JP2000326785A - Vehicle lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] Effective use of light energy. SOLUTION: Among light L1R of a discharge lamp 12 of a light source device 1, a visible light VL is a rear combination lamp RC.
Are used as light sources for the lamps 43, 44, and 45, and the ultraviolet light UV is converted into visible light by the fluorescent material of the optical rod of the room light 40 and used as a light source for the room light 40. As a result, effective use of light energy is achieved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to transmitting light from a discharge lamp of a light source device mounted on a vehicle to a predetermined position of a vehicle through a light transmission path and irradiating the light to the outside from the predetermined position of the vehicle. The present invention relates to a vehicle lighting device, and more particularly to a vehicle lighting device that effectively utilizes not only visible light but also ultraviolet light using light (light energy) from a discharge lamp of a light source device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a vehicle lighting device of this type is provided with a light source device having a discharge lamp mounted on a vehicle as a light source, and wired between the light source device and a predetermined position of the vehicle. A light transmission path for transmitting light from the discharge lamp to a predetermined position of the vehicle; and a vehicle illumination lamp disposed at a predetermined position of the vehicle and irradiating the light transmitted through the light transmission path to the outside. Then, when the discharge lamp of the light source device is turned on,
The light from the discharge lamp of the light source device is transmitted to the vehicle illumination lamp at a predetermined position of the vehicle by the light transmission path, and the light transmitted by the light transmission path is emitted from the vehicle illumination lamp to the outside. . Examples of this type of vehicle lighting device include those described in, for example, JP-A-5-81902, JP-A-6-48248, JP-A-8-195103, and JP-A-10-90506. There is.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional vehicle lighting device, an ultraviolet filter is provided, and ultraviolet light out of the light from the discharge lamp of the light source device is
It is not used after being cut by the UV filter.

[0004] The present invention relates to an improvement of the above-described vehicle lighting device, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle in which not only visible light but also ultraviolet light can be effectively used as the light of the discharge lamp of the light source device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighting device for home use.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a light source device using a discharge lamp mounted on a vehicle as a light source, and a method for converting light generated in the discharge lamp of the light source device into visible light. And a light dividing means for dividing the light into ultraviolet light, a visible light transmission path which is wired between the light dividing means and a predetermined position of the vehicle, and transmits visible light from the light dividing means to a predetermined position of the vehicle, A vehicle illumination lamp that is disposed at a predetermined position of the vehicle and irradiates the visible light transmitted through the visible light transmission path to the outside, and is wired between the light dividing means and a predetermined position of the vehicle; An ultraviolet light transmission path for transmitting ultraviolet light from the dividing means to a predetermined position of the vehicle; and an ultraviolet light transmission path disposed at a predetermined position of the vehicle, which converts the ultraviolet light transmitted through the ultraviolet light transmission path into visible light by a phosphor and irradiates the light to the outside. Fluorescent lights for vehicle lighting Characterized by comprising a and.

As a result, the vehicle lighting device of the present invention can effectively use not only visible light but also ultraviolet light as the light of the light source device. That is, of the light of the light source device,
Visible light is used as a light source for illuminating a predetermined position of the vehicle via a vehicle illumination lamp, and ultraviolet light is also used as a light source for illuminating a predetermined position of the vehicle via a fluorescent lamp for vehicle illumination.

[0007]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lighting device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings, the right part of the vehicle lighting device excluding the light source device is illustrated.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes one light source device mounted on a vehicle (not shown, but in this example, an automobile). This light source device 1 has a hollow casing 10.
The right reflection surface 11R and the left reflection surface 11L provided on the inner surface of the casing 10, respectively, one light source 12 disposed in the casing 10, the right reflection surface 11R, and the left reflection surface 11L. It is composed of a right light projecting port 13R and a left light projecting port 13L (for example, a circular shape) provided respectively.

The right reflecting surface 11R and the left reflecting surface 11L are concave reflecting surfaces and reflecting surfaces for reflecting light L1 from a light source 12 of a discharge lamp described later, that is, visible light VL and ultraviolet light UV. is there. Further, the right reflection surface 11R and the left reflection surface 11L are such that the first focal point F1 is located at (or near) a common point substantially at the center of the casing 10, and the right second focal point F
2R and a left second focal point F2L are constituted by a part of a spheroidal surface located near the right light projecting port 13R and the left light projecting port 13L, respectively. This reflecting surface 11R, 11
The spheroid of L has the optical axis Z-Z as the axis of rotation. In addition,
The reflection surfaces 11R and 11L are formed of a plurality of spheroids in which the second focal points F2R and F2L are located on the optical axis Z-Z, in addition to the spheroids described above. The first focus F1 and the second focus F2
In some cases, R and F2L are each composed of a plurality of free-form surfaces located at a plurality of positions.

