Patent ID: 7575353

Claim:
A light shielding plate for imparting a desired light distribution pattern to projected light by shielding light traveling in an illumination direction and received from at least one of a light source directly and a reflector, the light shielding plate comprising: a vertical rotary shaft portion; a light shielding portion, wherein the light shielding portion includes light shielding parts which are continuously formed, are arranged in a horizontal direction, and impart at least two light distribution patterns to the projected light, the light shielding portion movable about the vertical rotary shaft portion and between at least two predetermined positions so as to impart the at least two light distribution patterns to the projected light, and a projection lens which is integrally provided with the light shielding plate and movable with the light shielding plate, and wherein light with at least one of the at least two light distribution patterns is projected in an illumination direction of the projection lens by rotation of the light shielding plate, and wherein the rotary shaft portion is located further in the illumination direction as compared to the light shielding portion.