Patent Description:
A vehicle lighting device in which a high-beam light source and a low-beam light source are arranged on an identical board perpendicular to a horizontal direction has been discussed (see, for example,
<CIT>).

Here, in the vehicle lighting device described in <CIT>, the high-beam light source and the low-beam light source are arranged on the identical board, and the lights from both the high-beam light source and the low-beam light source are emitted through the identical lens after passing through the single focal point, and therefore the presence of a low-beam shade provided near the single focal point easily forms a dark area at the boundary between the high-beam distribution light and the low-beam distribution light. Furthermore, as the identical lens is used, the high-beam light source and the low-beam light source need to be arranged for the single focal point, which makes it difficult to properly form the configuration for high beams due to the issue of installation space and makes it difficult to increase the luminous intensity of high beams.

In addition, recent vehicle lighting devices have adopted a system that blocks some regions of high beams to avoid irradiation to a vehicle coming in the opposite direction and a vehicle in front. In this system, for example, some of a plurality of high-beam light sources are turned off to avoid irradiation to a vehicle coming in the opposite direction and a vehicle in front and, for this control, direct-emission type high-beam light sources, which directly emit light to a high-beam lens, are preferable in terms of easy control. Conversely, for low beams, it is preferable to include a reflector that forms a concave reflective surface based on a spheroid for the purpose of diffusing light, and the like. Thus, it is preferable to have the high-beam light source facing the lens so as to directly emit light and have the low-beam light source via the reflector and, for this reason, it is not easy to mount the high-beam light source and the low-beam light source on the identical board in the first place as in the vehicle lighting device described in <CIT>.

As described above, it is not easy to mount the high-beam light source and the low-beam light source on the identical board, and even if they are mounted on the identical board, there are issues regarding dark areas and the luminous intensity of high beams. As a result, it is difficult to achieve a reduction in the number of parts and a reduction in the number of assembly manhours by mounting the high-beam light source and the low-beam light source on the identical board.

<CIT> relates to a vehicle lighting fixture, which includes a projection lens; first light sources for emitting light for forming a light distribution pattern for low beam; a second light source for emitting light for forming an additional light distribution pattern for high beam added to the light distribution pattern for low beam; a wiring board on which the first light sources and the second light source are mounted on the same surface side; an optical member for reflecting the light emitted from the first light sources and the second light source toward the projection lens; and a shade member having a cutoff line formation part for forming a cutoff line in the light distribution pattern for low beam. At least one part of the light emitted form the second light source <NUM> passes below the shade member, and then, the light is reflected toward an incident surface of the projection lens by a reflection surface provided below the shade member.

<CIT> relates to an automobile lamp, and discloses a high-beam and low-beam integrated headlamp module which comprises a low-beam light source, a low-beam condensation element, a shading plate, a high-beam light source, a high-beam condensation element, a reflector and a lens. The low-beam condensing element is suitable for condensing light emitted by the low-beam light source and projecting the light; the shading plate is arranged on a projection light path of the low-beam condensing element so as to perform low-beam distribution on light emitted by the low-beam light source. The distance light condensing element is suitable for condensing light rays emitted by the distance light source and projecting the light rays; and the reflecting mirror is arranged on a projection light path of the low-beam condensing element and the high-beam condensing element so as to reflect light rays emitted by the low-beam light source and/or the high-beam light source to the lens and project the light rays through the lens to form an illumination light shape.

In view of the above issues, we have appreciated that it would be desirable provide a vehicle lighting device that may achieve a reduction in the number of parts and a reduction in the number of assembly manhours.

The invention is defined in the independent claim to which reference should be made.

A vehicle lighting device according to the present invention includes a high-beam light source to form a high beam light distribution pattern, a low-beam light source to form a low beam light distribution pattern, a high-beam lens to transmit light from the high-beam light source and emit the light to outside, a low-beam lens to transmit light from the low-beam light source and emit the light to outside, a circuit board having the high-beam light source and the low-beam light source mounted thereon together, and a reflector that guides light emitted from the low-beam light source to the low-beam lens, wherein when lens optical axis directions of the high-beam lens and the low-beam lens are in a front-rear direction, the circuit board is inclined in the front-rear direction and an up-down direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The high-beam light source and the low-beam light source are arranged at an identical height in a vertical direction while installed on the circuit board, and an optical axis of the high-beam lens is located lower than an optical axis of the low-beam lens.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle lighting device in which a high-beam light source and a low-beam light source are mounted on an identical circuit board to achieve a reduction in the number of parts and a reduction in the number of assembly manhours.

