Patent Publication Number: US-7223000-B2

Title: Vehicle lighting device

Description:
The present application claims foreign priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. P.2005-160984, filed on Jun. 1, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a vehicle lighting device with a reflector having a transmissive member. 
   2. Related Art 
   In vehicle lighting devices, light emitted from a light source on an optical axis extending in front and rear direction is reflected toward a front side by a reflector. Disclosed in JP-A-05-120903 is a reflector having a transmissive member. 
   In a vehicle lighting device disclosed in JP-A-05-120903, an exterior surface of the reflector of the transmissive member is formed with a plurality of total reflection prisms so that light emitted from a light source is reflected toward a front side of the lighting device by using the total reflection in each of the total reflection prisms. 
   In addition, discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,781 is a reflector made of a transmissive member having an exterior surface formed with a plurality of protruding portions extending in a radial pattern with respect to an optical axis and each of the protruding portions has a total reflection prism of which a cross section belonging to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis is set to have approximately a V shape, even though the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,781 is not a vehicle lighting device. 
   As disclosed in JP-A-05-120903 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,781, in the case in which the reflector is made of the transmissive member and the exterior surface of the reflector is formed with a plurality of total reflection prisms, it is possible to omit a process of forming a mirror surface on the reflector, which allows a cost of manufacturing a lighting device to be saved. 
   In this case, by constructing such that a vehicle lighting device includes the reflector as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,781, it is possible to realize the total reflection on the exterior surface over almost an entire region of the reflector and to make the direction of the totally reflected light approximately parallel to the direction of light reflected from an interior surface. Accordingly, most of the light beams emitted from a light source can be effectively used as illumination light emitted toward the front side of the lighting device. 
   However, since the exterior surface of the reflector disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,781 is formed with the plurality of protruding portions extending in a radial pattern with respect to an optical axis, the light distribution pattern formed by the light reflected from the reflector becomes a circular light distribution pattern, which causes a problem in that it is not possible to form a horizontally long light distribution pattern that the vehicle lighting device is supposed to form. 
   In this case, for some of the plurality of protruding portions, by properly changing the angle of inclination of a pair of inclined surfaces forming the protruding portion, it is possible to make the light reflected from a corresponding protruding portion slightly diffused in the direction of a tangential line of the circumference with respect to the optical axis. However, at this time, when the angle of inclination changes largely, the total reflection at the protruding portion cannot be maintained. For this reason, from the view point of an effective use of light beams emitted from a light source, the allowable variation amount of the angle of inclination of each inclined surface is extremely small. Accordingly, even though it is possible to slightly change the shape of the circular light distribution pattern by using the construction described above, the problem in which the horizontally long light distribution pattern cannot be formed still occurs. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   One or more embodiments of the invention provide a vehicle lighting device with a reflector made of a transmissive member, which is capable of forming a horizontally long light distribution pattern such that most of the light beams emitted from a light source can be effectively used as illumination light emitted toward a front side of the vehicle lighting device. 
   In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, an exterior surface of a reflector made of a transmissive member is formed with a plurality of protruding portions extending in a radial pattern with respect to an optical axis, and the exterior surface of the reflector is divided into a plurality of fan-shaped reflective regions and the configuration of each of the protruding portions is set to be different according to the position of the fan-shaped reflective region. 
   Moreover, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, a vehicle lighting device is provided with: a light source disposed on an optical axis extending in front and rear directions of the vehicle lighting device; and a reflector having a transmissive member that reflects light emitted from the light source toward a front of the vehicle lighting device. The reflector includes a plurality of fan-shaped reflective regions. Each of the plurality of fan-shaped reflective regions includes a predetermined number of protruding portions formed on an exterior surface of the reflector and extending in a radial direction with respect to the optical axis. Each of the protruding portions has a total reflection prism of which a cross section belonging to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis is set to have approximately a V shape. A fan-shaped reflective region of the plurality of fan-shaped reflective regions located in left and right directions of the optical axis reflects the light emitted from the light source in a direction deviating from the direction of the optical axis within a plane including the optical axis, more than a fan-shaped reflective region located in up and down directions of the optical axis. 
   The ‘vehicle lighting device’ is not specially limited, but for example, a headlamp, a fog lamp, a cornering lamp, a tail lamp, a stop lamp, a back up lamp, a turn signal lamp, a daytime running lamp may be adopted as the vehicle lighting device. 
   The ‘front and rear directions’ may be equal to the front and rear directions of a vehicle or different from the front and rear directions of the vehicle. 
   The ‘light source’ is not specially limited, but for example, a light-emitting portion of a discharge bulb or a halogen bulb, or a light-emitting chip of a light-emitting element, such as a light-emitting diode, may be adopted as the light source. 
   The periphery of the ‘reflector’ may not necessarily completely surround the optical axis. In addition, a material of the ‘transmissive member’ forming the reflector is not specially limited as long as it has a transmissive property. For example, a synthetic resin or a glass may be used as the material of the transmissive member. 
   The ‘protruding portion’ means a protruding portion extending in a line shape. 
   A specific value of ‘predetermined number’ of protruding portions included in each of the fan-shaped reflective regions is not specially limited. For example, the predetermined number may be one or two or more. In addition, the fan-shaped reflective regions have the same number of fan-shaped reflective regions or a different number of fan-shaped reflective regions. 
   As long as the ‘plurality of fan-shaped reflective regions’ is configured such that the fan-shaped reflective regions located in the left and right directions of, the optical axis reflect the light emitted from the light source in the direction deviating from the direction of the optical axis within the plane including the optical axis more than the fan-shaped reflective regions located in the up and down directions of the optical axis, the specific configurations of fan-shaped reflective regions other than the fan-shaped reflective regions located in the left and right directions of the optical axis and the fan-shaped reflective regions located in the up and down directions of the optical axis are not specially limited. 
   The ‘direction deviating from the direction of the optical axis within the plane including the optical axis’ may be equal to the direction of the corresponding fan-shaped reflective region with respect to the optical axis or opposite thereto. 
   A specific configuration for realizing that the ‘fan-shaped reflective regions located in the left and right directions of the optical axis’ reflect the light emitted from the light source in the direction deviating from the direction of the optical axis within the plane including the optical axis more than the ‘fan-shaped reflective regions located in the up and down directions of the optical axis’ is not specially limited. 
   The condition in which the light emitted from the light source is ‘reflected in the direction deviating from the direction of the optical axis’ may be either a condition in which all of the light beams emitted from the light source is reflected in the direction deviating from the direction of the optical axis or a condition in which some of the light beams emitted from the light source is reflected in the direction deviating from the direction of the optical axis. 
   The ‘fan-shaped reflective region located in the left and right directions of the optical axis’ means a fan-shaped reflective region located in the vicinity of a horizontal plane including the optical axis. At this time, if a fan-shaped reflective region crossing the horizontal plane including the optical axis exists, the fan-shaped reflective region is the ‘fan-shaped reflective region located in the left and right directions of the optical axis’, and if the fan-shaped reflective region crossing the horizontal plane including the optical axis does not exist, a fan-shaped reflective region closest to the horizontal plane including the optical axis is the ‘fan-shaped reflective region located in the left and right directions of the optical axis’. 
   The ‘fan-shaped reflective region located in the up and down directions of the optical axis’ means a fan-shaped reflective region located in the vicinity of a vertical plane including the optical axis. At this time, if a fan-shaped reflective region crossing the vertical plane including the optical axis exists, the fan-shaped reflective region is the ‘fan-shaped reflective region located in the up and down directions of the optical axis’, and if the fan-shaped reflective region crossing the vertical plane including the optical axis does not exist, a fan-shaped reflective region closest to the vertical plane including the optical axis is the ‘fan-shaped reflective region located in the up and down directions of the optical axis’. 
   If a pair of fan-shaped reflective regions corresponding to the ‘fan-shaped reflective regions located in the left and right directions of the optical axis’ exist at the left and right sides of the optical axis, preferably, at least one of the fan-shaped reflective regions reflects the light emitted from the light source in the direction deviating from the direction of the optical axis more than the fan-shaped reflective regions (more than any of a pair of fan-shaped reflective regions, if the pair of fan-shaped reflective regions corresponding to the ‘fan-shaped reflective regions located in the up and down directions of the optical axis’ exists at the up and down sides of the optical axis) located in the up and down directions of the optical axis. 
   As can be seen from the configuration described above, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, in the vehicle lighting device, the light emitted from the light source, which is disposed on the optical axis extending in the front and rear directions of the vehicle lighting device, is reflected toward the front of the vehicle lighting device by means of the reflector having the transmissive member. In addition, the exterior surface of the reflector is formed with the plurality of protruding portions extending in a radial pattern with respect to the optical axis, and each of the protruding portions has a total reflection prism of which a cross section belonging to the plane perpendicular to the optical axis is set to have approximately a V shape. Accordingly, it is possible to realize the total reflection on the exterior surface over almost an entire region of the reflector and to make the direction of the totally reflected light approximately parallel to the direction of light reflected from the interior surface of the reflector. As a result, most of the light beams emitted from the light source can be effectively used as illumination light emitted toward the front side of the lighting device. 
