Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0059790 and 10-2012-0059791 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jun. 4, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a vehicle lamp, and more particularly, to a vehicle lamp implementing lighting images using a light guide and a reflector. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Generally, a vehicle lamp is largely classified into a head lamp installed at a front of a vehicle and a tail lamp installed at a back of a vehicle. The tail lamp performs functional roles, such as a brake operation display, a direction display, or an alarm display, but performs an aesthetic role for forming an image of a rear of a vehicle. Considering the situation in which an importance of a design of a vehicle in a product value of a vehicle is gradually increased, aesthetic appearance of the tail lamp may be a very important factor in improving a product value of a vehicle. 
         [0004]    However, a general tail lamp has a simple configuration including a bulb that is a light source and a reflector that reflects light of the bulb. For this reason, there is a problem in that a shape of lighting images of the tail lamp is unified. Therefore, a method for increasing aesthetic appearance of lighting images by installing a light source such as a lighting device using a plurality of LEDs has been proposed, which leads to a problem in that a large number of light sources are required. 
         [0005]    A demand for the lighting images using indirect reflection rather than the lighting images configured to have a multi-dot shape due to the increase in an index of emotional quality of a consumer has been increased. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    One aspect of the present invention has been made in an effort to provide a vehicle lamp capable of implementing lighting images having differentiated patterns by using a small number of light sources. 
         [0007]    Another aspect of the present invention has also been made in an effort to provide a vehicle lamp capable of increasing visibility and showing a constant shape of a lighting image even though being seen at any angle. 
         [0008]    An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle lamp, including: a reflector reflecting light of a light guide, in which the reflector includes a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface forming an inner circumferential surface, together with at least a part of a light emitting surface of the light guide and the inner circumferential surface is converged in a direction opposite to an irradiation direction to form a convergent point. 
         [0009]    At least a part of the light emitting surface may form a first image that is a real image, the first reflection surface may reflect the first image to form a second image that is a virtual image, and the second reflection surface may reflect the first image to form a third image that is a virtual image. 
         [0010]    The first image, the second image, and the third image may be connected with one another. 
         [0011]    When the first image, the second image, and the third image are formed of a line, the first image, the second image, and the third image may form a triangle. When the first image, the second image, and the third image are formed of a surface, the first image, the second image, and the third image may form an apex-truncated trigonal pyramid. 
         [0012]    A length of the second image and a length of the third image may be formed to be equal to each other. 
         [0013]    The second image and the third image may be orthogonal to each other. 
         [0014]    The first reflection surface and the second reflection surface may be repeatedly formed along the light emitting surface. 
         [0015]    Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle lamp, including: a reflector reflecting light of light guides, in which a pair of the light guides are formed to face each other at a predetermined distance, and the reflector includes a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface alternately forming an inner circumferential surface, together with at least a part of different light emitting surfaces of the light guides and the inner circumferential surface is converged in a direction opposite to an irradiation direction to form a convergent point. 
         [0016]    At least a part of the light emitting surface may form a first image that is a real image, the first reflection surface may reflect the first image to form a second image that is a virtual image, and the second reflection surface may reflect the first image to form a third image that is a virtual image. 
         [0017]    The first image, the second image, and the third image may be connected with one another. 
         [0018]    When the first image, the second image, and the third image are formed of a line, the first image, the second image, and the third image may form a triangle. When the first image, the second image, and the third image are formed of a surface, the first image, the second image, and the third image may form an apex-truncated trigonal pyramid. 
         [0019]    A length of the second image and a length of the third image may be formed to be equal to each other. 
         [0020]    The second image and the third image may be orthogonal to each other. 
         [0021]    The first reflection surface and the second reflection surface may be repeatedly formed along the light emitting surface. 
         [0022]    Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle lamp, including: a reflector reflecting light of a light guide, in which the reflector includes a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface each forming obtuse angles with respect to a light emitting surface of the light guide, the first reflection surface and the second reflection surface or an extended surface of the first reflection surface and an extended surface of the second reflection surface contact each other. 
         [0023]    The light emitting surface may form a first image that is a real image, the first reflection surface may reflect the first image to form a second image that is a virtual image, and the second reflection surface may reflect the first image to form a third image that is a virtual image. 
