Patent ID: 8152346

Claim:
A vehicle lighting unit having an optical axis, comprising: an LED light source having a light emitting portion and an LED optical axis substantially parallel with the optical axis of the vehicle lighting unit; a projection lens disposed forward in a light emitting direction of the optical axis of the LED light source and having an optical axis substantially parallel with the LED optical axis of the LED light source; and an optical member disposed between the LED light source and the projection lens, the optical member being configured so as to transmit light received from the LED light source toward the projection lens to allow the light to pass through the projection lens and to form a predetermined light distribution pattern having a cut-off line, the optical member including a first reflecting surface horizontally disposed below the LED optical axis of the LED light source and substantially on the optical axis of the vehicle lighting unit, and a second reflecting surface disposed above the LED optical axis and facing towards the first reflecting surface, wherein the first reflecting surface includes an edge in a substantially elliptic shape arranged in a horizontal plane and configured to take an aberration of the projection lens into consideration, the first reflecting surface extending from the edge to a location adjacent the light emitting portion of the LED light source, and the second reflecting surface has a focus disposed substantially on the LED light source, and the second reflecting surface including at least one of a substantially conical curved surface and a curved surface having at least a part of a cross section of a substantially conical curved surface; and wherein the LED and projection lens are so configured such that at least a portion of light emitted from the LED is directly incident upon the projection lens without reflection.