Patent Abstract:
A head light module includes: a lamp disposed to irradiate light; a shield disposed to be rotatable about a rotating pin so as to selectively block a light path of a portion of the light irradiated from the lamp; a plunger disposed to be moved in a longitudinal direction thereof in order to push or pull one side of the shield; a compressive roll pad disposed so that an outer circumferential surface thereof is in contact with the plunger, rotated in accordance with a forward and rearward movement of the plunger, and compressed by the plunger or returns back to an original shape thereof when the plunger is moved forward or rearward; and an actuator which moves the plunger forward or rearward so that the shield selectively blocks the light path of a portion of the light irradiated from the lamp.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority of Korean Patent Application Number 10-2013-0102437 filed Aug. 28, 2013, the entire contents of which application is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a head light module which improves driving convenience of a driver by selectively irradiating a low beam and a high beam in accordance with a mode and reduces noise that occurs when the mode is converted. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    A head light module, also called a headlamp, is a device that serves to illuminate a forward path on which a vehicle runs, and requires brightness to enable a driver to verify obstacles on a road, which are 100 m from the front of the vehicle, at night. 
         [0006]    A headlamp assembly of the related art (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-110213) includes a bulb (lamp), a reflector which supports the bulb and reflects forward light irradiated from the bulb, and a lens connected to a front side of the reflector by a holder. 
         [0007]    The head light module is configured so that light irradiated from the bulb is converted into a low beam or a high beam by an operation of a shield unit provided in the head light module. 
         [0008]    The shield unit includes a rotating pin, and a plate-shaped shield that is rotated about the rotating pin, and in this case, light irradiated from the bulb may be converted into a low beam or a high beam in accordance with a degree of rotation of the shield according to a linear movement of a solenoid. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, a low beam state is made in an initial state in which the solenoid is not operated, and a high beam state is made when the shield is rotated forward about the rotating pin as the solenoid is linearly moved forward. 
         [0010]    Meanwhile, the rotational operation of the shield of the shield unit is stopped by a damper (stopper), and in this case, noise and vibration occur due to a collision between the shield and the damper, and the noise and the vibration may be displeasing to the driver. Therefore, researches are continuously conducted to reduce noise and vibration occurring in the shield unit. 
         [0011]    The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0012]    Various aspects of the present invention provide for a head light module which prevents dissatisfaction a driver by reducing noise and vibration that occur due to a collision between a shield and a damper when a rotational operation of the shield of a shield unit is stopped by the damper (stopper). 
         [0013]    Various aspects of the present invention provide for a head light module including: a lamp which is disposed to irradiate light; a shield which is disposed to be rotatable about a rotating pin so as to selectively block a movement path or light path of a portion of the light irradiated from the lamp; a plunger which is disposed to be moved in a longitudinal direction thereof in order to push or pull one side of the shield; a compressive roll pad which is disposed so that an outer circumferential surface thereof is in contact with the plunger, rotated in accordance with a forward and rearward movement of the plunger, and compressed by the plunger or returns back to an original shape thereof when the plunger is moved forward or rearward; and an actuator which moves the plunger forward or rearward so that the shield selectively blocks the movement path of a portion of the light irradiated from the lamp. 
         [0014]    The head light module may further include a plunger pin which is formed to protrude on one side surface of the plunger; a pad pin which is disposed on a rotation center portion of the compressive roll pad; a connecting arm which connects the plunger pin and the pad pin; a forward and rearward guide which guides the movement of the plunger pin; and an inclined guide which guides a movement of the pad pin. 
         [0015]    The head light module may further include a drive arm having one end portion hinge-coupled to a front end portion of the plunger, and the other end portion hinge-coupled to the shield, such that the plunger rotates the shield. 
         [0016]    The head light module may further include a shield mounting bracket on which the shield is installed so as to be rotatable through the shield rotating pin. 
         [0017]    The head light module may further include a damper which is disposed between the shield mounting bracket and the shield so as to attenuate an impact occurring between the shield mounting bracket and the shield. 