         [0024]    The first image, the second image, and the third image may be connected with one another to form a single lighting image. 
         [0025]    The lighting image may have a polygonal shape. 
         [0026]    In the reflector, the first reflection surface and the second reflection surface may be repeatedly formed along the light emitting surface. 
         [0027]    Some region of the reflector may form at least two unit light emitting surfaces by covering a part of the light emitting surface and the first reflection surface and the second reflection surface may each contact both ends of the unit light emitting surface. 
         [0028]    The unit light emitting surface may form a first image that is a real image, the first reflection surface may reflect the first image to form a second image that is a virtual image, and the second reflection surface may reflect the first image to form a third image that is a virtual image. 
         [0029]    The first image, the second image, and the third image may be connected with one another to form a single lighting image. 
         [0030]    The lighting image may have a polygonal shape. 
         [0031]    The light guide may be formed to have an annular shape. 
         [0032]    A tangent line between the first reflection surface and the second reflection surface may be located inside the annular light guide when being seen based on an irradiation direction. 
         [0033]    The tangent line between the first reflection surface and the second reflection surface may be located outside the annular second light guide when being seen based on an irradiation direction. 
         [0034]    According to the vehicle lamp of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to generate the differentiated lighting image patterns using a small number of light sources, thereby reducing the manufacturing costs and the manufacturing man hour of the vehicle lamp while increasing the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle. 
         [0035]    According to the vehicle lamp of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to implement the lighting images having an isosceles triangle or a regular triangle or the patterned lighting image in which the lighting images are repeatedly formed, thereby constantly showing the shape of the lighting images in a triangular shape even though being seen at any angle. 
         [0036]    According to the vehicle lamp of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to generate the plurality of patterned lighting images using a small number of light sources, thereby reducing the manufacturing costs and the manufacturing man hour of the vehicle lamp while increasing the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle. 
         [0037]    The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0038]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a vehicle lamp according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a first light guide according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0040]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating the first light guide illustrated in  FIG. 1  and a first reflector including a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface. 
           [0041]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a projection surface of an extended surface of a light emitting surface of the first light guide, the first reflection surface, and the second reflection surface that are illustrated in  FIG. 3 , when being seen from the front. 
           [0042]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a projection surface having a regular triangular shape, as the projection surface of the extended surface of the light emitting surface, the first reflection surface, and the second reflection surface that are illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0043]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating lighting images having a triangular shape implemented by the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0044]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating a first modification example of a vehicle lamp in which the lighting images illustrated in  FIG. 6  are repeatedly implemented alternately in a non-inverted shape and an inverted shape. 
           [0045]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a second modification example in which the lighting images illustrated in  FIG. 6  and sub-lighting images are repeatedly implemented. 
           [0046]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating a vehicle lamp according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0047]      FIG. 10  is a top view illustrating a second light guide illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0048]      FIG. 11  is a front view illustrating the lighting image according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0049]      FIG. 12  is a side view illustrating the lighting image according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0050]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment based on line A-A′ of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0051]      FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating a vehicle lamp including an annular second light guide and a second reflector corresponding thereto. 
           [0052]      FIGS. 15 and 16A  and  16 B are diagrams illustrating a vehicle lamp in which a tangent line between a third reflection surface and a fourth reflection surface is located inside the annular second right guide and lighting images implemented thereby. 
           [0053]      FIGS. 17A and 17B  are diagrams illustrating a vehicle lamp in which the tangent line between the third reflection surface and the fourth reflection surface is located outside the annular second light guide. 
           [0054]    It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment. 
       
    
    
       [0055]    In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of embodiments of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0056]    Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that in adding reference numerals to elements of each drawing, like reference numerals refer to like elements even though like elements are shown in different drawings. The exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described below, but the technical idea of the present invention is not limited thereto and is modified and can be variously practiced by those skilled in the art. 
         [0057]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a vehicle lamp according to an exemplary embodiment of a invention,  FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a first light guide according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating the first light guide illustrated in  FIG. 1  and a first reflector including a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface. 
