JP2007258000A - Vehicle headlamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle headlamp capable of forming an optimum light distribution pattern at the time of a passing beam and a traveling beam with a simple configuration.
A vehicle headlamp having a light source, a reflecting surface, a projection lens, a light shielding member defining a cut-off line, and a driving means for swinging the light shielding member downward is further provided. A concave concave mirror 15 is integrally attached to the light source side of the light shielding member 14 toward the rear in the light irradiation direction. When the light shielding member 14 is at the insertion position A, the center of the concave mirror 15 is the light source. The vehicle headlamp 10 is configured such that the center of the light shielding member 14 is located near the light source when the light shielding member 14 is located at the retracted position B.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector-type vehicle headlamp that is used, for example, as a headlamp or an auxiliary headlamp provided at the front of an automobile.

  Conventionally, such a vehicle headlamp is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 6, the vehicle headlamp 1 includes a bulb 2 as a light source, a reflecting surface 3, a projection lens 4, and a light shielding member 5.

The reflective surface 3 is composed of an elliptical reflective surface having the bulb 2 as a first focal point (rear focal point) and a long axis extending substantially horizontally toward the front in the light irradiation direction, and the inner surface thereof is defined as a reflective surface. Is formed.
Here, the elliptical reflecting surface includes not only a spheroid and an elliptic cylinder but also a free-form surface based on an ellipsoid.
Further, the reflecting surface 3 has different curvatures on the upper side and the lower side from the optical axis O of the bulb 2, and the upper side is formed so as to give a light distribution pattern having a higher diffusibility.

  The projection lens 4 is composed of a convex lens, and the focal point on the light source side (rear side) thereof is disposed in the vicinity of the second focal position of the reflective surface 3, and light is emitted from the bulb 2 or the reflective surface 3. Light traveling forward in the direction is collected and irradiated forward in the light irradiation direction.

  The light shielding member 5 is for giving a predetermined light distribution pattern for a low beam to the light irradiated forward in the light irradiation direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper edge 5a is formed in a predetermined shape in order to form a cut-off line in the light distribution pattern.

  Further, the light-shielding member 5 can be moved in the direction of arrow A from the insertion position described above to the retracted position shown in FIG.

  According to the vehicle headlamp 1 having such a configuration, the bulb 2 emits light when power is supplied from the outside. As a result, the light emitted from the bulb 2 is reflected directly or by the reflection surface 3, proceeds forward in the light irradiation direction toward the vicinity of the second focal point of the reflection surface 3, and converges by the projection lens 4. The light is irradiated forward in the light irradiation direction.

  At that time, since the reflecting surface 3 has different curvatures on the upper side and the lower side of the optical axis O, the light distribution pattern by the light reflected on the upper side of the reflecting surface 3 is as shown in FIG. It is formed to spread slightly from side to side. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7B, the light distribution pattern by the light reflected on the lower side of the reflecting surface 3 has enhanced light collecting properties near the center.

Here, as shown in FIG. 6 (A), when the light blocking member 5 is in the insertion position, a part of the light irradiated toward the front in the light irradiation direction is blocked by the light blocking member 5. A cut-off line is formed by the upper edge 5a of the light shielding member 5, and the light is irradiated forward in the light irradiation direction.
Therefore, as a whole, as shown in FIG. 7 (C), with respect to the light distribution pattern, it extends horizontally below the horizontal line from the center to the right, and obliquely upward from the center to the left, and further to the left. A cut-off line C positioned slightly above the horizontal line is formed, and a light distribution pattern for a passing beam is formed only on the lower side of the cut-off line C.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the light shielding member 5 is moved to the retracted position by the driving means 6, the light shielding member 5 moves from the light path from the bulb 2 or the reflecting surface 3 to the projection lens 4. evacuate. As a result, light incident on the projection lens 4 from the bulb 2 or the reflecting surface 3 is irradiated forward in the light irradiation direction without being blocked by the light blocking member 5.
Therefore, as a whole, as shown in FIG. 7D, the light distribution by the light from the upper side (see FIG. 6A) and the light from the lower side (see FIG. 6B) described above. The patterns overlap as they are, and a light distribution pattern for the traveling beam is formed.