   The reflector is divided into a plurality of fan-shaped reflective regions each having a predetermined number of protruding portions, and among the plurality of fan-shaped reflective regions, the fan-shaped reflective regions located in the left and right directions of the optical axis reflect the light emitted from the light source in the direction deviating from the direction of the optical axis within the plane including the optical axis more than the fan-shaped reflective regions located in the up and down directions of the optical axis. Accordingly, it is possible to form a horizontally long light distribution pattern by means of the light reflected from the reflector. 
   As describe above, in the vehicle lighting device with the reflector having the transmissive member according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the horizontally long light distribution pattern can be formed such that most of the light beams emitted from the light source can be effectively used as the illumination light emitted toward the front side of the vehicle lighting device. 
   In the invention, it has been described that the specific configuration, in which the fan-shaped reflective regions located in the left and right directions of the optical axis reflect the light emitted from the light source in the direction deviating from the direction of the optical axis more than the fan-shaped reflective regions located in the up and down directions of the optical axis, is not specially limited. Further, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, the cross sectional shape of the interior surface of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions located in the up and down directions of the optical axis may be a parabola having the optical axis as a symmetrical axis and a point near the light source as a focus and the cross sectional shape of an interior surface of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions located in the left and right directions of the optical axis may be the curve obtained by modifying the parabola. When the vehicle lighting device has the above configuration, the following effects can be obtained. That is, as compared with a light distribution pattern formed in a case in which the cross sectional shape is the parabola, the light distribution pattern formed by the light reflected from the fan-shaped reflective regions located in the left and right directions of the optical axis can be formed as a horizontally long light distribution pattern obtained, for example, by extending the light distribution pattern formed in the above case in the left and right directions. As a result, the light distribution pattern, which is formed by the entire light illumination from the vehicle lighting device, can also be formed as a horizontally long light distribution pattern. At this time, it is possible to adopt, for example, a hyperbola or an ellipse as the curve obtained by modifying the parabola. 
   Alternatively, the cross sectional shape of an interior surface of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions located in the up and down directions of the optical axis may be a parabola having the optical axis as a symmetrical axis and a point near the light source as a focus and the cross sectional shape of an interior surface of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions located in the left and right directions of the optical axis may be a curve obtained by making the parabola inclined within the plane with the focus as the center. When the vehicle lighting device has the above configuration, the following effects can be obtained. That is, as compared with the light distribution pattern formed in the case in which the cross sectional shape is the parabola, the light distribution pattern formed by the light reflected from the fan-shaped reflective regions located in the left and right directions of the optical axis can be formed as a light distribution pattern obtained by moving the light distribution pattern in parallel in the left and right directions thereof. As a result, the light distribution pattern, which is formed by the entire light illumination from the vehicle lighting device, can be formed as a horizontally long light distribution pattern. 
   Alternatively, the cross sectional shape of an interior surface of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions located in the up and down directions of the optical axis may be a parabola having the optical axis as a symmetrical axis and a point near the light source as a focus and the axis-including cross sectional shape of an interior surface of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions located in the left and right directions of the optical axis may be a curve obtained by moving the parabola in parallel within the plane. When the vehicle lighting device has the above configuration, the following effects can be obtained. That is, as compared with the light distribution pattern formed in the case in which the cross sectional shape is the parabola, the light distribution pattern formed by the light reflected from the fan-shaped reflective regions located in the left and right directions of the optical axis can be formed as a light distribution pattern obtained by moving the light distribution pattern in parallel in the left and right directions thereof. As a result, the light distribution pattern, which is formed by the entire light illumination from the vehicle lighting device, can be formed as a horizontally long light distribution pattern. At this time, the direction in which the parabola moves in parallel within the plane including the optical axis may be the front and rear directions, the left and right directions, or the inclined direction. 
   Alternatively, the cross sectional shape of an interior surface of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions located in the up and down directions of the optical axis may be a parabola having the optical axis as a symmetrical axis and a point near the light source as a focus and the axis-including cross sectional shape of an interior surface of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions located in the left and right directions of the optical axis may be a waveform curve having irregularities with the parabola as a reference line, the following effects can be obtained. That is, as compared with the light distribution pattern formed in the case in which the cross sectional shape is the parabola, the light distribution pattern formed by the light reflected from the fan-shaped reflective regions located in the left and right directions of the optical axis can be formed as a horizontally long light distribution pattern obtained, for example, by extending the light distribution pattern formed in the above case in the left and right directions. As a result, the light distribution pattern, which is formed by the entire light illumination from the vehicle lighting device, can also be formed as a horizontally long light distribution pattern. 
   In addition, as the specific configuration in which the fan-shaped reflective regions located in the left and right directions of the optical axis reflect the light emitted from the light source in the direction deviating from the direction of the optical axis more than the fan-shaped reflective regions located in the up and down directions of the optical axis, those configurations described above may be properly combined. 
   In addition, by configuring such that the shape of a cross section, which belongs to the plane perpendicular to the optical axis, of the interior surface of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions is set to be an arc shape having the optical axis as the center and the shapes of cross sections, which belong to the plane perpendicular to the optical axis, of a pair of inclined surfaces forming each of the protruding portions are set to be convex curves, it is possible to make the light, which is emitted from the light source to be then incident on each of the fan-shaped reflective regions, reflected toward the same direction as the light incident on the corresponding fan-shaped reflective region in high precision as viewed from the front side of the lighting device, as compared with a case in which those shape are straight lines. 
   Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front view illustrating a vehicle lighting device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side sectional view of the vehicle lighting device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a detailed view illustrating main parts shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a detailed cross-sectional view taken along the line IV—IV of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a part of a fan-shaped reflective region, which is located immediately above an optical axis, and a light source. 
       FIG. 6  is a view illustrating the shape of a cross section, which belongs to a plane including the optical axis, of an interior surface of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions included in a reflector of the vehicle lighting device. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating a high-beam mode light distribution pattern formed on a virtual vertical screen, which is disposed at the location that is 25 m from the vehicle lighting device, by means of light illuminated toward the front from the vehicle lighting device. 
       FIG. 8  is a view illustrating the corresponding relationships between each of the fan-shaped reflective regions included in the reflector and each of the light distribution patterns forming a high-beam mode light distribution pattern, as viewed from the rear side of the reflector in the vehicle lighting device. 
       FIG. 9  is a view illustrating the configuration of a second exemplary embodiment of the invention, which corresponds to  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 10  is a view illustrating an operation of the second exemplary embodiment of the invention, which corresponds to  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 11  is a view illustrating an operation of the second exemplary embodiment of the invention, which corresponds to  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 12  is a view illustrating the configuration of a third exemplary embodiment of the invention, which corresponds to  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 13  is a view illustrating an operation of the third exemplary embodiment of the invention, which corresponds to  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 14  is a view illustrating an operation of the third exemplary embodiment of the invention, which corresponds to  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 15  is a view illustrating a vehicle lighting device according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention, which corresponds to  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 16  is a detailed cross-sectional view taken along the line XVI—XVI of  FIG. 15 . 
       FIG. 17  is a view illustrating an operation of the fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention, which corresponds to  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 18  is a view illustrating an operation of the fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention, which corresponds to  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 19  is a view illustrating the configuration of a fifth exemplary embodiment of the invention, which corresponds to  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 20  is a view illustrating the configuration of the fifth exemplary embodiment of the invention, which corresponds to  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 21  is a view illustrating an operation of the fifth exemplary embodiment of the invention, which corresponds to  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 22  is a view illustrating an operation of the fifth exemplary embodiment of the invention, which corresponds to  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 23  is a front view illustrating a headlamp in which the vehicle lighting device according to the first exemplary embodiment is mounted as a headlamp unit. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
   Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
   First, a first exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described. 
     FIG. 1  is a front view illustrating a vehicle lighting device according to the present exemplary embodiment,  FIG. 2  is a side sectional view of the vehicle lighting device shown in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3  is a detailed view illustrating main parts shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a vehicle lighting device  10  according to the present exemplary embodiment is composed of a headlamp unit that illuminates light so as to form a high-beam mode light distribution pattern and is used in a state being located within a lamp body (not shown), for example. 
   The vehicle lighting device  10  includes a light source bulb  12 , which is disposed on an optical axis Ax extending in the front and rear directions of the vehicle lighting device  10 , and a reflector  14  which reflects light emitted from the light source bulb  12  toward a front side of the vehicle lighting device  10 , and the vehicle lighting device  10  is used in a state in which the optical axis Ax extends in the front and rear directions of a vehicle. 
   The light source bulb  12  is a halogen bulb that uses a filament as a light source  12   a , and the light source  12   a  is a linear light source extending along a central axis of a bulb. In addition, the light source bulb  12  is inserted into an opening portion  14   c  located at a rear vertex of the reflector  14  so as to be fixed, and the light source  12   a  is disposed along the optical axis Ax. 