         [0058]      FIGS. 1 to 3  clearly illustrate only main feature portions in order to conceptually understand the invention. As a result, it is expected to implement various modifications of an explanatory diagram and the scope of the present invention is not necessarily limited to specific shapes illustrated in the drawings. 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle lamp  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a first light guide  110  that is extendedly disposed in a width direction of a vehicle at a rear portion of a vehicle and a first reflector  120  including a first reflection surface  121  and a second reflection surface  122 . Here, the first reflection surface  121  and the second reflection surface may be configured to have a flat shape. 
         [0060]    The vehicle lamp  100  according to an exemplary embodiment has a technical feature of implementing lighting images having a triangular shape by continuously forming a real image of the first light guide  110  and a reflected image of the first reflector  120 . In particular, the vehicle lamp  100  according to the exemplary embodiment has a technical feature of implementing the lighting image having an isosceles triangle or a regular triangle to keep the lighting image having a triangular shape even though being seen at any angle. 
         [0061]    First, the first light guide  110  will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 . The first light guide  110  is a member that converts a point emitting image into a surface emitting image using a light source such as a light emitting diode (LED). Referring to  FIG. 2 , the first light guide  110  is extendedly formed in a longitudinal direction to have a bar shape. Both ends or any one end of the first light guide  110  is provided with a light source  1 . Light emitted from the light source  1  is transferred into the first light guide  110 . The light transferred into the first light guide  110  is refracted toward a light emitting surface  111  of the first light guide  110  due to an unevenness part  112  formed on a bottom surface inside the first light guide  110 . The light refracted toward the light emitting surface  111  is irradiated through the light emitting surface  111  to generate a surface emitting image. 
         [0062]    When using the first light guide  110 , it is possible to implement linear lighting images using a small number of light sources. 
         [0063]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , at least a part of the light emitting surface  111  of the first light guide  110  and the first reflection surface  121  and the second reflection surface  112  forms an inner circumferential surface. Here, the inner circumferential surface means a circumferential surface formed by connecting the first reflection surface  121  with the second reflection surface  122  so that the first reflection surface  121  and the second reflection surface  122  face inwardly, by using the entire or a part of the light emitting surface  111  as one surface. 
         [0064]    The inner circumferential surface is converged in a direction opposite to an irradiation direction of the vehicle lamp  100  to form a convergent point  10 . That is, the extended surface of the light emitting surface  110  and the first reflection surface  121  and the second reflection surface  122  are converged in a direction opposite to the irradiation direction. 
         [0065]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the first reflection surface  121  and the second reflection surface  122  form a first crossing line  20  and the first reflection surface  121  and the light emitting surface  111  form a second crossing line  30 . The second reflection surface  122  and the light emitting surface  111  form a third crossing line  40 . Here, the first crossing line  20 , the second crossing line  30 , and the third crossing line  40  are met at the convergent point  10 . 
         [0066]    In the exemplary embodiment, the light emitting surface  111 , the first reflection surface  121 , and the second reflection surface  122  may form an apex-truncated trigonal pyramid. 
         [0067]    Meanwhile,  FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a projection surface of an extended surface of a light emitting surface, the first reflection surface, and the second reflection surface that are illustrated in  FIG. 3 , when being seen from the front and  FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a projection surface having a regular triangular shape, as the projection surface of the extended surface of the light emitting surface, the first reflection surface, and the second reflection surface that are illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0068]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , in terms of viewing the vehicle lamp  100  according to the exemplary embodiment from the front, when a virtual projection surface  50  of the extended surface of the light emitting surface  111 , the first reflection surface  121 , and the second reflection surface  122  is set, the first crossing line  20 , the second crossing line  30 , and the third crossing line  40  are projected to the projection surface  50  to form a first projection line  20   a , a second projection line  30   a , and a third projection line  40   a . The convergent point  10  is projected to the projection surface  50  to form a projected point  10   a.    
         [0069]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the vehicle lamp  100  according to the exemplary embodiment may be configured such that the first projection line  20   a , the second projection line  30   a , and the third projection line  40   a  based on the projected point  10   a  may form the same angles  61 ,  62 , and  63 . 
