Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a vehicle lamp in which a low-beam light distribution pattern is formed by multiple light source units having different light distribution characteristics using compound optical lenses composed of shades and reflectors integrated with the lenses.

There is a problem in that as the number of light source units increases, the vehicle lamps become larger.

Therefore, we have appreciated that it would be desirable to provide a vehicle lamp using a compound optical lens that enables downsizing.

<CIT> discloses an optical module intended to project a final light beam having a profiled cutoff having at least one horizontal segment. The optical module includes a controlled light source emitting an initial beam, and optical cutting-off means for converting the initial beam into an intermediate cutoff beam containing a cutoff. In the beam, the light rays are distributed vertically below the profiled cutoff. The optical module includes horizontally focusing optical means for focusing the intermediate cutoff beam toward a substantially vertical line of focus, and an exit lens having a vertical focal line that is coincident with the line of focus in order to convert the intermediate cutoff beam into the final beam.

Another vehicle lamp is known from <CIT>.

The invention is defined in the independent claim to which reference is now made. According to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle lamp is provided with a light source and a compound optical lens that emits light of the light source toward the front side; the compound optical lens is an integrally molded lens having an incidence surface, an emission surface, and a shade part, the incidence surface receiving light, the emission surface emitting the light from the incidence surface toward the front side, the shade part being formed between the incidence surface and the emission surface; the compound optical lens includes a first reflector surface that is disposed above a top line of the shade part on an upper side of the of the incidence surface and which reflects a light forming a first diffused light distribution pattern of a low beam light distribution pattern toward the emission surface, and a second reflector surface that is disposed below the top line of the shade part on a lower side of the incidence surface and which reflects a light forming a condensed-light distribution pattern of the low-beam light distribution pattern toward the emission surface; the shade part forming a substantially triangular recess on an inner side of the compound optical lens from the lower side in the vertical direction at a position between the incidence surface and the emission surface of the compound optical lens, the position of the apex of the triangular recess forming the top line that matches the shape of a cut-off line of the low-beam distribution pattern, the top line being formed so that the portion forming the upper side of the cut-off line is positioned at the rear focal point or in the vicinity of the rear focal point of the emission surface; and the width of the first reflector surface is larger in a width of vehicle width direction at a position where the first reflector surface and the second reflector surface are adjacent to each other.

According to the invention, a vehicle lamp using a compound optical lens that enables downsizing can be obtained.

Embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same numbers or reference signs denote the same elements throughout the description of the embodiments.

In the embodiments and drawings, the terms "front" and "rear" respectively refer to a "forward traveling direction" and a "backward traveling direction", and the terms "top", "bottom", "left", and "right" refer to directions as seen from the driver of a vehicle <NUM>, unless otherwise specified.

Note that the terms "top" and "bottom" also respectively refer to the "top" and the "bottom" in the vertical direction, and the terms "left" and "right" also respectively refer to the "left" and "right" in the horizontal direction.

<FIG> is a plan view of a vehicle <NUM> including vehicle lamps of a first embodiment. As illustrated in <FIG>, the vehicle lamps of the first embodiment are vehicle headlights (<NUM>, 101R) disposed on the front side of the vehicle <NUM>, and, hereinafter, are simply referred to as vehicle lamps.

A vehicle lamp of the present embodiment includes a housing (not illustrated) opened on the front side of the vehicle and an outer lens (not illustrated) attached to the housing so as to cover the opening. The vehicle lamp further includes a lamp unit <NUM> (see <FIG>), etc., disposed in a lighting room composed of the housing and the outer lens.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view of a lamp unit <NUM> of the first embodiment. As illustrated in <FIG>, the lamp unit <NUM> includes a heatsink <NUM>, a light source device <NUM> attached to the heatsink <NUM>, an optical control member <NUM> disposed on the light source device <NUM>, and a cover <NUM> that covers a portion of the optical control member <NUM>.

The heatsink <NUM> includes a base part <NUM> on which the light source device <NUM> is disposed; multiple heat radiating fins <NUM> disposed on the rear side of the base part <NUM> and arranged along the vehicle width direction; and two positioning pins 11A disposed on one side of the base part <NUM> in the vertical direction (bottom in <FIG>), protruding toward the front side, and separated in the vehicle width direction.

Two screw engagement holes 11B are formed in the base part <NUM> in the central area in the vehicle width direction and at positions separated in the vertical direction. Two screws N are screwed and fixed to the two screw engagement holes 11B so as to fasten together the light source device <NUM>, the optical control member <NUM>, and the cover <NUM>, as described below.

