W. In this case, as illustrated in  FIGS.  2  and  3   , the first bezel region  141  may be disposed to face the first holder region  131  in the leftward/rightward direction W with the inner lens  120  interposed therebetween, and the second bezel region  142  may be disposed to face the second holder region  132  in the leftward/rightward direction W. Therefore, according to the present disclosure, the light exiting the lateral through-hole S provided in the second holder region  132  may propagate to the outside through the second bezel region  142 . Meanwhile, as described above, the bezel  140  may be made of a light transmissive material, and thus the second bezel region  142  may also be made of a light transmissive material. Therefore, the light exiting the lateral through-hole S may propagate to the outside through the second bezel region  142 . 
     Meanwhile, referring to  FIG.  4   , the lens holder  130  may further include a third holder region  133  extending rearward from one end of the first holder region  131  based on the upward/downward direction H. For example, as illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the third holder region  133  may have a shape extending rearward from two opposite ends of the first holder region  131  based on the upward/downward direction H. 
     In this case, according to the present disclosure, the third holder region  133  may be made of a non-transmissive material, and the third holder region  133  may have no through-hole S. Therefore, according to the present disclosure, the light emitted from the light source  110  of the optical module  100  may not propagate to the outside through the upper and lower surfaces of the lens holder  130 . Therefore, according to the present disclosure, the unit beam pattern formed by the optical module  100  may be expanded in the leftward/rightward direction without being expanded in the upward/downward direction. Therefore, the beam pattern (e.g., the low beam light distribution pattern) may meet the prescribed regulations. 
     Meanwhile, the first bezel region  141  may be disposed to face a peripheral region of the front surface of the inner lens  120 . A central region of the first bezel region  141  may be opened in the forward/rearward direction. Therefore, the first bezel region  141  may press the peripheral region of the inner lens  120 . 
     Meanwhile, as illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the plurality of optical modules  100  provided in the lamp  10  according to the present disclosure may include a first optical module  100   a , and a second optical module  100   b  disposed adjacent to one side of the first optical module  100   a  in the leftward/rightward direction W. In this case, according to the present disclosure, the first bezel region  141  of the first optical module  100   a  and the second bezel region  142  of the second optical module  100   b  may be integrated. 
     The above-mentioned contents may be equally applied to the two optical modules  100  disposed adjacent to each other in the leftward/rightward direction W in the lamp  10  according to the present disclosure. In this case, the plurality of bezels  140  constituting the plurality of optical modules  100  provided in the lamp  10  according to the present disclosure may be integrated. However, the bezels  140  provided in the respective optical modules  100  may be separately provided. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , according to the present disclosure, the lens holder  130  may include a fourth holder region  134  extending forward from one end of the first holder region  131  based on the leftward/rightward direction W and configured to surround the inner lens  120  from the outside in the leftward/rightward direction W. In this case, the fourth holder region  134  may press the inner lens  120  in the leftward/rightward direction W and be provided to be in close contact with a rear surface of the first bezel region  141 . Therefore, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to more effectively prevent the separation of the inner lens  120  in the leftward/rightward direction W. 
     In addition, as illustrated in  FIG.  4   , according to the present disclosure, the lens holder  130  may further include a fifth holder region  135  extending forward from one end of the first holder region  131  based on the upward/downward direction H and configured to surround the inner lens  120  from the outside in the upward/downward direction H. In this case, the fifth holder region  135  may press the inner lens  120  in the upward/downward direction H and be provided to be in close contact with the rear surface of the first bezel region  141 . Therefore, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to more effectively prevent the separation of the inner lens  120  in the upward/downward direction H. Similar to the third holder region  133 , the fifth holder region  135  may also have a shape extending from the two opposite ends of the first holder region  131  based on the upward/downward direction H. 
       FIG.  6    is a front view illustrating a lamp for a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present disclosure when viewed from the front side, and  FIG.  7    is a perspective view illustrating an optic member provided in the lamp for a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG.  8    is a side view illustrating the lamp for a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present disclosure when viewed from the lateral side. 
     The contents described above with reference to  FIGS.  1  to  5    may be equally applied to the lamp  10  according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. However, the lamp  10  according to another embodiment of the present disclosure differs from the lamp  10  according to the embodiment of the present disclosure in that an optic member  150  is additionally provided in the lamp  10 . 