         [0070]    When the light emitting surface  111 , the first reflection surface  121 , and the second reflection surface  122  are disposed so that the first projection line  20   a , the second projection line  30   a , and the third projection line  40   a  form the same angles, the lighting images having an isosceles triangle or a regular triangle may be implemented. 
         [0071]    Meanwhile, the light emitting surface  111  may be formed on a surface of a base surface  123  that configures an inner circumferential surface, together with the first reflection surface  121  and the second reflection surface  122 . In this case, the first light guide  110  may be disposed so that the light emitting surface ill is inclined in the irradiation direction. This is to increase visibility for a real image of the first light guide  110 . Hereinafter, the lighting images implemented by the vehicle lamp  100  according to the exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 6 to 8 . 
         [0072]    As described above, the light emitting surface  111  provides the real image. On the other hand, the first reflection surface  121  and the second reflection surface  122  each provide a virtual image. The vehicle lamp  100  according to the exemplary embodiment may implement a single lighting image by mutually connecting the single real image with two virtual images. 
         [0073]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating lighting images having a triangular shape implemented by the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0074]    According to the vehicle lamp  100  of the exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a first image  2  formed as a real image and a second image  3  and a third image  4  formed as a virtual image due to the reflection of the first image  2  are connected with each other to form the single lighting image forming a triangle when viewing the vehicle lamp  100  from the front. 
         [0075]    Describing in detail, when the first image  2 , the second image  3 , and the third image  4  are implemented by lines, the first image  2 , the second image  3 , and the third image  4  are connected with one another to form a triangle. Meanwhile, when the first image  2 , the second image  3 , and the third image  4  are implemented by surfaces, the first image  2 , the second image  3 , and the third image  4  are connected with one another to form an apex-truncated trigonal pyramid. 
         [0076]    In this case, a length of the second image  3  and a length of the third image  4  may be formed so as to be equal to each other to implement the lighting image having an isosceles triangle or a regular triangle. The lighting image may be kept to have a triangular shape even though being seen at any angle from the outside of a vehicle. The second image  3  and the third image  4  may be implemented so as to be orthogonal to each other. 
         [0077]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating a first modification example of a vehicle lamp in which the lighting images illustrated in  FIG. 6  are repeatedly implemented alternately in a non-inverted shape and an inverted shape and  FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a second modification example in which the lighting images illustrated in  FIG. 6  and sub-lighting images are repeatedly implemented. 
         [0078]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , in a first modification example  100 _ 1  of the vehicle lamp, the lighting images having the foregoing triangular shape are repeatedly implemented by changing a direction. In the first modification example  100 _ 1  of the vehicle lamp, a pair of the first light guides  110  is each disposed above and below the first reflector  120 . In this case, different light emitting surfaces  111  of the first light guides  110  are disposed to face each other. 
         [0079]    The first reflection surface  121  and the second reflection surface  122  alternately form the inner circumferential surface with the different light emitting surfaces  111  of the first light guides  110 . In other words, in the first light guides  110  disposed to face each other, when a part of the light emitting surface  111  of the first light guide  110  on one side and the first reflection surface  121  and the second reflection surface  122  form the inner circumferential surface, the subsequently formed first reflection surface  121  and second reflection surface  122  form another inner circumferential surface, together with a part of the light emitting surface  111  of the first light guide  110  on the other side. 
         [0080]    In this case, in order to pattern and divide the linear images continued by all the light emitting surfaces  111  in plural, some region  111   a  of the first reflector  120  is formed to cover a part of the light emitting surface  111 . 
         [0081]    As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the first modification example  100 _ 1  of the vehicle lamp has an advantage of implementing the plurality of differentiated lighting images using only four light sources by alternately forming the lighting images having a non-inverted triangular shape and the lighting images having an inverted triangular shape in a longitudinal direction of the first light guide  110 . 