By the way, in the vehicle headlamp 1 described above, switching between the light distribution pattern for the passing beam and the light distribution pattern for the traveling beam is performed only by inserting and removing the light blocking member 5.
Therefore, the light distribution pattern by the light reflected on the upper side and the lower side of the reflecting surface 3 is the same as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B for both the passing beam and the traveling beam. Light pattern.
For this reason, when trying to optimize the upper and lower shapes of the reflecting surface 3 with respect to the light distribution pattern of one beam, that is, the low beam or the traveling beam, the distribution of the other beam, that is, the traveling beam or the low beam, is performed. The light pattern could not be optimized.

On the other hand, the headlamp shown in Patent Document 1 is known.
In this case, in the case of a passing beam, the projection lens is moved slightly forward in the light irradiation direction in conjunction with the movable shade (light shielding member), and the light shielding member is inserted near the rear focal position of the projection lens. A diffuser lens is inserted on the front lower side of the light irradiation direction to form a wide light distribution pattern.
On the other hand, during the traveling beam, the light blocking member is inserted in front of the rear focal position of the projection lens in the light irradiation direction in conjunction with the movable shade (light blocking member), or the second light blocking member is disposed behind the projection lens. A light distribution pattern having a high light-collecting property is formed by disposing the light beam on the upper side of the optical axis behind the side focal position.

Further, in Patent Document 2, the light source and the reflection surface are arranged so as to be pivotable in the horizontal direction, and the light shielding member is composed of a fixed portion and a movable portion, and the movable portion is longitudinally or laterally arranged with respect to the fixed portion. A variable light distribution type headlamp is disclosed in which the cut-off line is changed by arranging the fixed portion and the movable portion so as to obtain various light distribution patterns.
In this case, the light distribution pattern of the traveling beam is obtained by moving the movable part of the light shielding member downward, and the cut-off line is formed by the upper edge of the movable part by moving the movable part upward. Thus, a light distribution pattern of passing beams can be obtained.
No. 07-039125 Utility model registration No. 2554696

However, in the headlamp according to Patent Document 1, light reflected by the reflecting surface is partially blocked by the light blocking member and / or the second light blocking member, or light that has passed through the light blocking member and the projection lens is diffused by the lens. A diffused light distribution pattern is obtained by diffusing the light.
Therefore, the utilization efficiency of light from the light source and the reflecting surface is relatively low, and it is difficult to increase the illuminance near the center particularly in the light distribution pattern at the time of the traveling beam.

In the variable light distribution headlamp according to Patent Document 2, the light distribution pattern is switched by moving the movable portion of the light shielding member in the vertical direction for switching between the passing beam and the traveling beam.
Accordingly, since the light distribution pattern is switched only by inserting / removing the light shielding member, as in the case of the vehicle headlamp 1 described above, when trying to optimize the light distribution pattern of one beam, the other light distribution pattern is changed. The light distribution pattern of the beam could not be optimized.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle headlamp capable of forming an optimal light distribution pattern for each of a passing beam and a traveling beam with a simple configuration.

  According to the present invention, the first object is located near the light source and the second focal position is light so that the light from the light source and the light from the light source are reflected forward in the light irradiation direction. A concave ellipsoidal reflective surface facing forward in the light irradiation direction arranged so as to be positioned on the optical axis of the light source extending substantially horizontally in front of the irradiation direction, and the light source in front of the light irradiation direction of the reflection surface. A convex projection lens disposed on the optical axis so that the focal position on the light source side is located near the second focal position of the reflecting surface, and insertion near the second focal position of the reflecting surface A vehicle comprising: a light shielding member disposed at a position and having an upper edge formed so as to define a cut-off line; and drive means for swinging the light shielding member from an insertion position to a lower retreat position In the headlamp, the light irradiation method is further provided on the light source side of the light shielding member. A concave concave mirror is integrally attached to the rear, and when the light shielding member is in the insertion position, the concave mirror is located at a predetermined distance from the light source and the light shielding member This is achieved by a vehicle headlamp characterized by being formed so that its center is located in the vicinity of the light source when in the retracted position.