The heat radiating fins <NUM> extends vertically from the base part <NUM> to a second side (upper side in <FIG>). The portion that extends vertically from the base part <NUM> (upper portion in <FIG>) has a shape in which the base part <NUM> is recessed toward the rear side so as to house a connector connecting portion 23B of the light source device <NUM> as described below.

In the present embodiment, the heatsink <NUM> is a heatsink <NUM> made of die-cast aluminum, but the heatsink <NUM> is not limited to this, and may be formed by using a metal or resin having high thermal conductivity.

The light source device <NUM> includes a heat transfer member <NUM>; a light source <NUM> disposed on the heat transfer member <NUM>; and a connecting part <NUM> disposed on the heat transfer member <NUM> and having an opening 23A and a connector connecting portion 23B. The opening 23A is disposed at a position corresponding to the light source <NUM>, and the connector connecting portion 23B is connected to an external connector.

Note that the connector connecting portion 23B is positioned on the second side (upper side in <FIG>) in the vertical direction of the heat transfer member <NUM> such that a portion of the connector connecting portion 23B protrudes to the rear side of the heat transfer member <NUM>. As mentioned above, the protruding portion is positioned in a recess in the heat radiating fins <NUM> toward the rear side.

In the present embodiment, the heat transfer member <NUM> is composed of an aluminum plate having a larger outer shape than that of the light source <NUM>. However, the heat transfer member <NUM> may be composed of any material other than aluminum such as a metal or resin aluminum having high thermal conductivity. The heat transfer member <NUM> serves to increase the cooling efficiency of the light source <NUM> by efficiently transferring heat to the heatsink <NUM> while rapidly diffusing the heat generated at the light source <NUM> over a wide range.

The light source <NUM> includes a substrate 22A having a light emitting region 22B that transmits light, and a light emitting chip (not illustrated) that is disposed on the back side of the substrate 22A and emits light for lighting the light emitting region 22B. In the embodiment, the light source <NUM> is a laser diode light source (LD light source) using a laser diode chip (LD chip) as the light emitting chip, but alternatively a light-emitting-diode light source (LED light source) using an LED chip as the light emitting chip may be used.

Note that the light source <NUM> (light emitting chip) of the present embodiment has a lumbar cyan distribution or a similar distribution having a flat light emitting portion.

However, since it is easier to downsize a light source <NUM> that is an LD light source than one that is an LED light source, it is preferable that the light source <NUM> be an LD light source.

The connecting part <NUM> is a member formed by, for example, insert-molding using an electrically insulating resin having excellent heat resistance so as to internally accommodate electrical wiring (not illustrated) for electrically connecting the light source <NUM> and the external connector. One end of the electrical wiring (not illustrated) is led out to the opening 23A to establish an electrical connection with the light source <NUM>, and the other end of the electrical wiring (not illustrated) is led out into the connector connecting portion 23B to establish an electrical connection with an external connector.

The light source device <NUM> includes two positioning holes 24A through which the two positioning pins 11A disposed on the base part <NUM> are passed, and two screw holes 24B disposed at positions corresponding to the screw engagement holes 11B formed in the base part <NUM>. The light source device <NUM> can be fixed to the heatsink <NUM> by screws N while being positioned by the positioning pins 11A.

The optical control member <NUM> includes a compound optical lens <NUM> that emits the light from the light source device <NUM> toward the front side, and a fixing part <NUM> for arranging the compound optical lens <NUM> on the light source device <NUM> and fixing the compound optical lens <NUM> to the heatsink <NUM> together with the light source device <NUM>. In the optical control member <NUM>, the compound optical lens <NUM> and the fixing part <NUM> are integrally formed of a transparent resin (for example, acrylic resins and polycarbonate resins).

The fixing part <NUM> includes a pair of leg portions 32A extending toward the rear side from the left and right side surfaces (left and right side surfaces on the front side of the top line 31CA of a shade part 31C described below) that do not affect the optical control of the compound optical lens <NUM>, and a base portion 32B for fixing provided so as to be connected to the pair of leg portions 32A.

The base portion 32B includes a pair of positioning holes 32BA through which the pair of positioning pins 11A disposed on the base part <NUM> are passed, and a pair of screw holes 32BB disposed at positions corresponding to the screw engagement holes 11B formed in the base part <NUM>. The base portion 32B is fixed together with the light source device <NUM> to the heatsink <NUM> by the screws N while being positioned by the positioning pins 11A.