         [0082]    Meanwhile, referring to  FIG. 8 , in a second modification example  100 _ 2  of the vehicle lamp, the lighting images having the inverted triangular shape are repeatedly implemented at a predetermined interval. The sub-lighting images  5  may be repeatedly implemented between the lighting images having a triangular shape. Although not illustrated, in the second modification example  100 _ 2 , the lighting images having a non-inverted triangular shape can be repeatedly implemented at a predetermined interval. 
         [0083]    In the exemplary embodiment, in the second modification example  100 _ 2  of the vehicle lamp, the single first light guide  110  may be disposed above the first reflector  120 . A separate light source for the sub-lighting images  5  and a third reflection surface  124  may be disposed between the first reflection surface  121  and the second reflection surface  122 .  FIG. 6  illustrates the annular sub-lighting images  5 , but the present invention is not limited thereto and may be changed in various forms. 
         [0084]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating a vehicle lamp according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0085]      FIG. 9  clearly illustrates only main feature portions in order to conceptually understand an embodiment of the present invention. As a result, it is expected to implement various modifications of an explanatory diagram and the scope of the present invention is not necessarily limited to specific shapes illustrated in the drawings. 
         [0086]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , a vehicle lamp  200  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a second light guide  210  and a second reflector  220  including a third reflection surface  221  and a fourth reflection surface  222 . 
         [0087]    The vehicle lamp  220  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has a technical feature of implementing lighting images continued in plural and having a polygonal shape by disposing the second reflector  220  having a sawtooth shape in front of a light emitting surface  210  of the second light guide  210 . 
         [0088]    First, the second light guide  210  will be described. 
         [0089]      FIG. 10  is a top view illustrating the second light guide illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0090]    The second light guide  210  is a member that converts a point emitting image into a surface emitting image using a light source such as a light emitting diode (LED). Referring to  FIG. 10 , both ends or any one end of the second light guide  210  is provided with a light source  1 . Light emitted from the light source  1  is transferred into the second light guide  210 . The light transferred into the second light guide  210  is refracted toward a light emitting surface  210  of the second light guide  210  due to an unevenness part  212  formed on a bottom surface inside the second light guide  210 . The light refracted toward the light emitting surface  211  is irradiated through the light emitting surface  211  to generate a surface emitting image. 
         [0091]    The second light guide  210  may be practiced in a straight shape or a bent shape and as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , may be practiced in an annular shape. When using the second light guide  210 , it is possible to implement linear lighting images using a small number of light sources. 
         [0092]    Next, the second reflector  220  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 9 ,  11 ,  12  and  13   
         [0093]      FIG. 11  is a front view illustrating the lighting image according to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 12  is a side view illustrating the lighting image according to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment based on line A-A′ of  FIG. 11 . 
         [0094]    The second reflector  220  reflects light of the foregoing second light guide  210  to form some region of the lighting image. The second reflector  220  is disposed in front of the light emitting surface  211  of the second light guide  210 . The second reflector  220  includes a third reflection surface  221  and a fourth reflection surface  222 . In this case, the third reflection surface  221  and the fourth reflection surface  222  form obtuse angles (R 1  and R 2  of  FIG. 12 ) with respect to the light emitting surface  211 . Simultaneously, the third reflection surface  221  and the fourth reflection surface  222  are disposed to be inclined with respect to a longitudinal direction of the second light guide  210  at predetermined angles (R 3  and R 4  of  FIG. 11 ) and are thus formed so that the third reflection surface  221  and the fourth reflection surface  222  contact each other or extended surfaces thereof contact each other. 
         [0095]    Therefore, the third reflection surface  221  and the fourth reflection surface  222  that are continuously formed have a sawtooth shape. 
         [0096]    Meanwhile, as described above, the second reflector  220  is disposed in front of the light emitting  211  of the second light guide  210 , such that light of the light emitting surface  211  is directly shielded in some region ( 223  of  FIG. 9 ) of the second reflector  220 . Some region ( 223  of  FIG. 9 ) of the second reflector  220  corresponds to the region of the second reflector  220  that is approximately located between the corresponding third reflection surface  221  and fourth reflection surface  222  and adjacent third reflection surface and fourth reflection surface and is repeated along the light emitting surface  211 . 