         [0018]    While the plunger is moved rearward and the shield is rotated about the shield rotating pin, the compressive roll pad may be compressed by the plunger, a movement speed of the plunger may be reduced by the compression force, and an impact occurring at the damper may be reduced. 
         [0019]    The damper may be fixed to the shield mounting bracket, and a rotational operation of the shield may be stopped by the damper in accordance with a forward or rearward movement of the plunger. 
         [0020]    The compressive roll pad may be an elastic member capable of being compressed by being pressed by the plunger, and expanded to return back to an original shape thereof. 
         [0021]    According to the head light module of the present invention, when the plunger is moved rearward, a rotational operation of the shield is interrupted by the damper, whereas a rearward speed of the plunger is reduced by energy by which the plunger compresses the compressive roll pad, and noise and vibration occurring between the shield and the damper are effectively reduced. 
         [0022]    The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a shield unit of a head light module of the related art. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a side view illustrating a low beam state of an exemplary head light module according to the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a side view illustrating a high beam state of the exemplary head light module according to the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view illustrating a low beam state of a shield unit of the exemplary head light module according to the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view illustrating a high beam state of the shield unit of the exemplary head light module according to the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a partial detailed view illustrating the low beam state of the shield unit of the exemplary head light module according to the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  is a partial detailed view illustrating the high beam state of the shield unit of the head light exemplary module according to the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  is a graph illustrating an operation state of the exemplary head light module according to present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that present description is not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a shield unit of a head light module of the related art. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a shield unit includes an actuator  100 , a forward and rearward guide  150  having a guide slot  155  formed therein, a plunger pin  166 , a connecting arm  168 , a pad pin  170 , an inclined guide  160 , a shield mounting bracket  130 , a damper  120 , a shield  110 , a rotating pin  140 , a drive arm  180 , a compressive roll pad  162 , a power source socket  102 , an actuator plunger  163 , and a plunger  164 . 
         [0034]    The shield  110  is mounted to the shield mounting bracket  130  so as to be rotatable about the rotating pin  140 . The damper  120  serves to absorb an impact between the mounting bracket  130  and the shield  110 . 
         [0035]    One side of the shield  110  is connected to the drive arm  180 , and the drive arm  180  is connected to the plunger  164 . The actuator plunger  163  is formed to protrude at a center of a front end portion of the actuator  100 , and a front end portion of the actuator plunger  163  is fixed to a rear end portion of the plunger  164  by a pin or the like. 
         [0036]    The actuator plunger  163  and the plunger  164  are disposed to be moved as a single body forward and rearward by the actuator  100 . 
         [0037]    The plunger pin  166  is formed to protrude on one side surface of the plunger  164 , and the plunger pin  166  is inserted into the guide slot  155  of the forward and rearward guide  150 . Therefore, the plunger  164  is disposed to reciprocate forward and rearward along the guide slot  155 . 
         [0038]    A front end portion of the plunger  164  is connected to the drive arm  180  by a hinge, and the rear end portion of the plunger  164  is connected to the actuator  100 . 
         [0039]    The actuator  100  may include a solenoid (not illustrated), and the power source socket  102  supplies external power to the actuator  100  through an electric wire. 
         [0040]    In various embodiments of the present invention, the plunger pin  166  and the pad pin  170  are connected to each other through the connecting arm  168 , and the compressive roll pad  162  may be moved forward and rearward by movements of the plunger  164  and the plunger pin  166 . 
         [0041]    An outer circumferential surface of the compressive roll pad  162  is in close contact with the plunger  164 , the pad pin  170  is disposed on a rotation center portion of the compressive roll pad  162 , and the pad pin  170  is moved along a slot of the inclined guide  160 . 
         [0042]    In addition, even though the forward and rearward guide  150  and the inclined guide  160  are connected to each other, because the slot of the inclined guide  160  is disposed to be inclined with respect to a direction of the guide slot  155  of the forward and rearward guide  150 , the pad pin  170  may be moved close to or away from the plunger  164  when the plunger  164  is moved forward and backward. 