By disposing the base portion 32B of the optical control member <NUM> on the connecting part <NUM> of the light source device <NUM>, contact with the heat transfer member <NUM> of the light source device <NUM> is avoided. The connecting part <NUM> functions as a heat insulator disposed between the optical control member <NUM> and the heat transfer member <NUM>. In this way, an acrylic resin having low heat resistance (for example, a heat resistant temperature of approximately <NUM>) can be used for the optical control member <NUM> with no problem.

The cover <NUM> includes substantially cylindrical covering part <NUM> and flange parts <NUM>. The covering part <NUM> is opened so as not to block an emission surface 31A that emits the light of the compound optical lens <NUM> and an incidence surface 31B (see <FIG> and <FIG> described below) on which the light is incident, and covers the side surface of the compound optical lens <NUM>. The flange parts <NUM> are positioned behind the covering part <NUM> so as to protrude outward from the covering part <NUM> and fixes the cover <NUM> to the heatsink <NUM> together with the optical control member <NUM> and the light source device <NUM>.

Note that the covering part <NUM> has a pair of notches 41A, separated in the vehicle width direction, at the front edge so that the pair of leg portions 32A of the fixing part <NUM> of the compound optical lens <NUM> can be inserted from the rear edge side.

A pair of flange parts <NUM> are disposed apart from each other, on one side in the vertical direction (lower side in <FIG>) and on another side in the vertical direction (upper side in <FIG>) with reference to the portions of the pair of notches 41A, to enable the insertion of the leg portions 32A into the notches 41A.

The flange parts <NUM> have a pair of positioning holes 42A through which the pair of positioning pins 11A disposed on the base part <NUM> pass, on the flange part <NUM> on the one side in the vertical direction (lower side in <FIG>), and a pair of screw holes 42B, one of which is formed on the one side in the vertical direction (lower side in <FIG>) and another one of which is formed on the other side in the vertical direction (upper side in <FIG>), at positions corresponding to the screw engagement holes 11B disposed on the base part <NUM>. The flange parts <NUM> are fixed to the heatsink <NUM> together with the optical control member <NUM> and the light source device <NUM> by the screws N while being positioned with the positioning pins 11A.

Note that the cover <NUM> is for suppressing light leakage from a position other than the emission surface 31A of the compound optical lens <NUM>, and in the present embodiment, the cover <NUM> is formed of an opaque resin that does not transmit light.

However, the cover <NUM> may be formed of a transparent resin that allows light to pass through, and may have a colored layer that suppresses light transmission on the surface. Alternatively, the cover <NUM> may be omitted, and aluminum vapor deposition or the like may be performed on a portion of the compound optical lens <NUM> other than the incidence surface 31B and the emission surface 31A to provide the same function as the cover <NUM>.

The compound optical lens <NUM> will now be described in detail with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the compound optical lens <NUM> and is a cross-sectional view from the side surface taken along the lens optical axis Z in the vertical direction.

Note that <FIG> also schematically illustrates the light emitting region 22B of the light source <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view of the compound optical lens <NUM>, in which the incidence surface 31B side of the compound optical lens <NUM> is visible.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the compound optical lens <NUM> is an integrally molded lens having an incidence surface 31B, an emission surface 31A, and a shade part 31C. The incidence surface 31B receives light from the light source <NUM> (see <FIG>). The emission surface 31A emits the light from the incidence surface 31B toward the front side and is a smoothly curved surface, without fine asperities, protruding toward the front side. The shade part 31C is formed between the incidence surface 31B and the emission surface 31A.

Note that, as in the present embodiment, by not forming asperities on the emission surface 31A, such as in prisms, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of light streaks and unevenness, and form a low-beam light distribution pattern that does not cause discomfort to the driver.

The shade part 31C is formed so as to form a substantially triangular recess on the inner side of the compound optical lens <NUM> from the lower side in the vertical direction at a position between the incidence surface 31B and the emission surface 31A of the compound optical lens <NUM>. The position of the apex of the triangular recess is set to be the top line 31CA that matches the shape of the cut-off line.

The top line 31CA is formed so that the portion forming the upper side of the oblique cut-off line is positioned at the rear focal point or in the vicinity of the rear focal point of the emission surface 31A.

The compound optical lens <NUM> has a semi-dome-shaped first reflector surface 31D having a free curved surface and a semi-dome-shaped second reflector surface 31E having a free curved surface. The first reflector surface 31D is formed on the upper side (upper side in the vertical direction) of the incidence surface 31B side of the top line 31CA of the shade part 31C, and reflects, toward the emission surface 31A, a light beam L1 that forms a first light distribution pattern of the low-beam light distribution pattern incident from the incidence surface 31B. The second reflector surface 31E is formed on the lower side (lower side in the vertical direction) of the incidence surface 31B side of the top line 31CA and reflects, toward the emission surface 31A, a light beam L2 that forms a condensed-light distribution pattern of the low-beam light distribution pattern incident from the incidence surface 31B.