  In the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, preferably, the rocking shaft of the light shielding member is disposed laterally within a predetermined distance from the light source on the front lower side in the light irradiation direction of the light source.

  In the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, the swing shaft of the light shielding member is preferably disposed within a radius of 20 mm from the light source.

  The vehicle headlamp according to the present invention is preferably arranged such that the concave mirror has a center within a radius of 10 mm from the light source when the light shielding member is in the retracted position.

  In the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, preferably, the rocking shaft of the light shielding member is rotatably supported on the laterally outer side of the reflecting surface.

  According to the above configuration, the light emitted from the light source is reflected directly or by the reflecting surface, converged toward the second focal position, and further irradiated forward through the projection lens in the light irradiation direction. The

Here, during the traveling beam, the light shielding member is retracted from the optical path to the retracted position by the driving means. In conjunction with this, the concave mirror moves so that its center is located near the light source.
Thereby, all the light reflected by the reflecting surface is incident on the projection lens without being blocked by the light shielding member, and is irradiated forward through the projection lens in the light irradiation direction.

In addition, light incident on the concave mirror attached to the light source side of the light shielding member from the light source is reflected by the concave mirror and returned to the light source, and further reflected by the reflective surface and converged toward the second focal position. Thereafter, the light is focused and irradiated near the center toward the front of the light irradiation direction via the projection lens.
Therefore, conventionally, light that has not entered the projection lens and has not contributed to the formation of the light distribution pattern is reflected by the concave mirror, further reflected by the reflecting mirror, and irradiated toward the center near the front of the light irradiation direction. For this reason, the utilization efficiency of the light from a light source improves. In addition, the maximum luminous intensity near the center is increased, and distant visibility is improved.

On the other hand, at the time of the passing beam, the light shielding member is inserted into the insertion position in the optical path by the driving means. In conjunction with this, the concave mirror moves so that its center is slightly deviated within a predetermined distance from the vicinity of the light source.
Thereby, a part of light which injects into a projection lens from a reflective surface is interrupted | blocked by the said light shielding member. Accordingly, a cut-off line slightly below the horizontal line is formed in the light distribution pattern of the irradiation light irradiated forward in the light irradiation direction.

In addition, light incident on the concave mirror attached to the light source side of the light shielding member from the light source is reflected by the concave mirror and returned to the light source, and further reflected by the reflective surface and converged toward the second focal position. After that, the light is irradiated forward through the projection lens in the light irradiation direction.
At this time, since the center of the concave mirror is slightly deviated from the light source, the light reflected by the concave mirror is slightly diffused and incident near the light source. Therefore, this light enters the second focal position of the reflecting surface in a slightly diffused manner, and is irradiated with a slight diffusion toward the front of the light irradiation direction through the projection lens.

Thereby, the light conventionally blocked by the light shielding member is reflected by the concave mirror, and is irradiated toward the front in the light irradiation direction through the upper side of the light shielding member.
Therefore, the utilization efficiency of light from the light source is improved. In addition, it is possible to increase the light intensity in the region corresponding to the direction lower than the cut-off line in the light distribution pattern, that is, in front of the vehicle.

  When the rocking shaft of the light shielding member is disposed laterally within a predetermined distance from the light source on the front lower side in the light irradiation direction of the light source, it is preferably disposed within a radius of 20 mm from the light source. In this case, when the light shielding member swings around the swing shaft, the concave mirror is brought to an appropriate position with respect to the light source regardless of the insertion position or the retracted position. Therefore, the light reflected by the concave mirror complements and forms a good light distribution pattern.