         [0043]    When the plunger  164  is moved forward, a distance between one surface of the plunger  164  and the pad pin  170  is increased such that the compressive roll pad  162  is not compressed, or is slightly compressed by the plunger  164 . 
         [0044]    Further, when the plunger  164  is moved rearward, the distance between the one surface of the plunger  164  and the pad pin  170  is decreased such that the compressive roll pad  162  is compressed by the plunger  164 . 
         [0045]    In addition, when the plunger  164  is moved rearward, a rotational operation of the shield  110  is interrupted by the damper  120 , and a rearward speed of the plunger  164  is reduced due to energy by which the plunger  164  compresses the compressive roll pad  162 , such that noise and vibration, which occur between the shield  110  and the damper  120 , are reduced. 
         [0046]      FIG. 2  is a side view illustrating a low beam state of a head light module according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a lamp (bulb)  205  is disposed to be fixed in a reflector  200 , a lens  210  is disposed in front of the lamp  205 , and light irradiated from the lamp  205  is reflected by the reflector  200  and then irradiated forward through the lens  210 . 
         [0048]    As illustrated, the light irradiated through the lens  210  includes a high beam that is irradiated toward a higher portion, and a low beam that is irradiated toward a lower portion. 
         [0049]    Further, when the plunger  164  is moved rearward by the actuator  100 , the shield  110  is rotated counterclockwise so as to be vertically disposed, the high beam irradiated through the reflector  200  is blocked, and only the low beam is irradiated forward through the lens  210 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 3  is a side view illustrating a high beam state of the head light module according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the light irradiated through the lens  210  includes the high beam that is irradiated toward a higher portion, and the low beam that is irradiated toward a lower portion. 
         [0052]    Further, when the plunger  164  is moved forward by the actuator  100 , the shield  110  is rotated clockwise, and the high beam and the low beam irradiated through the reflector  200  are irradiated forward through the lens  210 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view illustrating a low beam state of a shield unit of the head light module according to various embodiments of the present invention, and  FIG. 5  is a top plan view illustrating a high beam state of the shield unit of the head light module according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the plunger  164  is moved rearward by the actuator  100  such that the shield  110  blocks the high beam. Further, a first distance difference dl is formed between a movement line  400  of the plunger  164  and a position  410  of the pad pin  170 . 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the plunger  164  is moved forward by the actuator  100  such that the shield  110  does not block the high beam. Further, a second distance difference d 2  is formed between the movement line  400  of the plunger  164  and the position  410  of the pad pin  170 , and the first distance difference dl is smaller than the second distance difference d 2 . 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a front end portion of the forward and rearward guide  150  and the inclined guide  160  may be joined with each other, and the guide slot  155  of the forward and rearward guide  150  may be connected to the slot of the inclined guide  160 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 6  is a partial detailed view illustrating the low beam state of the shield unit of the head light module according to various embodiments of the present invention, and  FIG. 7  is a partial detailed view illustrating the high beam state of the shield unit of the head light module according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0058]    Therefore, referring to  FIG. 6 , when the plunger  164  is moved rearward by the actuator  100 , an amount of compression by which the compressive roll pad  162  is compressed by one surface of the plunger  164  is large. 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , when the plunger  164  is moved forward by the actuator  100 , an amount of compression by which the compressive roll pad  162  is compressed by the one surface of the plunger  164  is small, or the compressive roll pad  162  is not compressed. 
         [0060]      FIG. 8  is a graph illustrating an operation state of the head light module according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0061]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a horizontal axis refers to a rotation angle of the shield  110 , and a vertical axis refers to a distance between the pad pin  170  and the plunger  164 . 
         [0062]    Further, in accordance with the rotation angle of the shield  110 , a region of the graph is divided into a section (left side) where the shield  110  is opened, and a section (right side) where the shield  110  is closed. 
         [0063]    As illustrated, the distance between the pad pin  170  and the plunger  164  is gradually increased in the section where the shield  110  is opened, and the distance between the pad pin  170  and the plunger  164  is gradually decreased in a section where the shield  110  is closed. 
         [0064]    For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms lower, front or rear, and etc. are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures. 
         [0065]    The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5