Note that, in the present embodiment, the first light distribution pattern is a diffused-light distribution pattern of the low-beam light distribution pattern, and therefore hereinafter may be referred to as the first diffused-light distribution pattern.

As apparent from <FIG>, the width of the first reflector surface 31D is larger than the width of the second reflector surface 31E in the vehicle width direction at the position where the first reflector surface 31D and the second reflector surface 31E are adjacent to each other so that the first diffused-light distribution pattern of the low-beam light distribution pattern can be satisfactorily formed.

Note that the front focal points of the basic optical paths of the first reflector surface 31D and the second reflector surface 31E substantially coincide with the rear focal point of the emission surface 31A.

In this way, in the present embodiment, since the first diffused-light distribution pattern and the condensed-light distribution pattern of the low-beam light distribution pattern can be formed with one compound optical lens <NUM>, many light units <NUM> for forming the low-beam light distribution pattern is not needed, and the vehicle lamp can be downsized.

In the present embodiment, the incidence surface 31B is a concave surface of which the overall shape is recessed toward the inner side of the compound optical lens <NUM>. The incidence surface 31B has a convex surface 31BA that protrudes outward from the compound optical lens <NUM> and receives a light beam L3 forming a second light distribution pattern of the low-beam light distribution pattern in the central area.

Note that, in the present embodiment, the second light distribution pattern is a medium-diffused-light distribution pattern of the low-beam light distribution pattern that is smaller than the first diffused-light distribution pattern of the low-beam light distribution pattern, and therefore hereinafter may be referred to as the second diffused-light distribution pattern.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the convex surface 31BA has a substantially rectangular outer shape (square shape) and is formed so that the front focal point is located on the top line 31CA or in the vicinity of the top line 31CA, as illustrated in <FIG>.

Since the light source <NUM> is positioned behind the convex surface 31BA so that the center of the convex surface 31BA and the light emission center of the light source <NUM> substantially coincide with each other when viewed in the vehicle width direction and the vertical direction, the light received by the convex surface 31BA is gradually condensed toward the top line 31CA and then gradually spreads from the front focal point toward the emission surface 31A, without great refraction, so as to form a satisfactory medium-diffused-light distribution pattern.

Note that, to be more precise, the convex surface 31BA is designed to collect light in the vertical direction, but is designed to diffuse or spread in the horizontal direction.

In this way, in the present embodiment, the second diffused light distribution pattern, which is a medium level diffused-light distribution pattern (medium-diffused-light distribution pattern), multiplexed with the condensed-light distribution pattern and the first diffused light distribution pattern, is also formed. Therefore, the luminous intensity distribution of the low-beam light distribution pattern can be more satisfactory.

Since the incidence surface 31B on the outer side of the convex surface 31BA has a shape that extends to the rear side, and the entire shape of the incidence surface 31B has a concave shape that is recessed toward the inner side of the compound optical lens <NUM>, the light emitted from the light source <NUM> toward the front side can be incident on the compound optical lens <NUM> without loss, in consideration of the spread of the light.

Note that the rear focal point of the overall shape of the incidence surface 31B, which is the concave surface recessed toward the inner side of the compound optical lens <NUM>, substantially coincides with the rear focal points of the first reflector surface 31D and the second reflector surface 31E, and these rear focal points substantially coincide with the light emission center of the light source <NUM>.

If the contrast is too clear at the cut-off line of the low-beam light distribution pattern, visibility is impaired. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the emission surface 31A is formed to have a shape that causes a portion of the light beam L1 forming the first diffused-light distribution pattern (a lower portion in the present embodiment) to be incident above the cut-off line of the condensed-light distribution pattern and the second diffused-light distribution pattern.

Specifically, the curvature of the lower side of the emission surface 31A is smoothly adjusted so that the light is emitted upward by approximately <NUM> to <NUM> degrees relative to the lens optical axis Z.