  When the concave mirror is located within a radius of 10 mm from the light source when the light shielding member is in the retracted position, the light reflected by the concave mirror is moved when the light shielding member is moved to the retracted position. Is relatively focused with respect to the light source. For this reason, when the light is subsequently reflected by the reflecting surface and irradiated forward by the projection lens in the light irradiation direction, the light is focused well near the center of the light distribution pattern.

  When the swing shaft of the light shielding member is rotatably supported on the outer side in the lateral direction of the reflection surface, the support means for supporting the swing shaft prevents the optical path incident on the projection lens from the reflection surface. There is nothing.

Thus, according to the present invention, the concave mirror is integrally attached to the light source side of the movable light shielding member, and the light that is going to enter the light shielding member directly from the light source is reflected toward the light source by both concave surfaces. .
Thereby, at the time of a traveling beam, the light shielding member moves to the retracted position. Thereby, all the light from the light source or the reflecting surface enters the projection lens and is irradiated forward in the light irradiation direction. Further, the light traveling downward from the projection lens is reflected by the concave mirror, returns to the light source, and further reflected by the reflecting surface. For this reason, this light is focused and irradiated toward the center near the front of the light irradiation direction via the projection lens.
Therefore, by forming the entire reflecting surface so as to optimize the light distribution pattern for the traveling beam, an optimal light distribution pattern for the traveling beam is formed. In addition, the maximum luminous intensity near the center is increased by the light reflected by the concave mirror. Thereby, for example, distance visibility when traveling on a highway is improved.

On the other hand, at the time of passing beam, the light shielding member moves to the insertion position. For this reason, a part of light from the light source or the reflecting surface is blocked by the light shielding member, and a cut-off is formed. Thereby, no illusion light is given to pedestrians and oncoming vehicles.
When the light shielding member moves to the insertion position, the center of the concave mirror attached to the light source side is slightly shifted from the light source. As a result, the light reflected by the concave mirror is reflected by the reflecting surface, and then is not focused on the second focal point of the reflecting surface but rather diffused and irradiated forward through the projection lens in the light irradiation direction. .
Thereby, the luminous intensity of the area | region corresponding to the lower side of a cut-off line, ie, the vehicle front, becomes high. Therefore, the visibility in front of the vehicle is improved, and a light distribution pattern optimized for the passing beam is obtained.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
The embodiments described below are preferable specific examples of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention particularly limits the present invention in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

FIG.1 and FIG.2 has shown the structure of 1st embodiment of the vehicle headlamp by this invention.
1 and 2, a vehicle headlamp 10 is disposed in front of the reflecting surface 12, a bulb 11 as a light source, a reflecting surface 12 that reflects light from the bulb 11 forward in the light irradiation direction. The projection lens 13, the light shielding member 14 disposed between the reflecting surface 12 and the projection lens 13, the concave mirror 15 attached to the light source side of the light shielding member 14, and the light shielding member 14 and the concave mirror 15 are provided. The driving means 16 swings integrally.

  The bulb 11 is a bulb generally used for an automobile headlamp or an auxiliary headlamp. For example, a bulb such as an incandescent bulb, a halogen bulb, a halogen bulb with an infrared reflecting film, or a discharge lamp such as a metal halide lamp is used. The optical axis O that passes through the light emitting point that is used as the light emission center is arranged almost horizontally toward the front in the light irradiation direction, is fixedly held by the socket 11b, and is supplied with power.

The reflection surface 12 is formed in a concave shape so as to reflect the light from the bulb 11 forward in the light irradiation direction, and the first focal position F1 thereof is the light emitting point 11a of the bulb 11. Located in the vicinity. Further, the second focal position F2 is configured as an elliptical reflecting surface so as to be positioned on the optical axis O extending forward from the bulb 11 in the light irradiation direction on the front side.
Here, the elliptical reflecting surface includes not only a spheroid and an elliptic cylinder but also a free-form surface based on an ellipsoid.

  The reflection surface 12 has different curvatures on the upper side and the lower side from the optical axis O of the bulb 11, and the upper side is formed so as to give a light distribution pattern with higher diffusibility.