[0010] The one light source 12 is a discharge lamp (for example,
A high-pressure metal vapor discharge lamp such as a metal halide lamp, a high-intensity discharge lamp (HID), or the like. The right reflective surface 11R and the left reflective surface 11L have a major axis direction (optical axis Z).
-Z direction) and in the horizontal direction (so-called horizontal placement). The light emitting portion of the discharge lamp 12 is disposed at the common first focal point F1 (or near the common first focal point F1) of the right reflecting surface 11R and the left reflecting surface 11L.

In the light source device 1 described above, when the light source 12 is turned on, the light L1 (visible light VL and ultraviolet light UV) from the light source 12 is reflected by the right reflecting surface 11R and the left reflecting surface 11L, and the reflected light L1L, L1R is the left floodlight 13L,
Focused on the right floodlight 13R and its left floodlight 1
3L, the light is projected outside from the right light emitting opening 13R.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes a dimming lens (collimator lens) which is disposed to face the light projecting openings 13R and 13L of the light source device 1, and is a light L1R projected from the light projecting openings 13R and 13L. , L1L as parallel light parallel to the optical axis ZZ). In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a light dividing means for dividing the light L1R, L1L from the light source device 1 into visible light VL and ultraviolet light UV. This light splitting means 20
In this example, an ultraviolet reflection filter that transmits visible light VL in the optical axis ZZ direction and reflects ultraviolet light UV in the axis Z′-Z ′ direction orthogonal to the optical axis ZZ is used. The ultraviolet reflection filter 20 is provided with the optical axis Z-Z.
And it is arranged in a state inclined at an angle of 45 ° with respect to the optical axis orthogonal axis Z′-Z ′.

In the drawing, reference numeral 3 denotes an ultraviolet reflection filter 20.
And a light guide as a visible light transmission path that is wired between the vehicle illumination lamps 43, 44, and 45 described below. The light guide 3 has one light entrance end 30 and three light exit ends (not shown). The light incident end 30 faces the ultraviolet reflection filter 20, and
The light emitting end is disposed in a state orthogonal to the optical axis Z-Z.
3, 44 and 45 are provided at predetermined positions. The light guide 3 receives the visible light VL from the ultraviolet reflection filter 20 at a light incident end 30 and transmits the incident visible light VL to a light emitting end so that the vehicle emits light from the light emitting end. To the lamps 43, 44, and 45. Examples of the light guide include, for example, JP-A-5-81902, JP-A-6-48248, JP-A-8-195103, and JP-A-10-90.
No. 506, which is constituted by an optical fiber formed by stretching or the like, is constituted by a rod-shaped optical fiber formed by extrusion, or the like. There is an application filed in which a resin material is formed into a predetermined shape by injection molding (Japanese Patent Application No. 10-311086).

In FIG. 1, RC is a vehicle lighting lamp arranged at a predetermined position of the vehicle. In this example, a rear combination lamp is provided on the left and right sides of the rear of the vehicle. This rear combination lamp R
C is a tail stop lamp 43 that emits red light,
A turn signal lamp 44 that emits amber light,
It is combined with a backup 45 that emits white light. At predetermined positions of the respective lamps 43, 44, 45 of the rear combination lamp RC, light emitting ends of the light guide 3 are arranged.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 5 denotes an ultraviolet reflection filter 20.
And an ultraviolet guide as an ultraviolet transmission path wired between the vehicle lighting fluorescent lamp 40 described later. The ultraviolet guide 5 is made of, for example, quartz glass and has one ultraviolet incident end 50 and three ultraviolet exit ends (not shown). The ultraviolet incident end 50 faces the ultraviolet reflection filter 20 and is orthogonal to the optical axis orthogonal axis Z′−.
It is arranged in a state orthogonal to Z ', while the ultraviolet light emitting end is arranged at a predetermined position of a fluorescent lamp 40 for vehicle illumination described later. The ultraviolet light guide 5 receives the ultraviolet light UV from the ultraviolet light reflection filter 20 at an ultraviolet light incident end 50, transmits the incident ultraviolet light UV to the ultraviolet light output end, and transmits a fluorescent light for vehicle illumination, which will be described later, from the ultraviolet light output end. The light is emitted to the lamp 40.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 40 denotes a fluorescent lamp for illuminating a vehicle disposed at a predetermined position of the vehicle. In this example, it is a room light arranged and installed in the vehicle. The interior light 40 has a built-in light emitting unit (not shown). The ultraviolet emitting end of the ultraviolet guide 5 is arranged in this light emitting section. The above-mentioned light-emitting portion includes, for example, an optical rod, an ultraviolet cut tube containing the optical rod, the phosphor provided on the outer surface of the optical rod or on the inner surface of the ultraviolet cut tube, the optical rod, the ultraviolet tube, and the ultraviolet guide. 5 is constituted by a holder or the like for holding the unit 5 integrally.