         [0097]    Therefore, some region ( 223  of  FIG. 9 ) of the second reflector  220  is patterned in a cell form in which the images directly implemented by the light emitting surface  211  are formed at a predetermined interval, when being seen based on the irradiation direction. 
         [0098]    In this case, a part of the light emitting surface  211  implementing the images patterned in the cell form is referred to as unit light emitting surfaces  211 A,  2113 ,  211 C,  211 D, . . . . The foregoing third reflection surface  221  and fourth reflection surface  222  are formed to contact both ends of the unit light emitting surfaces  211 A,  2113 ,  211 C,  211 D, . . . , respectively. 
         [0099]    Referring to  FIGS. 11 ,  12  and  13 , the unit light emitting surfaces  211 A,  211 B,  211 C,  211 D . . . may provide as a real image a fourth image  7  forming some region among the lighting images having a polygonal shape. The third reflection surface  221  and the fourth reflection surface  222  may provide as a virtual image a fifth image  8  and a sixth image  9  forming the remaining region among the lighting image having a polygonal shape. In this case, the fourth image  7 , the fifth image  8 , and the sixth image  9  may be adjacent to one another to form a single lighting image. 
         [0100]    The lighting image may be repeatedly formed along the second light guide  210  at a predetermined interval to form the plurality of patterned lighting images. Meanwhile, the lighting images of the vehicle lamp  200  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be generated to have various shapes such as a pentagon, an octagon, and the like by changing heights of the third reflection surface  221  and the fourth reflection surface  222 , based on the inclined angle of the third reflection surface  221  and the fourth reflection surface  222  with respect to the light emitting surface  211  and the irradiation direction. 
         [0101]    Hereinafter, the annular light guide and the reflector and the lighting images implemented thereby will be described with reference to  FIGS. 14 to 17 . 
         [0102]      FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating a vehicle lamp including an annular second light guide and a second reflector corresponding thereto. Referring to  FIG. 14 , in the vehicle lamp  200  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the second light guide  210  is formed to have an annular shape and the second reflector  220  is also formed to have an annular shape to correspond thereto. 
         [0103]      FIGS. 15 and 16  are diagrams illustrating a vehicle lamp in which a tangent line between a third reflection surface and a fourth reflection surface is located inside the annular light guide and a lighting image implemented thereby. 
         [0104]    Referring to  FIG. 15A , the second reflector  220  includes nine pairs of third reflection surfaces  221  and fourth reflection surfaces  222  along the annular second light guide  210 . In this case, a tangent line  6  between the third reflection surface  221  and the fourth reflection surface  222  is located inside the annular second light guide  210 . The lighting images of the vehicle lamp  200  are illustrated in  FIG. 16B . 
         [0105]    Referring to  FIG. 16A , the second reflector  220  includes fifteen pairs of third reflection surfaces  221  and fourth reflection surfaces  222  along the annular second light guide  210 . In this case, the tangent line  6  between the third reflection surface  221  and the fourth reflection surface  222  is located inside the annular second light guide  210 . The lighting images of the vehicle lamp  200  are illustrated in  FIG. 16B . 
         [0106]      FIGS. 17A and 17B  are diagrams illustrating a vehicle lamp in which the tangent line between the third reflection surface and the fourth reflection surface is located outside the annular second light guide. 
         [0107]    Meanwhile, referring to  FIG. 17A , the second reflector  220  includes fifteen pairs of third reflection surfaces  221  and fourth reflection surfaces  222  along the annular second light guide  210  and the tangent line  6  between the third reflection surface  221  and the fourth reflection surface  222  is located outside the annular second light guide  210 . The lighting images of the vehicle lamp  200  are illustrated in  FIG. 17B . 
         [0108]    Unless indicated otherwise in the detailed description, all the terms including technical and scientific terms and used in the specification have the same meaning as those that are generally understood by those who skilled in the art. It must be understood that generally used terms like the terms defined by the dictionary are identical with the meanings within the context of the related art, and they should not be ideally or excessively formally construed unless the context clearly dictates otherwise in the present disclosure. 
         [0109]    As described above, the exemplary embodiments have been described and illustrated in the drawings and the specification. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

Technology Category: 2