     That is, referring to  FIGS.  6  to  8   , the lamp  10  according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may further include the optic member  150  having light transmissivity and provided to be in close contact with the front surface of the first bezel region  141  (see  FIG.  2   ). 
     The optic member  150  provided in the lamp  10  according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may be configured to refract downward the light exiting the first bezel region  141  and allow the light to propagate to the outside. Therefore, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the optic member  150  may more effectively form the beam pattern (e.g., the low beam light distribution pattern) that meets the prescribed regulations. Further, the optic member  150  may prevent the internal components in the optical module  100  from being visible from the outside. 
     To this end, the optic member  150  may have a shape having a length in the forward/rearward direction that increases in the downward direction. For example, as illustrated in  FIG.  7   , the optic member  150  may have a triangular prismatic shape. In addition, as illustrated in  FIGS.  6  and  8   , the optic member  150  may be provided in plural, and the plurality of optic members  150  may be disposed along the peripheral region of the first bezel region  141 . However, the optic members  150  may be respectively disposed on left and right portions of the first bezel region  141 , one for each of the left and right portions. 
       FIG.  9    is a top plan view illustrating a lamp for a vehicle according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure when viewed from above. 
     The contents described above with reference to  FIGS.  1  to  8    may be equally applied to the lamp according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure. However, the present embodiment of the present disclosure differs from the above-mentioned embodiment in that additional light sources  210  and additional bezels  220  are further provided in the lamp  10 . 
     That is, as illustrated in  FIG.  9   , according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of optical modules  100  is provided to be spaced apart from one another in the leftward/rightward direction W. The lamp may further include: the additional light source  210  provided between the two optical modules  100  adjacent to each other in the leftward/rightward direction W; and the additional bezel  220  disposed forward of the additional light source  210  and having two opposite ends disposed in the leftward/rightward direction W and provided to be in close contact with the bezels  140  respectively provided in the two optical modules  100 . 
     The additional light source  210  and the additional bezel  220  according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure may be configured to allow the beam pattern formed by the lamp  10  according to the present disclosure to have more continuous brightness. Therefore, the components such as the inner lens may not be provided between the additional light source  210  and the additional bezel  220  because the additional beam pattern only needs to be formed by the additional light source  210  and the additional bezel  220  in the region between the two unit beam patterns respectively formed by the two adjacent optical modules  100 . Furthermore, the additional bezel  220  only needs to fill the space between the two bezels  140  respectively provided in the two adjacent optical modules  100 . Therefore, the bezel  140  and the additional bezel  220  may have different geometric shapes. 
     Meanwhile, the inner lens  120  provided in the lamp  10  according to the present disclosure may be a micro-lens array (MLA). However, the type of inner lens  120  is not limited thereto. 
     In addition, the lamp  10  according to the present disclosure may further include a collimator  160  disposed between the light source  110  and the inner lens  120 , and a heat sink  170  provided to be in contact with a rear portion of the light source  110 . 
     Vehicle 
     A vehicle according to the present disclosure may include the lamp  10  for a vehicle including the plurality of optical modules  100 . The lamp  10  may be a headlamp, for example, a low beam headlamp. 
     The plurality of optical modules  100  may each include: the light source  110  configured to emit light; the inner lens  120  disposed forward of the light source  110 ; the lens holder  130  disposed at one side of the inner lens  120  and provided to be in close contact with the inner lens  120 ; and the bezel  140  disposed at the other side of the inner lens  120  and provided to be in close contact with the inner lens  120 . 
     In this case, according to the present disclosure, the through-hole S may be provided in at least one lateral surface of the lens holder  130  and allow the light emitted from the light source  110  to pass through the through-hole S. 
     Meanwhile, the above-mentioned contents related to the lamp according to the present disclosure may be equally applied to the vehicle according to the present disclosure, and vice versa. 
     The present disclosure has been described with reference to the limited embodiments and the drawings, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The present disclosure may be carried out in various forms by those skilled in the art, to which the present disclosure pertains, within the technical spirit of the present disclosure and the scope equivalent to the appended claims.