  The projection lens 13 is composed of a convex lens, preferably an aspheric lens, and the focal point on the light source side (rear side) on the optical axis O is the second focal position of the reflecting surface 12. It arrange | positions so that it may be located in F2 vicinity.

The light shielding member 14 is for providing a predetermined light distribution pattern for a passing beam by blocking a part of the light irradiated toward the front to form a cut-off line. It is formed from a functional material.
As shown in FIG. 2, the light shielding member 14 is disposed at the insertion position A near the focal position on the light source side of the projection lens 13, that is, near the second focal position F <b> 2 of the reflection surface 12.

  Further, the light shielding member 14 can be swung stepwise or continuously by the driving means 16 from the insertion position A shown in FIG. 2 to the moving position B (see FIG. 3) indicated by a broken line toward the front side. It is configured.

The light shielding member 14 has an upper edge 14a that forms a desired light distribution pattern.
More specifically, the light shielding member 14 forms a cut-off line of the passing beam at the insertion position A described above. Further, at the above-described retracted position B, the light is completely retracted from the optical path from the reflecting surface 12 to the projection lens 13 so as not to disturb the light incident on the projection lens 13.

  Further, the light shielding member 14 has a swinging shaft 14b extending horizontally at a right angle with respect to the optical axis O, as shown in FIG. The light emitting point of the bulb 11 is disposed within a predetermined distance, for example, within a range of 20 mm.

The concave mirror 15 is disposed on the light source side of the light shielding member 14 described above, and is integrally attached to the light shielding member 14.
In the case of illustration, the concave mirror 15 is integrally formed on the light source side surface of the light shielding member 14 formed in a concave shape toward the rear, and together with the light shielding member 14, the driving means 16 moves the swing shaft 14 b. It swings around.

Here, the concave mirror 15 is formed of a substantially spherical surface that is concave toward the rear, and when the light shielding member 14 is at the insertion position A as shown in FIG. It is arranged within a range of a predetermined distance from the part, that is, slightly deviated from the light emission center of the bulb 11.
Further, the concave mirror 15 has its center approaching the light emitting part of the bulb 11 as the light shielding member 14 moves to the retreat position B, and as shown in FIG. The center of the bulb 11 is located near the light emitting portion of the bulb 11, for example, within a radius of 10 mm from the light emitting portion.

The driving means 16 is composed of, for example, a solenoid or the like, and swings the light shielding member 14 and the concave mirror 15 around the swing shaft 14b when switching between the passing beam and the traveling beam, and at the insertion position A when passing the beam. Further, the traveling beam is moved to the retreat position B.
Here, the drive means 16 supports the swing shaft 14b on the laterally outer side of the reflecting surface 12. As a result, the drive means does not block the optical path from the reflecting surface 12 to the projection lens 13 including the swing shaft 14b.

The vehicle headlamp 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above, and light is emitted from the light emitting portion of the bulb 11 when the bulb 11 is supplied with power from the socket 11b and emits light.
A part of the light emitted from the bulb 11 is reflected directly or by the reflection surface 12, travels forward toward the vicinity of the second focal point F 2 of the reflection surface 12, and is converged by the projection lens 13. However, the light is irradiated forward in the light irradiation direction.
The other part of the light emitted from the bulb 11 is reflected by the concave mirror 15, further reflected by the reflecting surface 12, travels forward, and is irradiated forward through the projection lens 13 in the light irradiation direction. Is done.

Here, at the time of passing beam, as shown in FIG. 2, the light shielding member 14 is at the insertion position A, and the concave mirror 15 is located in a range where the center is slightly deviated from the light emitting portion of the bulb 11. ing.
Thereby, a part of the light from the bulb 11 or the reflecting surface 12 is blocked by the light shielding member 14, and a cut-off line is formed by the upper edge 14a, and the light is irradiated forward in the light irradiation direction. It will be.