Therefore, light is also incident on above the cut-off line of the condensed-light distribution pattern and the second diffused-light distribution pattern, and the sharpness of the cut-offline is appropriately lowered, so that the visibility can be improved.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the light source <NUM> is disposed so as to emit light toward the front side, and the compound optical lens <NUM> utilizes the spread of the light, forms a diffused-light distribution pattern (first diffused-light distribution pattern) of the largest low-beam light distribution pattern with the light spreading to the upper side, forms a condensed-light distribution pattern of the low-beam light distribution pattern with the light spreading to the lower side, and forms a middle-diffused-light distribution pattern (second diffused-light distribution pattern) of the low-beam light distribution pattern with the light in the central area; therefore a satisfactory low-beam light distribution pattern can be formed without using many lamp units <NUM>, and the vehicle lamp can be downsized.

Note that, in the vicinity of the upper edge of the cut-off line, the spectroscopic light of the condensed-light distribution pattern having a slight yellow tint and the spectroscopic light of the first diffused-light distribution pattern having a bluish tint are multiplexed so that the spectral color can be relaxed.

A vehicle lamp of a second embodiment will now be described with reference to <FIG>. The overall configuration of the lamp unit <NUM> is also the same in the second embodiment, and the only difference from the first embodiment is the compound optical lens <NUM>. Therefore, the main differences will be described below, and description of the same points may be omitted.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the compound optical lens <NUM> of the present embodiment and is a cross-sectional view from the side surface taken along the lens optical axis Z in the vertical direction. Note that <FIG> also schematically illustrates the light emitting region 22B of the light source <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view of the compound optical lens <NUM> in which that the emission surface 31A side of the present embodiment is visible. <FIG> is a perspective view of the compound optical lens <NUM> in which the incidence surface 31B side of the present embodiment is visible.

As illustrated in <FIG>, similar to the compound optical lens <NUM> of the first embodiment, the compound optical lens <NUM> of the present embodiment is an integrally molded lens having an incidence surface 31B, an emission surface 31A, and a shade part 31C. The incidence surface 31B receives light from the light source <NUM>. The emission surface 31A emits the light from the incidence surface 31B toward the front side. The shade part 31C is formed between the incidence surface 31B and the emission surface 31A.

The shade part 31C is also formed so as to form a substantially triangular recess on the inner side of the compound optical lens <NUM> from the lower side in the vertical direction at a position between the incidence surface 31B and the emission surface 31A of the compound optical lens <NUM>. The position of the apex of the triangular recess is set to be the top line 31CA that matches the shape of the cut-off line.

The compound optical lens <NUM> has a semi-dome-shaped first reflector surface 31D having a free curved surface and a semi-dome-shaped second reflector surface 31E having a free curved surface. The first reflector surface 31D is formed on the upper side (upper side in the vertical direction) of the incidence surface 31B side of the top line 31CA of the shade part 31C, and reflects, toward the emission surface 31A, a light beam that forms a first diffused-light distribution pattern of the low-beam light distribution pattern. The second reflector surface 31E is formed on the lower side (lower side in the vertical direction) of the incidence surface 31B side of the top line 31CA and reflects, toward the emission surface 31A, a light beam that forms a condensed-light distribution pattern of the low-beam light distribution pattern. Similar to above, the width of the first reflector surface 31D is larger than the width of the second reflector surface 31E in the vehicle width direction at the position where the first reflector surface 31D and the second reflector surface 31E are adjacent to each other.

Since the shade part 31C is formed so as to form a substantially triangular recess in the inner side of the compound optical lens <NUM>, the shade part 31C has a rearward tilting surface 31CB that tilts rearward from the top line 31CA. When a portion of the light reflected by the first reflector surface 31D, a portion of the light reflected by the second reflector surface 31E, and a portion of the direct light from the light source <NUM> are reflected by the rearward tilting surface 31CB, a portion of the reflected light is reflected by the surface on the front side above the top line 31CA and is emitted from the emission surface 31A toward the front side.

Such light is not planned to be subjected to light distribution control by the emission surface 31A, and thus may be harmful light that is emitted into the lamp chamber and/or the vicinity of the vehicle.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the compound optical lens <NUM> includes a light scatterer 31F formed on the emission surface 31A side of the top line 31CA of the shade part 31C in a section that reflects, toward the emission surface 31A, reflected light that is not planned to be subjected to light distribution control by the emission surface 31A.

Specifically, the light scatterer 31F is formed in a section of the compound optical lens <NUM> directly irradiated by the light reflected by the rearward tilting surface 31CB. In this way, as illustrated in <FIG>, light is scattered, and most of the scattered light becomes a light beam L4 emitted from the light scatterer 31F and is shielded and prevented from leaking outside by the cover <NUM> (see <FIG>).

A portion of the light scattered by the light scatterer 31F becomes a light beam L5 radiated from the emission surface 31A toward the front side. However, since the intensity of the light beam L5 is significantly reduced, no harm is caused even when the light chamber and/or the vicinity of the vehicle are irradiated with the light beam L5.