   The reflector  14  includes a transmissive member made of transparent resin. For example, transparent and colorless acrylic resin or polycarbonate resin may be used as the transparent resin forming the transmissive member. 
   The reflector  14  is divided into twelve fan-shaped reflective regions  14 A,  14 B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F,  14 G,  14 H,  14 I,  14 J,  14 K, and  14 L each having central angle of 30° with respect to the optical axis Ax as the center. 
   An interior surface  14   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 A,  14 B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F,  14 G,  14 H,  14 I,  14 J,  14 K, and  14 L is a single curve. On the other hand, an exterior surface  14   b  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 A,  14 B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F,  14 G,  14 H,  14 I,  14 J,  14 K, and  14 L is composed of three protruding portions  20  extending in a radial pattern with respect to the optical axis Ax. 
   Each of the protruding portions  20  is formed with a total reflection prism protruding portions  20  of which a cross sectional shape (hereinafter, simply referred to as a ‘cross sectional shape perpendicular to the optical axis Ax’) belonging to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis Ax is set to have approximately a V shape. At this time, in each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 A,  14 B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F,  14 G,  14 H,  14 I,  14 J,  14 K, and  14 L, the three protruding portions  20  forming the exterior surface  14   b  have the same shapes. 
     FIG. 4  is a detailed cross-sectional view taken along the line IV—IV of  FIG. 3 . In addition,  FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a part of the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A, which is located immediately above the optical axis Ax, and the light source  12   a.    
   As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the interior surface  14   a  of the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A is composed of a rotary parabolic surface of which the center is the optical axis Ax and a focus is an emission center of the light source  12   a.  Accordingly, some of the light beams reaching from the light source  12   a  to the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A are reflected from the interior surface  14   a  of the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A in a direction parallel to the optical axis Ax. 
   On the other hand, in each of the protruding portions  20  forming the exterior surface  14   b  of the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A, the pair of inclined surfaces is all convex curved surfaces. At this time, in the pair of inclined surfaces forming each protruding portion  20 , the cross sectional shape perpendicular to the optical axis Ax is set to be approximately a circular arc and convex curve shape, and the vertical angle of the prism is set to approximately 90° within a cross section vertical to the interior surface  14   a.  Thus, light, which reaches from the light source  12   a  to the interior surface  14   a  of the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A and then penetrates into each protruding portion  20 , is totally reflected and is then emitted in the same direction as an incidence direction toward the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A as viewed from the front side of the lighting device. 
   Hereinafter, an operation of the total reflection on the exterior surface  14   b  of the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A will be described in detail. 
   That is, as shown in  FIG. 4 , in the interior surface  14   a  of the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A, the cross sectional shape perpendicular to the optical axis Ax is an arc shape having the optical axis Ax as the center; therefore, within a plane perpendicular to the optical axis Ax, the light emitted from the light source  12   a  is incident on the interior surface  14   a  at a right angle, totally reflected by the pair of inclined surfaces forming each protruding portion  20  twice, and then outgoes from the interior surface  14   a.    
   At this time, as shown by double-dotted chain line in  FIG. 4 , assuming that each protruding portion  20  is composed of a right-angle prism, light emitted from the light source  12   a  to be then incident on the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A is totally reflected by the pair of inclined surfaces forming each protruding portion  20  twice and then returns in the same direction as before the total reflections. At a time when the light reaches the interior surface  14   a , since the location at which the light reaches the interior surface  14   a  is apart from the incidence location, the light is not positioned at a right angle with respect to the interior surface  14   a.  Accordingly, the light is refracted when the light outgoes from the interior surface  14   a , and as a result, the direction of the light outgoing from the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A becomes different from the direction of the light incident on the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A. 
   For this reason, in the present exemplary embodiment, since the cross sectional shape perpendicular to the optical axis Ax in the pair of inclined surfaces forming each protruding portion  20  is set to a convex curved shape, light emitted from the light source  12   a  to be then incident on the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A is totally reflected by the pair of inclined surfaces forming each protruding portion  20  twice and then returns not in the same direction from before the total reflections but in the direction slightly inclined toward the incidence location. Even at a time when the light reaches the interior surface  14   a , since the light is not positioned at a right angle with respect to the interior surface  14   a , the light is refracted when the light outgoes from the interior surface  14   a.  Due to the refraction, the outgoing direction of the light can be the same as the incidence direction. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , each protruding portion  20  forming the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A is formed such that the thickness thereof increases gradually from an inner periphery of the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A toward an outer periphery thereof and the curvatures of the pair of inclined surfaces gradually vary. Thus, the light outgoing from the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A becomes light parallel to the optical axis Ax, in the same manner as light reflected from the interior surface  14   a.    
   Hereinafter, a more detailed description will be made. 
   In order to explain the operation of the total reflection on the exterior surface  14   b  of the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A, it has been described in  FIG. 4  that the light is incident and outgoes within a plane perpendicular to the optical axis Ax. However, in reality, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the light emitted from the light source  12   a  is not incident at a right angle with respect to each position of the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A, and the light emitted from the light source  12   a  outgoes from the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A at a location farther than the incidence location of light toward the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A. Therefore, by gradually increasing the thickness of each protruding portion  20  from the inner periphery of the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A toward the outer periphery thereof and gradually varying the curvatures of the pair of inclined surfaces, the light outgoing from the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A can be parallel to the optical axis Ax. 
   Among the eleven fan-shaped reflective regions  14 B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F,  14 G,  14 H,  14 I,  14 J,  14 K, and  14 L, which form the reflector  14 , other than the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A, the fan-shaped reflective region  14 G located immediately below the optical axis Ax has completely the same configuration as the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A. The other ten fan-shaped reflective regions  14 B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F,  14 H,  14 I,  14 J,  14 K, and  14 L has approximately the same configuration as the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A; however, the shape of a cross section, which belongs to a plane including the optical axis Ax, of the interior surface  14   a  of each of the ten fan-shaped reflective regions  14 B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F,  14 H,  14 I,  14 J,  14 K, and  14 L is different from that of the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A. 
     FIG. 6  is a view illustrating the shape of a cross section, which belongs to a plane including the optical axis Ax, of the interior surface  14   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 A,  14 B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F,  14 G,  14 H,  14 I,  14 J,  14 K, and  14 L included in the reflector  14 . 
   In  FIG. 6 , the shape (hereinafter, simply referred to as an ‘axis-including cross sectional shape’) of across section, which belongs to a plane including the optical axis Ax, of the interior surface  14   a  of the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A located immediately above the optical axis Ax is composed of a parabola P (that is, the shape of a cross section including the central axis in the rotary parabolic surface) having the optical axis Ax as a symmetrical axis and the emission center of the light source  12   a  as a focus. This is the same as for the fan-shaped reflective region  14 G located immediately below the optical axis Ax. 
   The axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  14   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 B and  14 L, which are adjacent to left and right sides of the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A, and the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 F and  14 H, which are adjacent to left and right sides of the fan-shaped reflective region  14 G, is a hyperbola H 1  obtained by slightly expanding the parabola P in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax. The focus of the hyperbola H 1  is positioned at the emission center of the light source  12   a.  Accordingly, by means of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 B,  14 L,  14 F, and  14 H, it is possible to reflect the light emitted from the light source  12   a  so as to be slightly diffused in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax. 
   The axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  14   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 C and  14 K, which are adjacent to a right side of the fan-shaped reflective region  14 B and a left side of the fan-shaped reflective region  14 L, and the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  14   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 E and  14 I, which are adjacent to a right side of the fan-shaped reflective region  14 F and a left side of the fan-shaped reflective region  14 H, is a hyperbola H 2  obtained by expanding the parabola P in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax more than for the hyperbola H 1 . The focus of the hyperbola H 2  is positioned at the emission center of the light source  12   a.  Accordingly, by means of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 C,  14 K,  14 E, and  14 I, it is possible to reflect the light emitted from the light source  12   a  so as to be diffused in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax and at an angle slightly larger than in the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 B,  14 L,  14 F, and  14 H. 
   The axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  14   a  of each of the pair of fan-shaped reflective regions  14 D and  14 J, which are disposed in the left and right directions of the optical axis Ax, is a hyperbola H 3  obtained by expanding the parabola P in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax more than for the hyperbola H 2 . The focus of the hyperbola H 3  is positioned at the emission center of the light source  12   a.  Accordingly, by means of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 D and  14 J, it is possible to reflect the light emitted from the light source  12   a  so as to be diffused in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax and at an angle larger than in the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 C,  14 K,  14 E, and  14 I. 
     FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating a high-beam mode light distribution pattern formed on a virtual vertical screen, which is disposed at the location that is 25 m from the vehicle lighting device  10 , by means of light illuminated toward the front from the vehicle lighting device  10  according to the present exemplary embodiment. 