At this time, the reflecting surface 12 has different curvatures on the upper side and the lower side of the optical axis O. Thereby, the light distribution pattern by the light L1 reflected on the upper side of the reflecting surface 12 is formed so as to spread slightly to the left and right as shown in FIG.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, the light distribution pattern by the light L2 reflected on the lower side of the reflecting surface 12 has slightly enhanced light condensing performance near the center.

  In addition, the light L3 reflected by the concave mirror 15 is reflected by the reflecting surface 12, and then is deviated from the second focal point F2 and converged. For this reason, it enters into the projection lens 13 as slightly diffused light, and is diffused slightly and irradiated forward as shown in FIG.

  Therefore, as a whole, as shown in FIG. 4D, with respect to the light distribution pattern by the lights L1 and L2, the light shielding member 14 causes the right side from the center to be slightly below the horizontal line and to the left side from the center. A cut-off line C that extends obliquely upward and is positioned slightly above the horizontal line on the left is formed, and a light distribution pattern for a low beam is formed only on the lower side of the cut-off line C. It has become.

In this case, the light having the maximum luminous intensity is not blocked by the light shielding member 14 as in the prior art, but is reflected by the concave mirror 15 and slightly diffused and irradiated forward through the projection lens 13 in the light irradiation direction. . Therefore, the utilization efficiency of the light from the bulb 11 is improved, and the illuminance of the entire light distribution pattern is increased. Further, the light condensing property near the center is slightly relaxed, and the maximum luminous intensity in the light distribution pattern is reduced so as to satisfy the light distribution standard of the passing beam.
Therefore, a light distribution pattern optimized for the low beam with good visibility in front of the vehicle and on the road shoulder, curb, pedestrian, etc. is formed.

On the other hand, at the time of traveling beam, as shown in FIG. 3, the light shielding member 14 is swung to the retracted position by the driving means 16, and the center of the concave mirror 15 is located near the light emitting portion of the bulb 11. It will be.
Thereby, all the light from the bulb 11 or the reflecting surface 12 is irradiated forward through the projection lens 13 without being blocked by the light blocking member 14.

At this time, the reflecting surface 12 has different curvatures on the upper side and the lower side of the optical axis O. For this reason, the light distribution pattern by the light L1 reflected on the upper side of the reflecting surface 12 is formed so as to spread slightly to the left and right as shown in FIG.
This light distribution pattern is the same as the light distribution pattern by the light L1 reflected on the upper side of the reflection surface at the time of the passing beam.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, the light distribution pattern by the light L2 reflected on the lower side of the reflection surface 12 has enhanced light collecting properties near the center.
Similarly, this light distribution pattern is the same as the light distribution pattern by the light L2 reflected on the lower side of the reflection surface at the time of the passing beam, but the light distribution pattern actually irradiated forward in the light irradiation direction. Is formed by the light L 2 ′ partially blocked by the light blocking member 14.

Further, the light L3 ′ reflected by the concave mirror 15 is focused toward the center, then reflected by the reflecting surface 12, and irradiated toward the center near the front of the light irradiation direction via the projection lens 13.
Thereby, the light distribution pattern by the light L3 ′ reflected by the concave mirror 15 has enhanced light condensing performance near the center as shown in FIG.
In this light distribution pattern, the center of the concave mirror 15 is positioned near the light emitting point 11 a of the bulb 11 as compared with the light distribution pattern by the light L 3 reflected by the concave mirror 15 at the time of the passing beam. For this reason, the light condensing property near the center is further enhanced.

  Therefore, as a whole, as shown in FIG. 5D, the light distribution pattern of the light L3 'reflected by the concave mirror 15 overlaps the light distribution pattern of the light L1, L2'. As a result, a light distribution pattern optimum for a traveling beam having higher light condensing performance and good distance visibility is formed.