The light scatterer 31F is composed of fine asperities (for example, prisms) formed on the surface of the compound optical lens <NUM>. However, the structure is not limited to this as long as light can be efficiently scattered. Another light scatterer may be disposed on the rearward tilting surface 31CB. In this way, the intensity of light that may be radiated to the lamp chamber and/or the vicinity of the vehicle can be further reduced.

In the first embodiment, the case where the compound optical lens <NUM> mainly controls the formation of the low-beam light distribution pattern has been described. Alternatively, an overhead light distribution may be formed in addition to the low-beam light distribution pattern. The configuration for forming an overhead distribution light will be described below.

As described above, since the shade part 31C is formed so as to form a substantially triangular recess on the inner side of the compound optical lens <NUM>, the shade part 31C has a forward tilting surface 31CC that tilts forward from the top line 31CA.

Since the forward tilting surface 31CC can be used to reflect light obliquely upward, in the present embodiment, a reflective surface <NUM> is formed on the compound optical lens <NUM>. The reflective surface <NUM> reflects a portion of the direct light from the light source <NUM> toward at least a portion of the forward tilting surface 31CC. A light beam L6 reflected by the reflective surface <NUM> and further reflected by the forward tilting surface 31CC is emitted from the emission surface 31A as overhead distribution light.

Specifically, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the reflective surface <NUM> is formed between the first reflector surface 31D and the light scatterer 31F on the upper side of the compound optical lens <NUM>, and reflects a portion of the direct light from the light source <NUM> toward at least a section of the forward tilting surface 31CC.

Note that, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a reflection angle adjuster 31CCA for adjusting the reflection angle toward the emission surface 31A is disposed in a section of the forward tilting surface 31CC irradiated with the light reflected by the reflective surface <NUM>.

However, it is not an essential requirement that the forward tilting surface 31CC be provided with the reflection angle adjuster 31CCA. Alternatively, the tilt state of the entire forward tilting surface 31CC may be set so that the light reflected by the reflective surface <NUM> is reflected toward the emission surface 31A at a reflection angle suitable for overhead light distribution.

Since the first reflector surface 31D, the second reflector surface 31E, the forward tilting surface 31CC (or may be only the reflection angle adjuster 31CCA), and the reflective surface <NUM> are required to have a function of reflecting light, they may be colored with white or silver to increase the light reflectance.

According to the present embodiment, a satisfactory lamp unit <NUM> can be provided that can suppress harmful light, which may be generated due to the user of the compound optical lens <NUM>, emitted to the lamp chamber and/or the vicinity of the vehicle, and can form overhead distribution light by the compound optical lens <NUM>, which forms a low-beam light distribution pattern.

A vehicle lamp of a third embodiment will now be described with reference to <FIG>. The overall configuration of the lamp unit <NUM> is also the same in the third embodiment, and the only difference from the first and second embodiments is the compound optical lens <NUM>. Therefore, the main differences will be described below, and description of the same points may be omitted.

In the conventional technique, a vehicle lamp including a compound optical lens in which an incidence surface, an emission surface, and a shade part are integrally molded is known (for example, <CIT>).

However, in the conventional technique as described above, since the compound optical lens collects the light incident to the incidence surface at the focal point of the emission surface, it is difficult to form a light distribution pattern having a spread or the like.

Therefore, it is an object of the vehicle lamp of the third embodiment to facilitate the formation of a light distribution pattern having a spread.

The vehicle lamp of the third embodiment includes a light source and a compound optical lens. The compound optical lens includes an incidence surface on which light is incident; an emission surface that emits the light from the incidence surface toward the front side; a shade part formed between the incidence surface and the emission surface; a first reflector surface formed on the upper side of the incidence surface side and reflects the light forming a first light distribution pattern toward the emission surface; and a second reflector surface formed on the lower side of the incidence surface side and reflects the light forming a condensed-light distribution pattern toward the emission surface. The incidence surface on the vertical cross-section passing through the optical axis is formed such that the lower side of the incidence surface positioned below the light source is closer to the light source than the upper side of the incidence surface positioned above the light source.

According to the vehicle lamp of the third embodiment, it is also possible to facilitate the formation of a light distribution pattern having a spread.