   The high-beam mode light distribution pattern PH 1  is a horizontally long light distribution pattern expanding in left and right directions with respect to H-V as a vanishing point and has a hot zone HZ, which is a high light intensity region, in the central portion thereof. 
   The high-beam mode light distribution pattern PH 1  is a synthesized light distribution pattern obtained by overlapping twelve light distribution patterns Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pl that are formed by the light reflected from the twelve fan-shaped reflective regions  14 A,  14 B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F,  14 G,  14 H,  14 I,  14 J,  14 K, and  14 L included in the reflector  14 . 
     FIG. 8  is a view illustrating the corresponding relationships between each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 A,  14 B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F,  14 G,  14 H,  14 I,  14 J,  14 K, and  14 L included in the reflector  14  and each of the light distribution patterns Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pl forming the high-beam mode light distribution pattern PH 1 , as viewed from the rear side of the reflector  14 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 8 , each of the light distribution patterns Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pl is formed with respect to H-V, in the same manner as the positional relationship of an angle of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 A,  14 B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F,  14 G,  14 H,  14 I,  14 J,  14 K, and  14 L with respect to the optical axis Ax. 
   Since the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  14   a  of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 A and  14 G is the parabola P, the light distribution patterns Pa and Pg become spot shaped light distribution patterns each having H-V as the center. At this time, each of the light distribution patterns Pa and Pg has approximately an elliptical shape which is slightly long in the vertical direction, because the light source  12   a  is a linear light source disposed along the optical axis Ax. 
   Further, since the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  14   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 B,  14 F,  14 H, and  14 L is the hyperbola H 1  obtained by slightly expanding the parabola P in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax, each of the light distribution patterns Pb, Pf, Ph, and Pl becomes a light distribution pattern obtained by slightly expanding the light distribution pattern, which is shown by a double dotted chain line and is formed in a case when the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  14   a  is the parabola P, in the direction deviating from H-V along the longitudinal direction thereof. 
   Furthermore, since the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  14   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 C,  14 E,  14 I, and  14 K is the hyperbola H 2  obtained by expanding the parabola P in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax more than for the hyperbola H 1 , each of the light distribution patterns Pc, Pe, Pi, and Pk becomes a light distribution pattern obtained by expanding the light distribution pattern, which is shown by a double dotted chain line and is formed in a case when the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  14   a  is the parabola P, in the direction deviating from H-V along the longitudinal direction thereof and at an angle slightly larger than for the light distribution patterns Pb, Pf, Ph, and Pl. 
   Furthermore, since the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  14   a  of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 D and  14 J is the hyperbola H 3  obtained by expanding the parabola P in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax more than for the hyperbola H 2 , each of the light distribution patterns Pd and Pj becomes a light distribution pattern obtained by expanding the light distribution pattern, which is shown by a double dotted chain line and is formed in a case when the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  14   a  is the parabola P, in the direction deviating from H-V along the longitudinal direction thereof and at an angle larger than for the light distribution patterns Pc, Pe, Pi, and Pk. At this time, each of the light distribution patterns Pd and Pj becomes a horizontally long light distribution pattern expanding in the left and right directions along the line H—H. 
   As described above in detail, the vehicle lighting device  10  according to the present exemplary embodiment reflects the light emitted from the light source  12   a , which is disposed on the optical axis Ax extending in the front and rear direction of the vehicle lighting device  10 , toward the front of the vehicle lighting device  10  by using the reflector  14  with a transmissive member. Here, since the exterior surface  14   b  of the reflector  14  is formed with the plurality of protruding portions  20  extending in a radial pattern with respect to the optical axis Ax and each of the protruding portions  20  has a total reflection prism of which a cross section belonging to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis Ax is set to have approximately a V shape, it is possible to realize the total reflection on the exterior surface  14   b  over almost the entire area of the reflector  14  and to make the direction of the totally reflected light approximately parallel to the direction of light reflected from the interior surface  14   a.  As a result, most of the light beams emitted from the light source  12   a  can be effectively used as illumination light emitted toward the front side of the lighting device. 
   In addition, since the reflector  14  is divided into the twelve fan-shaped reflective regions  14 A,  14 B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F,  14 G,  14 H,  14 I,  14 J,  14 K, and  14 L each having the three protruding portions  20  and among the twelve fan-shaped reflective regions  14 A,  14 B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F,  14 G,  14 H,  14 I,  14 J,  14 K, and  14 L, the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 D and  14 J, which are disposed in the left and right directions of the optical axis Ax, reflects the light emitted from the light source  12   a  in the direction deviating from the direction of the optical axis Ax within the plane including the optical axis Ax more than the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 A and  14 G located in the up and down directions of the optical axis Ax, it is possible to form the high-beam mode light distribution pattern PH 1  as the horizontally long light distribution pattern by means of the light reflected from the reflector  14 . 
   Specifically, the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  14   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 A and  14 G is the parabola P of which a symmetrical axis is the optical axis Ax and of which a focus is the emission center of the light source  12   a , and the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  14   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 D and  14 J is the hyperbola H 3  obtained by modifying the parabola P. Accordingly, as compared with a light distribution pattern formed in the case when the axis-including cross sectional shape is the parabola P, the light distribution patterns Pd and Pj formed by the light reflected from the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 D and  14 J can be formed as horizontally long light distribution patterns obtained, for example, by extending the light distribution pattern formed in the above case in the left and right directions. As a result, the high-beam mode light distribution pattern PH 1 , which is formed by entire light illumination from the vehicle lighting device  10 , can be formed as a horizontally long light distribution pattern. 
   As describe above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, in the vehicle lighting device  10  with the reflector  14  having the transflective member, it is possible to effectively use most of the light beams emitted from the light source  12   a  as illumination light emitted toward the front side of the vehicle lighting device  10  and to form a horizontally long light distribution pattern. 
   Further, in the present exemplary embodiment, each of the light distribution patterns Pb, Pf, Ph, and Pl, which are formed by the light reflected from the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 B,  14 F,  14 H, and  14 L located at the left and right sides of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 A and  14 G, is obtained by slightly expanding the light distribution pattern shown by a double dotted chain line in the direction deviating from H-V, and each of the light distribution patterns Pc, Pe, Pi, and Pk, which are formed by the light reflected from the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 C,  14 E,  14 I, and  14 K, is obtained by expanding the light distribution pattern shown by a double dotted chain line in the direction deviating from H-V and at an angle slightly larger than for the light distribution patterns Pb, Pf, Ph, and Pl. As a result, the high-beam mode light distribution pattern PH 1  can have a desirable light intensity distribution. 
   Furthermore, in the present exemplary embodiment, the cross sectional shape perpendicular to the optical axis Ax in the interior surface  14   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 A,  14 B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F,  14 G,  14 H,  14 I,  14 J,  14 K, and  14 L is set to the arc shape having the optical axis Ax as the center, and the cross sectional shape perpendicular to the optical axis Ax in the pair of inclined surfaces forming each of the protruding portions  20  is set to the convex curve. Accordingly, as compared with a case in which those shapes are straight lines, it is possible to make the light, which is emitted from the light source  12   a  to be then incident on each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 A,  14 B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F,  14 G,  14 H,  14 I,  14 J,  14 K, and  14 L, reflected in the same direction as the light incident on the corresponding one of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 A,  14 B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F,  14 G,  14 H,  14 I,  14 J,  14 K, and  14 L with high precision. As a result, it is possible to control the light outgoing from each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 A,  14 B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F,  14 G,  14 H,  14 I,  14 J,  14 K, and  14 L and the light reflected from the interior surface  14   a  thereof with high precision. 
   In addition, in the present exemplary embodiment, even though the reflector  14  is divided into the twelve fan-shaped reflective regions  14 A,  14 B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F,  14 G,  14 H,  14 I,  14 J,  14 K, and  14 L each having the same central angle, it is possible that the reflector  14  is divided into any number of fan-shaped reflective regions or the twelve fan-shaped reflective regions  14 A,  14 B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F,  14 G,  14 H,  14 I,  14 J,  14 K, and  14 L have different central angles. In addition, in the present exemplary embodiment, even though the exterior surface  14   b  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  14 A,  14 B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F,  14 G,  14 H,  14 I,  14 J,  14 K, and  14 L is formed with the three protruding portions  20  each having the same shape, it is possible that the exterior surface  14   b  is formed with any number of protruding portions  20  or the protruding portions  20  have different shapes. 
   Next, a second exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described. 
     FIGS. 9 ,  10 , and  11  are views illustrating a vehicle lighting device according to the second exemplary embodiment and an operation thereof, which correspond to  FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  8 , respectively. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 9 ,  10 , and  11 , a basic configuration of a vehicle lighting device according to the present exemplary embodiment is the same as that in the first exemplary embodiment, except that the shape of a reflective surface of a reflector  114  is partially different from that of the reflector  14  in the first exemplary embodiment. 
