Patent ID: 8104938

Claim:
A vehicle headlamp comprising: a light source; an image forming section which forms a light image using light from the light source; and a projection lens which projects the light image, wherein an optical axis extends from the light source and passes through the projection lens, wherein the image forming section comprises: a plurality of movable shades which are arranged side by side, each of the movable shades being individually movable between a closed position at which the movable shade blocks a corresponding part of the light from entering the projection lens and an open position at which the movable shade allows the corresponding part of the light to enter the projection lens, each of the movable shades comprising a distal end; a boundary shade which is disposed to extend along the distal ends that are arranged side by side when the plurality of movable shades are in the closed positions, wherein, when the plurality of movable shades are in the closed positions, the boundary shade forms a boundary line of the light image; and a controller that determines whether a vehicle ahead of the headlamp is in a region corresponding to one of the plurality of movable shades, and controls the one of the movable shades so that it is in the closed position if the vehicle is in the region corresponding to the one of the plurality of movable shades.