The compound optical lens <NUM> will now be described in detail with reference to <FIG>. Here, the overall features of the compound optical lens <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>, and then the features of a portion of the compound optical lens <NUM> (the lower region of the incidence surface 31B) will be described in more detail with reference to <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the compound optical lens <NUM> of the present embodiment is an integrally molded lens having an incidence surface 31B, an emission surface 31A, and a shade part 31C. The incidence surface 31B receives light from the light source <NUM>. The emission surface 31A emits the light from the incidence surface 31B toward the front side. The shade part 31C is formed between the incidence surface 31B and the emission surface 31A.

The compound optical lens <NUM> has a semi-dome-shaped first reflector surface 31D having a free curved surface and a semi-dome-shaped second reflector surface 31E (total reflection surface) having a free curved surface. The first reflector surface 31D is formed on the upper side (upper side in the vertical direction) of the incidence surface 31B side of the top line 31CA of the shade part 31C, and reflects, toward the emission surface 31A, a light beam L1 that forms a first light distribution pattern of the low-beam light distribution pattern incident from the incidence surface 31B. The second reflector surface 31E is formed on the lower side (lower side in the vertical direction) of the incidence surface 31B side of the top line 31CA and reflects, toward the emission surface 31A, a light beam L2 that forms a condensed-light distribution pattern of the low-beam light distribution pattern incident from the incidence surface 31B.

The light scatterer 31F is composed of fine asperities (for example, prisms) formed on the surface of the compound optical lens <NUM>. However, the structure is not limited to this as long as light can be efficiently scattered.

Another light scatterer may be disposed on the rearward tilting surface 31CB. In this way, the intensity of light that may be radiated to the lamp chamber and/or the vicinity of the vehicle can be further reduced.

In the modified example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the light scatterer 31F may be omitted.

In the present embodiment, the case where the compound optical lens <NUM> mainly controls the formation of the low-beam light distribution pattern has been described. Alternatively, an overhead light distribution may be formed in addition to the low-beam light distribution pattern. The configuration for forming an overhead distribution light will be described below.

The features of a portion of the compound optical lens <NUM> (the lower region of the incidence surface 31B) will be described in more detail with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the compound optical lens <NUM> and is a cross-sectional view from the side surface taken along the lens optical axis Z in the vertical direction. <FIG> is the same cross-sectional view as that of <FIG>, but is an explanatory diagram illustrating in detail the optical path of the light beam L2 (see <FIG>) forming the condensed-light distribution pattern of the low-beam light distribution pattern. <FIG> is an enlarged view of the Q1 portion in <FIG>. <FIG> is an explanatory view (cross-sectional view) of the case of a comparative example. In <FIG>, the position of the light source <NUM> (the position of the light emission center) is denoted by P1.

As described above, the lower region of the incidence surface 31B is a region on which the light reflected by the second reflector surface 31E is incident. As described above, the light reflected by the second reflector surface 31E includes the light beam L4 emitted from the light scatterer 31F and the light beam L2 forming the condensed-light distribution pattern of the low-beam light distribution pattern. Note that, as described above, the light scatterer 31F may be omitted. In such a modification (see <FIG>), the light beam L4 is light that reaches a section corresponding to the light scatterer 31F (however, unlike the light scatterer 31F, the surface of this section is not provided with fine asperities).

As illustrated in <FIG>, on the second reflector surface 31E, a region 31E-<NUM> that reflects the light beam L2 is positioned closer to the light source <NUM> than a region 31E-<NUM> that reflects the light beam L4, in the direction of the lens optical axis Z.

In the present embodiment, the region below the light source <NUM> (or the light emitting region 22B) on the incidence surface 31B (hereinafter, referred to as "lower incidence surface <NUM>") is formed such that light incident on the lower incidence surface <NUM> from the light emitting center is refracted, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. That is, the light beam L2 is refracted at the incidence surface 31B and then reflected by the second reflector surface 31E.

Specifically, as illustrated in <FIG>, the lower incidence surface <NUM> is formed such that each light beam of the light refracted at the lower incidence surface <NUM> is focused at a point F1 (hereinafter, referred to as "virtual focal point F1") above the light source <NUM> when the light is traced in a direction opposite to the traveling direction of the light. That is, in <FIG>, each light beam of the light refracted is indicated by the dotted lines <NUM> when the light refracted at the lower incidence surface <NUM> is traced in a direction opposite to the traveling direction of the light. The dotted lines <NUM> intersect at the virtual focal point F1.

In the present embodiment, the incidence surface 31B is formed such that the virtual focal point F1 is positioned above the light source <NUM> (see position P1) as illustrated in <FIG>. As a result, it becomes easy to reflect the light refracted by the lower incidence surface <NUM> to the region of the second reflector surface 31E near the light source <NUM> in the direction of the lens optical axis Z. That is, the region on the second reflector surface 31E near the light source <NUM> in the direction of the lens optical axis Z can be efficiently used as the region 31E-<NUM> where the light beam L2 is reflected.