   That is, the reflector  114  in the present exemplary embodiment is also divided into twelve fan-shaped reflective regions  114 A,  114 B,  114 C,  114 D,  114 E,  114 F,  114 G,  114 H,  114 I,  114 J,  114 K, and  114 L each having central angle of 30° with respect to the optical axis Ax as the center. However, the axis-including cross sectional shape of an interior surface  114   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  114 A,  114 B,  114 C,  114 D,  114 E,  114 F,  114 G,  114 H,  114 I,  114 J,  114 K, and  114 L is different from that in the first exemplary embodiment. In addition, the configuration of an exterior surface of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  114 A,  114 B,  114 C,  114 D,  114 E,  114 F,  114 G,  114 H,  114 I,  114 J,  114 K, and  114 L is the same as that in the first exemplary embodiment. 
   The fan-shaped reflective region  114 A located immediately above the optical axis Ax has completely the same configuration as the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A in the first exemplary embodiment, and the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  114   a  is the parabola P having the optical axis Ax as a symmetrical axis and the emission center of the light source  12   a  as a focus. The fan-shaped reflective region  114 G located immediately below the optical axis Ax has also the same configuration as the fan-shaped reflective region  14 G in the first exemplary embodiment. 
   The axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  114   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  114 B and  114 L, which are adjacent to left and right sides of the fan-shaped reflective region  114 A, and the fan-shaped reflective regions  114 F and  114 H, which are adjacent to left and right sides of the fan-shaped reflective region  114 G, is a curve (that is, a parabola P 1  having an axial line, which is slightly inclined with respect to the optical axis Ax, as a symmetrical axis Ax 1 ) obtained by slightly expanding the parabola P in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax with the focus of the parabola P as the center. Accordingly, by means of the fan-shaped reflective regions  114 B,  114 L,  114 F, and  114 H, it is possible to reflect the light emitted from the light source  12   a  so as to be slightly deflected in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax. 
   The axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  114   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  114 C and  114 K, which are respectively adjacent to left and right sides of the fan-shaped reflective regions  114 B and  114 L, and the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  114   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  114 E and  114 I, which are respectively adjacent to left and right sides of the fan-shaped reflective regions  114 F and  114 H, is a curve (that is, a parabola P 2  having an axial line, which is more inclined than the symmetrical axis Ax 1 , as a symmetrical axis Ax 2 ) obtained by expanding the parabola P in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax with the focus of the parabola P as the center and more than for the parabola P 1 . Accordingly, by means of the fan-shaped reflective regions  114 C,  114 K,  114 E, and  114 I, it is possible to reflect the light emitted from the light source  12   a  so as to be deflected in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax and at an angle slightly larger than in the fan-shaped reflective regions  114 B,  114 L,  114 F, and  114 H. 
   The axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  114   a  of each of the pair of fan-shaped reflective regions  114 D and  114 J, which are disposed in the left and right directions of the optical axis Ax, is a curve (that is, a parabola P 3  having an axial line, which is more inclined than for the symmetrical axis Ax 2 , as a symmetrical axis Ax 3 ) obtained by expanding the parabola P in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax with the focus of the parabola P as the center and more than for the parabola P 2 , and a focus of the parabola P 3  is positioned at the emission center of the light source  12   a.  Accordingly, by means of the fan-shaped reflective regions  114 D and  114 J, it is possible to reflect the light emitted from the light source  12   a  so as to be diffused in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax and at an angle larger than in the fan-shaped reflective regions  114 C,  114 K,  114 E, and  114 I. 
   As shown in  FIG. 10 , a high-beam mode light distribution pattern PH 2  formed by light, which is emitted from the vehicle lighting device according to the present exemplary embodiment to be then illuminated onto the front thereof, is a horizontally long light distribution pattern expanding in left and right directions with respect to H-V as the center and has a hot zone HZ in the central portion. 
   The high-beam mode light distribution pattern PH 2  is a synthesized light distribution pattern obtained by overlapping twelve light distribution patterns Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pl that are formed by the light reflected from the twelve fan-shaped reflective regions  114 A,  114 B,  114 C,  114 D,  114 E,  114 F,  114 G,  114 H,  114 I,  114 J,  114 K, and  114 L included in the reflector  114 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 11 , each of the light distribution patterns Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pl is formed with respect to H-V, in the same manner as the positional relationship of an angle of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  114 A,  114 B,  114 C,  114 D,  114 E,  114 F,  114 G,  114 H,  114 I,  114 J,  114 K, and  114 L with respect to the optical axis Ax. 
   Since the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  114   a  of the fan-shaped reflective regions  114 A and  114 G is the parabola P, the light distribution patterns Pa and Pg become spot shaped light distribution patterns each having H-V as the center. 
   Further, since the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  114   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  114 B,  114 F,  114 H, and  114 L is the parabola P 1  obtained by slightly expanding the parabola P, each of the light distribution patterns Pb, Pf, Ph, and Pl becomes a spot shaped light distribution pattern obtained by slightly moving the light distribution pattern, which is shown by a double dotted chain line and is formed in a case when the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  114   a  is the parabola P, in the direction deviating from H-V along the longitudinal direction thereof. 
   Furthermore, since the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  114   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  114 C,  114 E,  114 I, and  114 K is the parabola P 2  obtained by expanding the parabola P more than for the parabola P 1 , each of the light distribution patterns Pc, Pe, Pi, and Pk becomes a spot shaped light distribution pattern obtained by moving the light distribution pattern, which is shown by a double dotted chain line and is formed in a case when the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  114   a  is the parabola P, in the direction deviating from H-V along the longitudinal direction thereof and at an angle slightly larger than for the light distribution patterns Pb, Pf, Ph, and Pl. 
   Furthermore, since the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  114   a  of the fan-shaped reflective regions  114 D and  114 J is the parabola P 3  obtained by expanding the parabola P more than for the parabola P 2 , each of the light distribution patterns Pd and Pj becomes a spot shaped light distribution pattern obtained by moving the light distribution pattern, which is shown by a double dotted chain line and is formed in a case when the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  114   a  is the parabola P, in the direction deviating from H-V along the longitudinal direction thereof and at an angle larger than for the light distribution patterns Pc, Pe, Pi, and Pk. 
   In the present exemplary embodiment, all of the light distribution patterns Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pl are the spot shaped light distribution patterns formed by the light reflected from the fan-shaped reflective region  114 A,  114 B,  114 C,  114 D,  114 E,  114 F,  114 G,  114 H,  114 I,  114 J,  114 K, and  114 L. At this time, the light distribution patterns Pa and Pg formed by the light, which is reflected from the pair of fan-shaped reflective region  114 A and  114 G located immediately above and below the optical axis Ax, are formed to have H-V as the center. In contrast, the light distribution patterns Pd and Pj formed by the light, which is reflected from the pair of fan-shaped reflective region  114 D and  114 J located at left and right sides of the optical axis Ax, are formed at the locations moved in left and right directions from H-V. Accordingly, it is possible to form the high-beam mode light distribution pattern PH 2 , which is the synthesized light distribution pattern thereof, as a horizontally long light distribution pattern. 
   Therefore, even in the second exemplary embodiment, the same effects as in the first exemplary embodiment can be obtained. 
   Further, in the present exemplary embodiment, each of the light distribution patterns Pb, Pf, Ph, and Pl, which are formed by the light reflected from the fan-shaped reflective regions  114 B,  114 F,  114 H, and  114 L located at the left and right sides of the fan-shaped reflective regions  114 A and  114 G, is obtained by slightly moving the light distribution pattern shown by a double dotted chain line in the direction deviating from H-V, and each of the light distribution patterns Pc, Pe, Pi, and Pk, which are formed by the light reflected from the fan-shaped reflective regions  114 C,  114 E,  114 I, and  114 K, is obtained by moving the light distribution pattern shown by a double dotted chain line in the direction deviating from H-V and at an angle slightly larger than for the light distribution patterns Pb, Pf, Ph, and Pl. As a result, the high-beam mode light distribution pattern PH 2  can have a desirable light intensity distribution. 
   Next, a third exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described. 
     FIGS. 12 ,  13 , and  14  are views illustrating a vehicle lighting device according to the third exemplary embodiment and an operation thereof, which correspond to  FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  8 , respectively. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 9 ,  10 , and  11 , a basic configuration of a vehicle lighting device according to the present exemplary embodiment is the same as that in the first exemplary embodiment, except that the shape of a reflective surface of a reflector  214  is partially different from that of the reflector  14  in the first exemplary embodiment. 
   That is, the reflector  214  in the present exemplary embodiment is also divided into twelve fan-shaped reflective regions  214 A,  214 B,  214 C,  214 D,  214 E,  214 F,  214 G,  214 H,  214 I,  214 J,  214 K, and  214 L each having central angle of 30° with respect to the optical axis Ax as the center, in the same manner as the reflector  14  in the first exemplary embodiment; however, the axis-including cross sectional shape of an interior surface  214   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  214 A,  214 B,  214 C,  214 D,  214 E,  214 F,  214 G,  214 H,  214 I,  214 J,  214 K, and  214 L is different from that in the first exemplary embodiment. In addition, the configuration of an exterior surface of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  214 A,  214 B,  214 C,  214 D,  214 E,  214 F,  214 G,  214 H,  214 I,  214 J,  214 K, and  214 L is the same as that in the first exemplary embodiment. 