The left light projecting port 13L of the light source device 1 has a light control lens 2, an ultraviolet reflection filter 20,
Light guide 3, rear combination lamp RC,
The same components as the ultraviolet guide 5 and the interior lamp 40 are arranged and wired.

The vehicle lighting device according to the present invention in this embodiment has the above-described configuration, and its operation will be described below. First, a discharge lamp 1 as a light source of the light source device 1 is used.
When the light 2 is turned on, the light L1R, L1L is emitted from the light emitting openings 13R, 13L of the light source device 1 to the light control lens 2 side. The lights L1R and L1L are divided into visible light VL and ultraviolet UV by the ultraviolet reflection filter 20, and the visible light VL is
The ultraviolet light passes through the ultraviolet reflection filter 20 and is incident on the light entrance end 30 of the light guide 3, while the ultraviolet UV is reflected by the ultraviolet reflection filter 20 and is incident on the ultraviolet entrance end 50 of the ultraviolet guide 5.

The visible light VL that has entered the light entrance end 30 of the light guide 3 is transmitted to the light exit end of the light guide 3 and from the light exit end to the rear combination lamp R.
The light is emitted to each of the lamps 43, 44 and 45 of C, and is radiated from the lamps 43, 44 and 45 to the outside in a predetermined light distribution pattern.

On the other hand, the ultraviolet ray incident end 50 of the ultraviolet ray guide 5
Is transmitted to the ultraviolet emission end of the ultraviolet guide 5 and is emitted from the ultraviolet emission end to the optical rod of the interior light 40, and is converted into visible light by the fluorescent material of the optical rod. The converted visible light is emitted from the interior lamp 40 to the outside.

As described above, in the vehicle lighting device of the present invention in this embodiment, the light L1R, L1L from the discharge lamp 12 of the light source device 1 can be used not only for the visible light VL but also for the ultraviolet light U1.
V can also be used effectively. That is, of the light L1R, L1L of the light source device 1, the visible light VL is used as a light source of each lamp 43, 44, 45 of the rear combination lamp RC via the light guide 3, and the ultraviolet light UV is transmitted through the ultraviolet guide 5. It is used as a light source for the interior light 40. For this reason, the vehicle lighting device of the present invention in this embodiment can effectively use light energy as compared with a conventional vehicle lighting device in which ultraviolet rays are not cut and used effectively.

In the above embodiment, the lamps 43, 44, 4 of the rear combination lamp RC are used.
5. The example in which the present invention is used for a vehicle lighting device such as the interior light 40 has been described, but the vehicle lighting device of the present invention can be applied to other lamps, for example, head lamps.

[0023]

As described above, the vehicle lighting device of the present invention can effectively utilize not only visible light but also ultraviolet light as the light of the discharge lamp of the light source device. That is,
Of the light of the discharge lamp of the light source device, visible light is used as a light source for illuminating a predetermined position of the vehicle, and ultraviolet light is converted into visible light by a phosphor to be used as a light source for illuminating a predetermined position of the vehicle. For this reason, effective use of light energy is achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a vehicle lighting device of the present invention,
It is the perspective view which was drawn typically.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the light source device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Light source device, 10 ... Casing, 11R ... Right reflection surface, 11L ... Left reflection surface, 12 ... One discharge lamp (light source), 13R ... Right light emitting port, 13L ... Left light emitting port, F1
... Common first focus, F2R Right right second focus, F2L Left left focus, ZZ ... optical axis, Z'-Z '... Optical axis orthogonal axis, L
1, L1R, L1R: light, VL: visible light, UV: ultraviolet light, 2: dimming lens, 20: ultraviolet reflection filter (light dividing means), 3: light guide (visible light transmission path), 30 ...
Incident end, 40: interior light, 43: tail stop lamp,
44: turn signal lamp; 45: backup lamp; 5: ultraviolet guide (ultraviolet transmission path);

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A light source device using a discharge lamp mounted on a vehicle as a light source, a light splitting unit that splits light generated in the light source device into visible light and ultraviolet light, and the light splitting unit and a predetermined position of the vehicle. Is wired between
A visible light transmission path for transmitting the visible light from the light dividing means to a predetermined position of the vehicle, and a vehicle illumination disposed at a predetermined position of the vehicle and irradiating the visible light transmitted by the visible light transmission path to the outside. And a lamp for wiring between the light splitting means and a predetermined position of the vehicle,
An ultraviolet light transmission path for transmitting the ultraviolet light from the light dividing means to a predetermined position of the vehicle, and an ultraviolet light transmission path disposed at a predetermined position of the vehicle, converting the ultraviolet light transmitted through the ultraviolet light transmission path into visible light by a fluorescent material, A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising: a fluorescent lamp for vehicle lighting that irradiates the vehicle.