The present invention will be described below according to a preferred embodiment. Further, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described below and may be modified as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims. Moreover, according to the embodiment described below, the illustration and description of some parts of configurations are omitted, but it is obvious that publicly-known or well-known techniques are applied to the details of the omitted techniques as appropriate to the extent that there are no contradictions with the contents described below.

<FIG> is a relevant part perspective view illustrating a vehicle lighting device according to the present embodiment. A vehicle lighting device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is configured as, for example, a front light provided in a vehicle front portion and includes a circuit board <NUM>, a high-light source group (high-beam light source) <NUM>, a low-light source group (low-beam light source) <NUM>, a reflector <NUM>, and a lens <NUM>. The elements including the circuit board <NUM>, the high-light source group <NUM>, the low-light source group <NUM>, and the reflector <NUM> are accommodated in a light chamber formed by, for example, the lens <NUM> and a housing that is not illustrated.

The circuit board <NUM> is a board member on which a drive circuit for lighting control and a circuit for power supply are mounted. On the circuit board <NUM>, the high-light source group <NUM>, the low-light source group <NUM>, and the plurality of reflectors <NUM> are mounted.

The high-light source group <NUM> is a light source to form a high beam light distribution pattern and includes a light source array in which a plurality of semiconductor-type light sources is arranged in a horizontal direction. The high-light source group <NUM> is configured as a direct-emission type that emits light toward the lens <NUM> without passing through a reflector, for example.

The low-light source group <NUM> includes, for example, a plurality of (two) semiconductor-type first and second light sources <NUM>, <NUM>, which are arranged side by side on the side of the high-light source group <NUM> on the identical circuit board <NUM>. Specifically, the low-light source group <NUM> and the high-light source group <NUM> are arranged at the identical height in a vertical direction (an up-down direction in <FIG>) while installed on the circuit board <NUM>.

A first reflector <NUM> is provided above the first light source <NUM> of the low-light source group <NUM>, and a second reflector <NUM> is provided above the second light source <NUM>. The first and second reflectors <NUM>, <NUM> guide the lights from the first and second light sources <NUM>, <NUM> to a low-beam lens <NUM> described below, and the light from the first light source <NUM> is reflected by the first reflector <NUM> to form a concentrated light distribution pattern (one of the low beam light distribution patterns) that is multiplexed with a diffuse light distribution pattern described below. Further, the light from the second light source <NUM> is reflected by the second reflector <NUM> to form, for example, the diffuse light distribution pattern (one of the low beam light distribution patterns) having a wide irradiation area.

The plurality of reflectors <NUM> includes the first reflector <NUM> and the second reflector <NUM>. The first and second reflectors <NUM>, <NUM> each have a concave reflective surface on their inner surfaces based on a spheroid and are arranged with the open side of the spheroid facing the side of the lens <NUM>.

The lens <NUM> is a light-transmitting optical component to cause the lights to be incident from the high-light source group <NUM> and the low-light source group <NUM> and emit them to the outside. The lens <NUM> includes a high-beam lens <NUM> to transmit the light from the high-light source group <NUM> and emit it to the outside and the low-beam lens <NUM> to transmit the light from the low-light source group <NUM> and emit it to the outside, and the high-beam and low-beam lenses <NUM>, <NUM> are integrated as a single component.

Furthermore, in the lens <NUM>, the low-beam lens <NUM> is formed to be thinner-walled than the high-beam lens <NUM>. Here, according to the present embodiment, the light from the high-light source group <NUM> directly enters the high-beam lens <NUM>, while the light from the low-light source group <NUM> enters the low-beam lens <NUM> via the plurality of reflectors <NUM>. Therefore, the lens <NUM> is made thinner on the low-beam side, on which the distance to the focal point tends to be longer due to the reflector <NUM>, so as to obtain an appropriate shape.

Furthermore, due to the fact that the two first and second reflectors <NUM>, <NUM> are provided for the low-light source group <NUM>, the low-beam lens <NUM> is configured to be wider than the high-beam lens <NUM>.

Furthermore, in the vehicle lighting device <NUM> according to the present embodiment, when the lens optical axis directions of the high-beam lens <NUM> and the low-beam lens <NUM> are in a front-rear direction, the circuit board <NUM> is fixedly arranged in the lighting chamber while inclined in both the front-rear direction and the up-down direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. Specifically, the circuit board <NUM> is inclined at <NUM>° or more and <NUM>° or less with respect to the front-rear direction. Furthermore, the circuit board <NUM> is arranged along a vehicle width direction (or the direction in which the high-beam lens <NUM> and the low-beam lens <NUM> are arranged), but not limited thereto, and may be inclined with respect to the vehicle width direction (or the above-described arrangement direction).