   The fan-shaped reflective region  214 A located immediately above the optical axis Ax has completely the same configuration as the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A in the first exemplary embodiment, and the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  214   a  is the parabola P having the optical axis Ax as a symmetrical axis and the emission center of the light source  12   a  as a focus. The fan-shaped reflective region  214 G located immediately below the optical axis Ax has also the same configuration as the fan-shaped reflective region  14 G in the first exemplary embodiment. 
   The axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  214   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  214 B and  214 L, which are adjacent to left and right sides of the fan-shaped reflective region  214 A, and the fan-shaped reflective regions  214 F and  214 H, which are adjacent to left and right sides of the fan-shaped reflective region  214 G, is a curve (that is, a parabola P 4  having an axial line parallel to the optical axis Ax as a symmetrical axis Ax 4 ) obtained by slightly moving the parabola P in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax and in parallel to the parabola P. Accordingly, by means of the fan-shaped reflective regions  214 B,  214 L,  214 F, and  214 H, it is possible to reflect the light emitted from the light source  12   a  so as to be slightly diffused in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax. At this time, the light emitted from the light source  12   a  is reflected in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax at the location close to an inner periphery of the interior surface  114   a ; on the other hand, the light emitted from the light source  12   a  is reflected in the direction close to the optical axis Ax at the location close to an outer periphery of the interior surface  114   a . This is because the focus of the parabola P 4  deviates from the focus of the parabola P in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax. 
   The axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  214   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  214 C and  214 K, which are respectively adjacent to left and right sides of the fan-shaped reflective regions  214 B and  214 L, and the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  214   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  214 E and  214 I, which are respectively adjacent to left and right sides of the fan-shaped reflective regions  214 F and  214 H, is a curve (that is, a parabola P 5  having an axial line parallel to the optical axis Ax as a symmetrical axis Ax 5 ) obtained by moving the parabola P in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax more than for the parabola P 4 . Accordingly, by means of the fan-shaped reflective regions  214 C,  214 K,  214 E, and  214 I, it is possible to reflect the light emitted from the light source  12   a  so as to be diffused in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax and at an angle slightly larger than in the fan-shaped reflective regions  214 B,  214 L,  214 F, and  214 H. 
   The axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  214   a  of each of the pair of fan-shaped reflective regions  214 D and  214 J, which are disposed in the left and right directions of the optical axis Ax, is a curve (that is, a parabola P 6  having an axial line parallel to the optical axis Ax as a symmetrical axis Ax 6 ) obtained by moving the parabola P in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax than for the parabola P 5 . Accordingly, by means of the fan-shaped reflective regions  214 D and  214 J, it is possible to reflect the light emitted from the light source  12   a  so as to be diffused in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax and at an angle larger than in the fan-shaped reflective regions  214 C,  214 K,  214 E, and  214 I. 
   As shown in  FIG. 13 , a high-beam mode light distribution pattern PH 3  formed by light, which is emitted from the vehicle lighting device according to the present exemplary embodiment to be then illuminated onto the front thereof, is a horizontally long light distribution pattern expanding in left and right directions with respect to H-V as the center and has a hot zone HZ in a central portion thereof. 
   The high-beam mode light distribution pattern PH 3  is a synthesized light distribution pattern obtained by overlapping twelve light distribution patterns Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pl that are formed by the light reflected from the twelve fan-shaped reflective regions  214 A,  214 B,  214 C,  214 D,  214 E,  214 F,  214 G,  214 H,  214 I,  214 J,  214 K, and  214 L included in the reflector  214 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 14 , each of the light distribution patterns Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pl is formed with respect to H-V, in the same manner as the positional relationship of an angle of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  214 A,  214 B,  214 C,  214 D,  214 E,  214 F,  214 G,  214 H,  214 I,  214 J,  214 K, and  214 L with respect to the optical axis Ax. 
   Since the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  214   a  of the fan-shaped reflective regions  214 A and  214 G is the parabola P, the light distribution patterns Pa and Pg become spot shaped light distribution patterns each having H-V as the center. 
   Further, since the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  214   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  214 B,  214 F,  214 H, and  214 L is the parabola P 4  obtained by slightly moving the parabola P in parallel, each of the light distribution patterns Pb, Pf, Ph, and Pl becomes a spot shaped light distribution pattern obtained by slightly expanding the light distribution pattern, which is shown by a double dotted chain line and is formed in a case when the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  214   a  is the parabola P, in the direction along both sides of the longitudinal direction thereof. 
   Furthermore, since the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  214   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  214 C,  214 E,  214 I, and  214 K is the parabola P 5  obtained by moving the parabola P more than for the parabola P 4 , each of the light distribution patterns Pc, Pe, Pi, and Pk becomes a light distribution pattern obtained by expanding the light distribution pattern, which is shown by a double dotted chain line and is formed in a case when the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  214   a  is the parabola P, in the direction along both the sides of the longitudinal direction thereof and at an angle slightly larger than for the light distribution patterns Pb, Pf, Ph, and Pl. 
   Furthermore, since the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  214   a  of the fan-shaped reflective regions  214 D and  214 J is the parabola P 6  obtained by expanding the parabola P more than for the parabola P 5 , each of the light distribution patterns Pd and Pj becomes a light distribution pattern obtained by expanding the light distribution pattern, which is shown by a double dotted chain line and is formed in a case when the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  214   a  is the parabola P, in the direction along both the sides of the longitudinal direction thereof and at an angle larger than for the light distribution patterns Pc, Pe, Pi, and Pk. 
   As shown in the figures, each of the light distribution patterns Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pl has a shape formed by slightly expanding the light distribution pattern shown by a double dotted chain line even in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, as well as the longitudinal direction. This is because focuses of the parabolas P 4 , P 5 , and P 6  deviate from the focus of the parabola P in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax. 
   In the present exemplary embodiment, among the light distribution patterns Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pl formed by the light reflected from the fan-shaped reflective regions  214 A,  214 B,  214 C,  214 D,  214 E,  214 F,  214 G,  214 H,  214 I,  214 J,  214 K, and  214 L, the light distribution patterns Pa and Pg formed by the light, which is reflected from the pair of fan-shaped reflective region  214 A and  214 G located immediately above and below the optical axis Ax, are formed to have H-V as the center. In contrast, each of the light distribution patterns Pd and Pj formed by the light, which is reflected from the pair of fan-shaped reflective region  214 D and  214 J located at left and right sides of the optical axis Ax, is a horizontally long light distribution pattern expanding in the left and right directions from H-V. As a result, the high-beam mode light distribution pattern PH 3 , which is formed by entire light illumination from the vehicle lighting device, can be formed as a horizontally long light distribution pattern. 
   Therefore, even in the third exemplary embodiment, the same effects as in the first exemplary embodiment can be obtained. 
   Further, in the present exemplary embodiment, each of the light distribution patterns Pb, Pf, Ph, and Pl, which are formed by the light reflected from the fan-shaped reflective regions  214 B,  214 F,  214 H, and  214 L located at the left and right sides of the fan-shaped reflective regions  214 A and  214 G, is obtained by slightly expanding the light distribution pattern shown by a double dotted chain line in the longitudinal direction thereof, and each of the light distribution patterns Pc, Pe, Pi, and Pk, which are formed by the light reflected from the fan-shaped reflective regions  214 C,  214 E,  214 I, and  214 K, is obtained by expanding the light distribution pattern shown by a double dotted chain line in the longitudinal direction and at an angle slightly larger than for the light distribution patterns Pb, Pf, Ph, and Pl. As a result, the high-beam mode light distribution pattern PH 3  can have a desirable light intensity distribution. 
   At this time, each of the light distribution patterns Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pl has a shape formed by slightly expanding the light distribution pattern shown by a double dotted chain line even in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, as well as the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, the high-beam mode light distribution pattern PH 3  can have a more desirable light intensity distribution. 
   Next, a fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described. 
     FIG. 15  is a view illustrating a vehicle lighting device according to the fourth exemplary embodiment, which corresponds to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 16  is a detailed cross-sectional view taken along the line XVI—XVI of  FIG. 16 . In addition,  FIGS. 17 and 18  are views illustrating an operation of the vehicle lighting device according to the present exemplary embodiment, which correspond to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , respectively. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 15 ,  16 ,  17 , and  18 , a basic configuration of a vehicle lighting device according to the present exemplary embodiment is the same as that in the first exemplary embodiment, except that the shape of a reflective surface of a reflector  314  is partially different from that of the reflector  14  in the first exemplary embodiment. 