The position of the virtual focal point F1 is determined in accordance with the lower incidence surface <NUM>. When the lower incidence surface <NUM> is formed such that the virtual focal point F1 is positioned above the light source (see position P1), the lower incidence surface <NUM> is disposed closer to the light source <NUM> than a region <NUM> (see <FIG>) above the convex surface 31BA of the incidence surface 31B. That is, when the region <NUM> is shaped like a sphere having a radius r1 centered on the light source <NUM> (see position P1), the distance r2 from the light source <NUM> (see position P1) to an arbitrary point in the lower incidence surface <NUM> is r1 or smaller.

Here, with reference to an optical control member <NUM>' according to the comparative example illustrated in <FIG>, the optical control member <NUM>' differs from the optical control member <NUM> according to the present embodiment in that the incidence surface 31B is replaced with an incidence surface 31B'. In the comparative example, the incidence surface 31B' has a shape of a sphere (spherical surface) centered on the light source (see position P1) except for the convex surface 31BA. In such the case, as illustrated in <FIG>, the light from the region below the incidence surface 31B' and reflected by the region of a second reflector surface 31E' near the light source <NUM> in the direction of the lens optical axis Z is reflected by the rearward tilting surface 31CB and travels toward the light scatterer 31F. That is, the light does not readily reach the emission surface 31A.

On the other hand, as described above in the present embodiment, the region of the second reflector surface 31E near the light source <NUM> in the direction of the lens optical axis Z is the region 31E-<NUM> that reflects the light beam L2, i.e., the region 31E-<NUM> that reflects the light that enters the emission surface 31A.

In this way, it is possible to reduce the light directed to the light scatterer 31F as in the comparative example illustrated in <FIG> and increase the light entering the emission surface 31A. In this way, in the present embodiment, among the light beams from the light source <NUM>, the light beams reflected in the region of the second reflector surface 31E near the light source <NUM> in the direction of the lens optical axis Z can also be used as a light distribution pattern emitted from the emission surface 31A. That is, the utilization efficiency of the light increases.

According to the present embodiment, the second reflector surface 31E can be designed as a reflective surface (free curved surface) having a focal point at the virtual focal point F1, and thus the structure can be easily designed.

In the present embodiment, the second reflector surface 31E includes the region 31E-<NUM> that reflects the light beam L2 and the region 31E-<NUM> that reflects the light beam L4. According to the modified example, the second reflector surface 31E may include only the region 31E-<NUM> that reflects the light beam L2.

Although the specific embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and modifications may be made within the scope of the attached claims.

The shade function may be enhanced by applying aluminum vapor deposition, coloring, or the like to the surface of the shade part 31C.

Claim 1:
A vehicle lamp comprising:
a light source (<NUM>), and a compound optical lens (<NUM>) that emits light of the light source toward the front side, wherein,
the compound optical lens (<NUM>) is an integrally molded lens having an incidence surface (31B), an emission surface (31A), and a shade part (31C), the incidence surface (31B) receiving light, the emission surface (31A) emitting the light from the incidence surface toward the front side, the shade part (31C) being disposed between the incidence surface (31B) and the emission surface (31A),
the compound optical lens (<NUM>) includes:
a first reflector surface (31D) that is disposed above a top line (31CA) of the shade part on an upper side of the of the incidence surface (31B) and which reflects a light forming a first diffused light distribution pattern of a low-beam light distribution pattern toward the emission surface (31A); and
a second reflector surface (31E) that is disposed below the top line (31CA) of the shade part (31C) on a lower side of the incidence surface (31B) and which reflects a light forming a condensed-light distribution pattern of the low-beam light distribution pattern toward the emission surface (31A),
the shade part (31C) forming a substantially triangular recess on an inner side of the compound optical lens (<NUM>) from the lower side in the vertical direction at a position between the incidence surface (31B) and the emission surface (31A) of the compound optical lens (<NUM>), the position of the apex of the triangular recess forming the top line (31CA) that matches the shape of a cut-off line of the low-beam distribution pattern, the top line (31CA) being formed so that the portion forming the upper side of the cut-off line is positioned at the rear focal point or in the vicinity of the rear focal point of the emission surface (31A); and
the width of the first reflector surface (31D) is larger in a width of a vehicle width direction at a position where the first reflector surface (31D) and the second reflector surface (31E) are adjacent to each other.