Patent ID: 7481561

Claim:
A vehicle lighting device comprising: at least one lamp unit of a projector-type; a holder that holds the lamp unit in such a manner that the lamp unit the lamp unit rotates around a substantially vertical axis; and a drive unit that drives the lamp unit, wherein the lamp unit includes a reflector including a reflection surface having a substantially elliptical shape with a first focal point, a second focal point, and an optical axis, a semiconductor light source including a light emitter located at or near the first focal point, a projection lens including a lens focal point and a lens optical axis, in which the lens optical axis is substantially horizontal, the projection lens projecting a predetermined light distribution pattern (LP) in a predetermined direction, and a planer reflection surface arranged between the projection lens and the lens focal point to intersect with the lens optical axis, and the planer reflection surface reflecting the predetermined light distribution pattern toward the projection lens, the lens focal point presents as a pseudo lens focal point at a position symmetrical with respect to the planar reflection surface by the planar reflection surface, the pseudo lens focal point is positioned at or near the second focal point, the lens optical axis presents as a pseudo lens optical axis that intersects at a right angle with the lens optical axis by the planar reflection surface, the pseudo lens optical axis substantially coincides with the optical axis, and a light radiating direction of a light ray radiated from the lamp unit is changed according to a driving condition of a vehicle.