   That is, the reflector  314  in the present exemplary embodiment is also divided into twelve fan-shaped reflective regions  314 A,  314 B,  314 C,  314 D,  314 E,  314 F,  314 G,  314 H,  314 I,  314 J,  314 K, and  314 L each having central angle of 30° with respect to the optical axis Ax as the center, in the same manner as the reflector  14  in the first exemplary embodiment; however, the axis-including cross sectional shape of an interior surface  314   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  314 A,  314 B,  314 C,  314 D,  314 E,  314 F,  314 G,  314 H,  314 I,  314 J,  314 K, and  314 L is different from that in the first exemplary embodiment. In addition, an exterior surface of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  314 A,  314 B,  314 C,  314 D,  314 E,  314 F,  314 G,  314 H,  314 I,  314 J,  314 K, and  314 L is formed with three protruding portions  20  extending in a radial pattern with respect to the optical axis Ax, in the same manner as in the first exemplary embodiment. 
   The fan-shaped reflective region  314 A located immediately above the optical axis Ax has completely the same configuration as the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A in the first exemplary embodiment, and the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  314   a  is the parabola P having the optical axis Ax as a symmetrical axis and the emission center of the light source  12   a  as a focus. This can be applied to the other nine fan-shaped reflective regions  314 B,  314 C,  314 E,  314 F,  314 G,  314 H,  314 I,  314 K, and  314 L, except for the pair of fan-shaped reflective regions  314 D and  314 J located at the left and right sides of the optical axis Ax. 
   The axis-including cross sectional shape of an interior surface  314   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  314 D and  314 J is a waveform curve having irregularities with the parabola P as a reference line, and each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  314 D and  314 J is formed such that a plurality of diffusive reflection elements  314   s  is smoothly connected to each other. In addition, each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  314 D and  314 J reflects the light emitted from the light source  12   a  so as to be diffused in the diameter direction with respect to the optical axis Ax. 
   Further, even though only an optical path of the light reflected from the interior surface  314   a  is shown in  FIG. 16 , light, which is totally reflected from each protruding portion  20  of the exterior surface  314   b  to then outgo from the interior surface  314   a , is diffused in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax. 
   As shown in  FIG. 17 , a high-beam mode light distribution pattern PH 4  formed by light, which is emitted from the vehicle lighting device according to the present exemplary embodiment to be then illuminated onto the front thereof, is a horizontally long light distribution pattern expanding in left and right directions with respect to H-V as the center and has a hot zone HZ in a central portion thereof. 
   The high-beam mode light distribution pattern PH 4  is a synthesized light distribution pattern obtained by overlapping twelve light distribution patterns Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pl that are formed by the light reflected from the twelve fan-shaped reflective regions  314 A,  314 B,  314 C,  314 D,  314 E,  314 F,  314 G,  314 H,  314 I,  314 J,  314 K, and  314 L included in the reflector  314 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 18 , each of the light distribution patterns Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pl is formed with respect to H-V, in the same manner as the positional relationship of an angle of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  314 A,  314 B,  314 C,  314 D,  314 E,  314 F,  314 G,  314 H,  314 I,  314 J,  314 K, and  314 L with respect to the optical axis Ax. 
   Since the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  314   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  314 A,  314 B,  314 C,  314 D,  314 E,  314 F,  314 G,  314 H,  314 I,  314 J,  314 K, and  314 L is the parabola P, all of the light distribution patterns Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pl are the spot shaped light distribution patterns each having H-V as the center. 
   Since the axis-including cross sectional shape of an interior surface  314   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  314 D and  314 J is a waveform curve having irregularities with the parabola P as a reference line and the plurality of diffusive reflection elements  314   s  reflects the light emitted from the light source  12   a  so as to be diffused in the diameter direction with respect to the optical axis Ax, each of the light distribution patterns Pd and Pj becomes a light distribution pattern obtained by expanding the light distribution pattern, which is shown by a double dotted chain line and is formed in a case when the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  314   a  is the parabola P, in the direction along both sides of the longitudinal direction thereof. 
   In the present exemplary embodiment, among the light distribution patterns Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pl formed by the light reflected from the fan-shaped reflective regions  314 A,  314 B,  314 C,  314 D,  314 E,  314 F,  314 G,  314 H,  314 I,  314 J,  314 K, and  314 L, the light distribution patterns Pa and Pg formed by the light, which is reflected from the pair of fan-shaped reflective region  314 A and  314 G located immediately above and below the optical axis Ax, are formed to have H-V as the center. In contrast, each of the light distribution patterns Pd and Pj formed by the light, which is reflected from the pair of fan-shaped reflective region  314 D and  314 J located at left and right sides of the optical axis Ax, is a horizontally long light distribution pattern expanding in the left and right directions from H-V. As a result, the high-beam mode light distribution pattern PH 4 , which is formed by entire light illumination from the vehicle lighting device, can be formed as a horizontally long light distribution pattern. 
   Therefore, even in the fourth exemplary embodiment, the same effects as in the first exemplary embodiment can be obtained. 
   Further, in the present exemplary embodiment, since the plurality of diffusive reflection elements  314   s  reflects the light emitted from the light source  12   a  in the diameter direction with respect to the optical axis Ax not in the left and right directions thereof, each of the light distribution patterns has a shape formed by slightly expanding the light distribution pattern shown by a double dotted chain line in the up and down directions as well as the left and right directions. Accordingly, the light distribution patterns Pd and Pj can be smoothly connected to the other light distribution patterns Pa, Pb, Pc, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pk, and Pl. 
   Furthermore, in the present exemplary embodiment, since the five fan-shaped reflective regions  314 A,  314 B,  314 C,  314 K, and  314 L, which are located above the optical axis Ax, have the same configurations, those five fan-shaped reflective regions  314 A,  314 B,  314 C,  314 K, and  314 L may be recognized as one fan-shaped reflective region having a central angle made by combining those five central angles. In addition, since the five fan-shaped reflective regions  314 E,  314 F,  314 G,  314 H, and  314 I, which are located below the optical axis Ax, have also the same configurations, those five fan-shaped reflective regions  314 E,  314 F,  314 G,  314 H, and  314 I may be recognized as one fan-shaped reflective region having a central angle made by combining those five central angles. 
   Next, a fifth exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described. 
     FIGS. 19 ,  20 ,  21 , and  22  are views illustrating a vehicle lighting device according to the second exemplary embodiment and an operation thereof, which correspond to  FIGS. 1 ,  6 ,  7 , and  8 , respectively. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 19 ,  20 ,  21 , and  22 , a basic configuration of a vehicle lighting device  410  according to the present exemplary embodiment is the same as that in the first exemplary embodiment, except that the shape of a reflective surface of a reflector  414  is partially different from that of the reflector  14  in the first exemplary embodiment. 
   That is, the reflector  414  in the present exemplary embodiment is also divided into twelve fan-shaped reflective regions  414 A,  414 B,  414 C,  414 D,  414 E,  414 F,  414 G,  414 H,  414 I,  414 J,  414 K, and  414 L each having central angle of 30° with respect to the optical axis Ax as the center, in the same manner as the reflector  14  in the first exemplary embodiment; however, the axis-including cross sectional shape of an interior surface  414   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  414 A,  414 B,  414 C,  414 D,  414 E,  414 F,  414 G,  414 H,  414 I,  414 J,  414 K, and  414 L is different from that in the first exemplary embodiment. In addition, the configuration of an exterior surface of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  414 A,  414 B,  414 C,  414 D,  414 E,  414 F,  414 G,  414 H,  414 I,  414 J,  414 K, and  414 L is the same as that in the first exemplary embodiment. 
   The axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  414   a  of the fan-shaped reflective region  414 A located immediately above the optical axis Ax is a curve (that is, a parabola P 7  having an axial line, which is slightly inclined from the optical axis Ax, as a symmetrical axis Ax 7 ) obtained by slightly expanding the parabola P, which forms the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  414   a  of the fan-shaped reflective region  14 A in the first exemplary embodiment, in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax with the focus of the parabola P as the center. Accordingly, by means of the fan-shaped reflective region  414 A, it is possible to reflect the light emitted from the light source  12   a  so as to be slightly deflected in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax. The configurations and operations of the fan-shaped reflective regions  414 B and  414 L, which are adjacent to left and right sides of the fan-shaped reflective region  414 A, and the fan-shaped reflective regions  414 C and  414 K, which are respectively adjacent to left and right sides of the fan-shaped reflective region  414 B and  414 L are the same as those in the fan-shaped reflective region  414 A. 
   The axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  414   a  of the fan-shaped reflective region  414 G located immediately below the optical axis Ax is a curve (that is, a parabola P 8  having an axial line, which is slightly inclined from the optical axis Ax and is located to be opposite to the symmetrical axis Ax 7 , as a symmetrical axis Ax 8 ) obtained by slightly expanding the parabola P in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax with the focus of the parabola P as the center. Accordingly, by means of the fan-shaped reflective region  414 G, it is possible to make the light emitted from the light source  12   a  cross the optical axis Ax and then to reflect the light so as to be slightly deflected in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax. The configurations and operations of the fan-shaped reflective regions  414 F and  414 H, which are adjacent to left and right sides of the fan-shaped reflective region  414 G, and the fan-shaped reflective regions  414 E and  414 I, which are respectively adjacent to left and right sides of the fan-shaped reflective region  414 F and  414 H are the same as those in the fan-shaped reflective region  414 G. 