As described above, the circuit board <NUM> is inclined in both the front-rear direction and the up-down direction, and therefore the plane direction is in an intermediate direction with respect to both the front-rear direction and the up-down direction. Accordingly, the high-light source group <NUM> may be in a form similar to a direct-emission type, and the low-light source group <NUM> may also emit the light through the reflector <NUM>.

<FIG> is a front view of the first reflector <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the first reflector <NUM> is arranged such that its rear end E is located at the focal point of the low-beam lens <NUM> or at a nearby position thereof. In addition, in the first reflector <NUM>, the shape of the rear end E is different from that of the second reflector <NUM> and is a stepped shape to form a cutoff line in the light distribution pattern. That is, in the first reflector <NUM>, the shape of the rear end E includes an inclined portion 41a, which corresponds to a cutoff line, and a first horizontal portion 41b and a second horizontal portion 41c that are continuous with the inclined portion 41a and extend in a horizontal direction.

With such a rear end shape, the light from the first light source <NUM> forms a cutoff line when reflected by the first reflector <NUM> and, without using a shade to form a cutoff line, an appropriate light distribution pattern may be formed.

Furthermore, as it is clear from the fact that the focal point of the low-beam lens <NUM> is located at the rear end E of the first reflector <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the optical axis of the high-beam lens <NUM> is located lower than the optical axis of the low-beam lens <NUM> (both the optical axes are parallel). Accordingly, for example, high beams may be properly emitted from the high-beam lens <NUM>, and low beams may also be properly emitted from the low-beam lens <NUM>. That is, when both the optical axes are at the identical height, the position of the optical axis may be inappropriate for at least one of the beams, but in the configuration according to the present embodiment, the optical axis of the high-beam lens <NUM> is lower, and an appropriate light distribution pattern may be formed.

Next, the effect of the vehicle lighting device <NUM> according to the present embodiment will be described. <FIG> is a concept illustrating the state of the light emitted from the high-light source group <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, and <FIG> is a concept illustrating the state of the light emitted from the low-light source group <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>.

First, as illustrated in <FIG>, when each of the light sources included in the high-light source group <NUM> is turned on, the light from each light source directly reaches the high-beam lens <NUM>, is refracted by the high-beam lens <NUM>, and is then emitted to the outside. When there is an area that needs to be partially shaded, such as a vehicle coming in the opposite direction or a vehicle in front, for example, some of the light sources in the high-light source group <NUM> are turned off.

Furthermore, as illustrated in <FIG>, when each of the first and second light sources <NUM>, <NUM> included in the low-light source group <NUM> is turned on, the lights from the first and second light sources <NUM>, <NUM> are reflected by the first and second reflectors <NUM>, <NUM>, then reach the low-beam lens <NUM>, refracted by the low-beam lens <NUM>, and are then emitted to the outside. In particular, the light from the first light source <NUM> is reflected by the first reflector <NUM> to form a cutoff line and is emitted to the outside without passing through a shade.

As described above, in the vehicle lighting device <NUM> according to the present embodiment, even though the high-light source group <NUM> and the low-light source group <NUM> are mounted on the identical circuit board <NUM>, the lights are emitted through the different high-beam and low-beam lenses <NUM>, <NUM>. In other words, with the different high-beam and low-beam lenses <NUM>, <NUM>, an appropriate light distribution pattern is easily formed. Furthermore, there is no need to install the high-light source group <NUM> and the low-light source group <NUM> for the single focal point, as is the case where a common lens is used, and therefore there is no issue of installation space or no difficulty in increasing the luminous intensity of high beams.

Furthermore, as the vehicle lighting device <NUM> according to the present embodiment does not include a shade, no beams are blocked by a shade, and the light flux use efficiency of the high-light source group <NUM> and the low-light source group <NUM> may be improved.

Furthermore, as the circuit board <NUM> is inclined in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction, the high-light source group <NUM> emits the light to the high-beam lens <NUM> like a direct-emission type, while the low-light source group <NUM> emits the light after being reflected by the reflector <NUM>.