In this way, when the light shielding member 14 is at the insertion position A, a light distribution pattern similar to that of the conventional passing beam is obtained. Further, the light L3 reflected by the concave mirror 15 is slightly diffused and irradiated forward in the light irradiation direction. Therefore, the utilization efficiency of the light from the bulb 11 is improved, and the luminous intensity of the region corresponding to the direction lower than the cut-off line in the light distribution pattern, that is, the area in front of the vehicle can be increased.
Further, the diffused light is also irradiated on the upper side of the cutoff line and in the left-right direction. For this reason, the light / dark boundary line by the cut-off line is blurred, and the visibility near the light / dark boundary line is improved. In addition, a light distribution pattern optimized for a low-beam beam with good visibility in front of the vehicle and on the road shoulder, curb, pedestrian, and the like is formed.

  Further, when the light shielding member 14 is at the retracted position B, a light distribution pattern similar to that of a conventional traveling beam is obtained. Further, the light L3 reflected by the concave mirror 15 is reflected by the reflecting surface 12, and then irradiated through the projection lens 13 while being focused near the center. For this reason, the maximum luminous intensity near the center is improved, the distance visibility is improved, and a light distribution pattern optimized for the traveling beam is formed.

  In the embodiment described above, the vehicle headlamp 10 is configured as a headlamp of an automobile. However, the vehicle headlamp 10 is not limited to this, and is a vehicle in a broad sense including an auxiliary lamp such as an auxiliary headlamp or a fog lamp of an automobile. It is clear that the present invention can be applied to headlamps.

  In the above-described embodiment, the driving means 16 in the vehicle headlamp 10 is constituted by, for example, a solenoid. However, the invention is not limited to this, and light shielding is performed by using any driving means such as a stepping motor or a DC motor. It is also possible to swing the member 14.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an extremely excellent vehicle headlamp that can form an optimum light distribution pattern for each of the passing beam and the traveling beam with a simple configuration.

It is a schematic perspective view which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the vehicle headlamp by this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows a structure when the light-shielding member in the vehicle headlamp of FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration when a light shielding member in the vehicle headlamp of FIG. It is a graph which shows a light distribution pattern when the light-shielding member in the vehicle headlamp of FIG. It is a graph which shows a light distribution pattern when it exists in the retracted position B of the light shielding member in the vehicle headlamp of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of an example of the conventional vehicle headlamp. It is a graph which shows the light distribution pattern by the vehicle headlamp of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10 Vehicle headlights 11 Bulb (light source)
11a Light emitting point 11b Socket 12 Reflecting surface 13 Projection lens 14 Light shielding member 14a Upper edge 14b Oscillating shaft 15 Concave mirror 16 Driving means

Claims (5)

A light source;
On the optical axis of the light source, the first focal position is located near the light source and the second focal position extends substantially horizontally forward in the light irradiation direction so that light from the light source is reflected forward in the light irradiation direction. A concave ellipsoidal reflective surface facing forward in the direction of light irradiation arranged to be located at
A convex projection lens arranged in such a manner that the focal position on the light source side is positioned near the second focal position of the reflection surface on the optical axis of the light source in front of the light irradiation direction of the reflection surface; ,
A light-shielding member that is disposed at an insertion position near the second focal position of the reflecting surface and is formed so that the upper edge defines a cut-off line;
In the vehicle headlamp, comprising: a driving means for swinging the light shielding member from the insertion position to the retracted position below.
Further, a concave concave mirror is integrally attached to the light source side of the light shielding member toward the rear in the light irradiation direction,
The concave mirror is arranged such that when the light shielding member is at the insertion position, the center is located within a predetermined distance from the light source, and when the light shielding member is at the retracted position, the center is located near the light source. A vehicle headlamp, characterized in that the vehicle headlamp is formed.   2. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the swing shaft of the light shielding member is disposed laterally within a predetermined distance from the light source on the front lower side in the light irradiation direction of the light source.   The vehicle headlamp according to claim 2, wherein the swing shaft of the light shielding member is disposed within a radius of 20 mm from the light source.   4. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein when the light shielding member is in a retracted position, the concave mirror is arranged at a center within a radius of 10 mm from the light source. 5. .   The vehicle headlamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the swing shaft of the light shielding member is rotatably supported on the outer side in the lateral direction of the reflecting surface.

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