   The axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  414   a  of each of the pair of fan-shaped reflective regions  414 D and  414 J, which are disposed in the left and right directions of the optical axis Ax, is a curve (that is, a parabola P 9  having an axial line, which is more inclined than for the symmetrical axis Ax 7 , as a symmetrical axis Ax 9 ) obtained by expanding the parabola P in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax with the focus of the parabola P as the center and more than for the parabola P 7 , and a focus of the parabola P 9  is positioned at the emission center of the light source  12   a.  Accordingly, by means of the fan-shaped reflective regions  414 D and  414 J, it is possible to reflect the light emitted from the light source  12   a  so as to be diffused in the direction deviating from the optical axis Ax and at an angle larger than in the fan-shaped reflective regions  414 C,  414 K,  414 E, and  414 I. 
   As shown in  FIG. 21 , the vehicle lighting device  410  in the present exemplary embodiment forms an additive light distribution pattern PA by light illumination thereof. The additive light distribution pattern PA is additionally formed with respect to a low-beam mode light distribution pattern PL, which is formed by light illumination of a vehicle lighting device (not shown). As a synthetic light distribution pattern of the additive light distribution pattern PA and the low-beam mode light distribution pattern PL, a high-beam mode light distribution pattern PH 5  is formed. 
   The low-beam mode light distribution pattern PL has a cutoff line CL in an upper end portion thereof and a hot zone HZL following the cutoff line CL in a central portion thereof. 
   The additive light distribution pattern PA is formed as a horizontally long light distribution pattern expanding in the left and right directions with H-V as the center. At this time, the additive light distribution pattern PA expands in the left and right directions, and at the same time expands slightly in an upper direction. However, the additive light distribution pattern PA does not nearly expand in a lower direction. This is because a region located below H-V is illuminated sufficiently brightly by the low-beam mode light distribution pattern PL formed as a part of the high-beam mode light distribution pattern PH 5 , so that a region ranging from a short distance of a road surface to an intermediate distance thereof is not excessively bright due to the overlapping of the additive light distribution pattern PA. 
   In addition, in the high-beam mode light distribution pattern PH 5 , a hot zone is formed by overlapping the hot zone HZL and the hot zone HZA each other. 
   The additive light distribution pattern PA is a synthesized light distribution pattern obtained by overlapping the twelve light distribution patterns Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pl that are formed by the light reflected from the twelve fan-shaped reflective regions  414 A,  414 B,  414 C,  414 D,  414 E,  414 F,  414 G,  414 H,  414 I,  414 J,  414 K, and  414 L included in the reflector  414 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 22 , each of the light distribution patterns Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pl is formed with respect to H-V, in the same manner as the positional relationship of an angle of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  414 A,  414 B,  414 C,  414 D,  414 E,  414 F,  414 G,  414 H,  414 I,  414 J,  414 K, and  414 L with respect to the optical axis Ax. 
   Since the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  414   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  414 A,  414 B,  414 C,  414 K, and  414 L located above the optical axis Ax is the parabola P 7  obtained by making the parabola P slightly inclined, each of the light distribution patterns Pa, Pb, Pc, Pk, and Pl becomes a spot shaped light distribution pattern obtained by slightly moving the light distribution pattern, which is shown by a double dotted chain line and is formed in a case when the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  114   a  is the parabola P, in the upper direction along the longitudinal direction thereof. 
   Further, since the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  414   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  414 E,  414 F,  414 G,  414 H, and  414 I located below the optical axis Ax is the parabola P 8  obtained by making the parabola P slightly inclined so as to be opposite to the parabola P 7 , each of the light distribution patterns Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, and Pi becomes a spot shaped light distribution pattern obtained by slightly moving the light distribution pattern, which is shown by a double dotted chain line and is formed in a case when the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  114   a  is the parabola P, in the upper direction along the longitudinal direction thereof. 
   Furthermore, since the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  414   a  of each of the fan-shaped reflective regions  414 D and  414 J is the parabola P 9  obtained by making the parabola P inclined more than for the parabola P 7 , each of the light distribution patterns Pd and Pj becomes a spot shaped light distribution pattern obtained by moving the light distribution pattern, which is shown by a double dotted chain line and is formed in a case when the axis-including cross sectional shape of the interior surface  114   a  is the parabola P, in the left and right directions along the longitudinal direction thereof. 
   In the present exemplary embodiment, all of the light distribution patterns Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pl are the spot shaped light distribution patterns formed by the light reflected from the fan-shaped reflective region  414 A,  414 B,  414 C,  414 D,  414 E,  414 F,  414 G,  414 H,  414 I,  414 J,  414 K, and  414 L, and the positions at which the light distribution patterns Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Pl are formed are different. Accordingly, it is possible to form the additive light distribution pattern PA, which is formed as a synthesized light distribution pattern of the light distribution patterns Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, Pi, Pj, Pk, and Plurality of, so as to be horizontally long and protrude only in the upper direction. 
   Therefore, even in the fifth exemplary embodiment, the same effects as in the first exemplary embodiment can be obtained. 
   Further, in the present exemplary embodiment, since the light distribution patterns Pa, Pb, Pc, Pk, and Pl, which are formed by the light reflected from the fan-shaped reflective regions  414 A,  414 B,  414 C,  414 K, and  414 L located above the optical axis Ax, and the light distribution patterns Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, and Pi, which are formed by the light reflected from the fan-shaped reflective regions  414 E,  414 F,  414 G,  414 H, and  414 I located below the optical axis Ax, are all the spot shaped light distribution patterns obtained by slightly moving the light distribution pattern shown by the double dotted chain line in the upper direction along the longitudinal direction thereof, it is possible to form those light distribution patterns Pa, Pb, Pc, Pk, Pl, Pe, Pf, Pg, Ph, and Pi as a light distribution pattern which does not expand below the light distribution patterns Pd and Pj formed by the light reflected from the fan-shaped reflective regions  414 D and  414 J. As a result, it is possible to form the additive light distribution pattern PA as a light distribution pattern suitable for being additionally formed with respect to the low-beam mode light distribution pattern PL, so as to form the high-beam mode light distribution pattern PH 5 . 
   Furthermore, in the present exemplary embodiment, since the five fan-shaped reflective regions  414 A,  414 B,  414 C,  414 K, and  414 L, which are located above the optical axis Ax, have the same configurations, those five fan-shaped reflective regions  414 A,  414 B,  414 C,  414 K, and  414 L may be recognized as one fan-shaped reflective region having a central angle made by combining those five central angles. In addition, since the five fan-shaped reflective regions  414 E,  414 F,  414 G,  414 H, and  414 I, which are located below the optical axis Ax, have also the same configurations, those five fan-shaped reflective regions  414 E,  414 F,  414 G,  414 H, and  414 I may be recognized as one fan-shaped reflective region having a central angle made by combining those five central angles. 
   Next, a specific example in which the vehicle lighting device  10  according to the first exemplary embodiment is mounted as a headlamp unit will be described. 
     FIG. 23  is a front view illustrating a headlamp  50  in which the vehicle lighting device  10  according to the first exemplary embodiment is mounted as a headlamp unit. 
   As shown in  FIG. 23 , the headlamp  50  includes a lamp body  52 , a transmissive cover  54  which is mounted at a front-end opening portion of the lamp body  52  and is made of a transparent glass, and the vehicle lighting device  10  accommodated within the lamp body  52 . In addition, within the lamp body  52 , an inner panel  56  is provided along the transmissive cover  54 . The inner panel  56  is formed with an elliptical opening portion  56   a  that surrounds a reflector  14 . 
   In the headlamp  50 , the vehicle lighting device  10  is supported on the lamp body  52  through an aiming mechanism  30  so that the vehicle lighting device  10  can move to be inclined in the up and down directions and in the left and right directions. 
   The aiming mechanism  30  includes three aiming screws  32  disposed in an L shape. A base end portion of each of the aiming screws  32  is rotatably supported on the lamp body  52 , and a front end portion of each of the aiming screws  32  is engaged to the reflector  14  of the vehicle lighting device  10  through an aiming nut  34 . At three front-end edges of the reflector  14 , taps  14   d  that extend in a radial pattern with respect to the optical axis Ax are formed. In addition, the aiming nut  34  is mounted at each of the taps  14   d.    
   As such, by using a construction in which the taps  14   d  are formed at the front-end edges, it is possible to achieve a function of performing a total reflection on the exterior surface  14   b , and the construction can be used as a part of the headlamp  50 . 
   It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover all modifications and variations of this invention consistent with the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.