As described above, the vehicle lighting device <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes the circuit board <NUM> having the high-light source group <NUM> and the low-light source group <NUM> mounted thereon, the high-beam lens <NUM>, and the low-beam lens <NUM>. Therefore, even though the high-light source group <NUM> and the low-light source group <NUM> are mounted on the identical circuit board <NUM>, the different high-beam and low-beam lenses <NUM>, <NUM> may easily form an appropriate light distribution pattern. Furthermore, as the different high-beam and low-beam lenses <NUM>, <NUM> are provided, there is no need to install the high-light source group <NUM> and the low-light source group <NUM> for the single focal point as in the case of using a common lens and, even if a shade is provided, the shade would not block high beams, and dark areas are unlikely to be formed. In addition, the configuration for high beams and the configuration for low beams are not closely spaced for the single focal point, and the luminous intensity of high beams may be increased in a relatively easy way.

Furthermore, as the circuit board <NUM> is inclined in both the front-rear direction and the up-down direction, the plane direction is in an intermediate direction with respect to both the front-rear direction and the up-down direction. Accordingly, the high-light source group <NUM> may be in a form similar to a direct-emission type, and the low-light source group <NUM> may also emit the light through the reflector <NUM>.

As described above, various issues have been resolved regarding mounting the high-light source group <NUM> and the low-light source group <NUM> on the identical circuit board <NUM>, and it is possible to provide the vehicle lighting device <NUM> having the high-light source group <NUM> and the low-light source group <NUM> mounted on the identical circuit board <NUM> to achieve a reduction in the number of parts and a reduction in the number of assembly manhours.

Furthermore, in the first reflector <NUM>, the rear end located at the focal point or near the focal point has a shape corresponding to a cutoff line, and therefore the low beam light distribution pattern having a cutoff line may be formed without a shade.

Furthermore, the low-beam lens <NUM> is formed to be thinner-walled than the high-beam lens <NUM> so as to obtain the thin lens on the low-beam side where the distance to the focal point tends to be longer due to the reflector <NUM> so that the low-beam lens <NUM> having an appropriate wall thickness may be formed.

Furthermore, as the circuit board <NUM> is inclined at <NUM>° or more and <NUM>° or less with respect to the front-rear direction, it is possible to prevent a situation where the emission of the light from either one of the high-light and low-light source groups <NUM>, <NUM> is significantly difficult, as in the case of inclination at <NUM>° or less and <NUM>° or more in the up-down direction.

Further, as the high-beam lens <NUM> and the low-beam lens <NUM> are integrated as a single component, the use of the common part may further achieve a reduction in the number of parts and a reduction in the number of assembly manhours.

Furthermore, the high-light source group <NUM> and the low-light source group <NUM> are arranged at the identical height in the vertical direction while installed on the circuit board <NUM>, and the optical axis of the high-beam lens <NUM> is located lower than the optical axis of the low-beam lens <NUM>, and thus an appropriate light distribution pattern may be formed.

The present invention has been described above based on the embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, and publicly-known and well-known techniques may be combined.

For example, according to the present embodiment, the lens <NUM> is a single integrated component of the high-beam lens <NUM> and the low-beam lens <NUM>, but is not limited thereto, and may be configured with different components.

Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the first reflector <NUM> is configured without a shade as the rear end E has a shape corresponding to a cutoff line, but is not limited thereto, and may include a shade.

Further, the present embodiment is applied to the front light on the premise in the description, but is not limited thereto and, if it is applicable, may be applied to vehicle lighting devices that emit light in other directions.

Claim 1:
A vehicle lighting device (<NUM>) comprising:
a high-beam light source (<NUM>) to form a high beam light distribution pattern;
a low-beam light source (<NUM>) to form a low beam light distribution pattern;
a high-beam lens (<NUM>) to transmit light from the high-beam light source (<NUM>) and emit the light to outside;
a low-beam lens (<NUM>) to transmit light from the low-beam light source (<NUM>) and emit the light to outside;
a circuit board (<NUM>) having the high-beam light source (<NUM>) and the low-beam light source (<NUM>) mounted thereon together; and
a reflector (<NUM>) that guides light emitted from the low-beam light source (<NUM>) to the low-beam lens (<NUM>), wherein
when lens optical axis directions of the high-beam lens (<NUM>) and the low-beam lens (<NUM>) are in a front-rear direction, the circuit board (<NUM>) is inclined in the front-rear direction and an up-down direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction, wherein the up-down direction corresponds to a vertical direction, when the vehicle lighting device is mounted to the vehicle,
characterized in that
the high-beam light source (<NUM>) and the low-beam light source (<NUM>) are arranged at an identical height in the vertical direction while installed on the circuit board (<NUM>), and
an optical axis of the high-beam lens (<NUM>) is located lower than an optical axis of the low-beam lens (<NUM>).