JP2008130465A - Vehicle headlamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle headlamp that can be configured to have a relatively narrow vertical width with a simple configuration and has a high degree of freedom in light distribution design.
A first reflecting surface 12 of a paraboloidal system that is concave forward and has a relatively narrow vertical width so as to reflect light from the light source 11 forward in the light irradiation direction, and from the light source. The second ellipsoidal second reflecting surface 13 disposed below the light source and the light reflected by the second reflecting surface in the light irradiation direction so as to reflect the light of The plane mirror 14 disposed below the light source so as to reflect toward the front, and the plane mirror 14 disposed forward from the plane mirror, the focal position on the light source side being the second focal position of the second reflecting surface The vehicle headlamp 10 is configured to include a convex projection lens 15 disposed so as to be positioned in the vicinity of a conjugate position by the plane mirror.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

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

Conventionally, such a vehicle headlamp is configured as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, for example.
That is, in FIGS. 10 and 11, the vehicle headlamp 1 includes a bulb 2 as a light source, a reflecting surface 3, and a front lens 4.

  The bulb 2 is a bulb generally used for an automobile headlamp or an auxiliary headlamp, and is arranged so that its optical axis O faces forward in the light irradiation direction, and is fixed and held by a socket, It has come to be.

The reflection surface 3 is composed of a parabolic reflection surface whose focal point is the light emission center 2a of the bulb 2 and whose major axis extends substantially horizontally toward the front in the light irradiation direction, and its inner surface is formed as a reflection surface. ing.
Here, the paraboloidal reflecting surface includes not only a rotating paraboloid but also a free-form surface based on a paraboloid.
Further, the reflection surface 3 is configured such that the protruding portions 3a on both sides converge and reflect the light from the bulb 2 near the center.

  The front lens 4 is made of a translucent material, and is disposed on the front side of the reflective surface 3 so as to protect the bulb 2 and the reflective surface 3.

According to the vehicle headlamp 1 having such a configuration, when the bulb 2 is supplied with power and emits light, the light emitted from the bulb 2 is reflected directly or directly by the reflecting surface 3 to be substantially parallel light. It becomes La and proceeds forward, and is irradiated toward the front in the light irradiation direction via the front lens 4.
On the other hand, the light Lb reflected by the protruding portions 3a on both sides of the reflecting surface 3 is reflected so as to converge toward the vicinity of the center, and is irradiated toward the vicinity of the center in the light irradiation direction.

  Thus, as shown in FIG. 12, a so-called passing beam light distribution pattern A is formed by the light La. Further, the light distribution pattern B only near the center is formed by the light Lb. Therefore, as a whole, a light distribution pattern of a passing beam is formed, the maximum luminous intensity near the center is increased, and visibility is improved.

A vehicle headlamp as shown in FIG. 13 is also known.
That is, in FIG. 13, the vehicle headlamp 5 includes a bulb 2 as a light source, a reflecting surface 6, a projection lens 7, and a light shielding member 8.

The reflective surface 6 is composed of an elliptical reflective surface having the bulb 2 as the first focal point (rear focal point) and the major axis extending substantially horizontally toward the front in the light irradiation direction, and the inner surface thereof is defined as the 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.

  The projection lens 7 is composed of a convex lens, preferably an aspheric lens, and its focal point on the light source side (rear side) is disposed in the vicinity of the second focal position of the reflecting surface 6. The light from the reflecting surface 6 is condensed and irradiated toward the front.

  The light shielding member 8 is for providing a predetermined light distribution pattern for a low beam with respect to the light irradiated toward the front in the light irradiation direction, and in the vicinity of the second focal position of the reflective surface 6. Has been placed. Further, in order to form a cut-off line in the light distribution pattern, the upper edge 8a is formed in a predetermined shape.

According to the vehicle headlamp 5 having such a configuration, when the bulb 2 is fed and emits light, the light L emitted from the bulb 2 is reflected directly or by the reflection surface 6, and this reflection surface 6 advances forward toward the vicinity of the second focal point 6 and is irradiated forward in the light irradiation direction while being focused by the projection lens 7.
At that time, a part of the light L irradiated forward is blocked by the light shielding member 8, a cut-off line is formed by the upper edge 8 a of the light shielding member 8, and the light L is irradiated forward as a passing beam. Will be.

  As a result, the cut-off line is projected by the projection lens 7 as shown in FIG. Therefore, a cut-off line is formed below the horizontal line, and a light distribution pattern A suitable for a passing beam is formed only on the lower side of the cut-off line.

On the other hand, FIG. 15 shows a vehicle headlamp according to Patent Document 1.
In FIG. 15, in the vehicle headlamp 9, the bulb 2 includes a sub-emission center (sub-filament) 2b in front of the emission center (main filament) 2a. Further, with respect to the optical axis O, the reflecting surfaces 9a and 9b are arranged above and below, and on the left and right, reflecting surfaces 9c and 9d are arranged in the vicinity of the optical axis O, and outside these reflecting surfaces 9c and 9d, The reflection surfaces 9e and 9f are arranged, and the projection lens 7 and the light shielding member 8 are provided in front of the upper reflection surface 9a.

Here, the upper reflecting surface 9a is formed so as to reflect and collect light from the sub-emission center 2b of the bulb 2 at a condensing position above the irradiation axis in front of the reflecting surface 9a. In the vicinity of the position, a light shielding member 8 is arranged, and the projection lens 7 is arranged so that this condensing position is a focal point.
The lower reflecting surface 9b condenses the light from the light emission center 2a of the bulb 2 at a first condensing position extending in the front horizontal direction, and further extends from this position in the front vertical direction. It forms so that it may condense in a condensing position.

  On the other hand, the left and right inner reflection surfaces 9c and 9d are formed so that the light from the light emission centers 2a and 2b is once condensed in the left and right direction and then diffused. The left and right outer reflecting surfaces 9e and 9f are formed as concave paraboloids that are concave toward the front and have a focal point in the vicinity of the light emission centers 2a and 2b.

According to the vehicle headlamp 9 having such a configuration, part of the light emitted from the bulb 2 is directly reflected and partly reflected by the reflecting surfaces 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, and 9f. The light is irradiated forward in the light irradiation direction.
At that time, the light reflected by the reflecting surface 9 a is converged toward the vicinity of the second focal position, and a cutoff is formed by the light shielding member 8. Further, the light is focused by the projection lens 7 and irradiated forward in the light irradiation direction. As a result, a light distribution pattern for a passing beam having a cut-off line is formed.
The light reflected by the reflecting surface 9b is first condensed at the first condensing position P1 in the vicinity of the front lens 4 and then condensed at the second condensing position P2.

On the other hand, the light reflected by the reflecting surfaces 9c and 9d is once condensed at first condensing positions P3 and P4 extending vertically near the front lens 4 and then diffused.
Further, the light reflected by the reflecting surfaces 9e and 9f becomes parallel light and is irradiated forward.
Japanese Patent No. 2517383

  By the way, in the vehicle headlamp 1 described above, since a projection lens is unnecessary, the structure is simple, but the reflected light from the bulb 2 as a light source is irradiated almost horizontally in front of the vehicle in the vertical direction. There is a need. For this reason, it cannot be reduced in size in the vertical direction. For this reason, it is not suitable when the vertical width at the front end of the vehicle body is set to, for example, 100 mm or less in a vehicle design that places importance on aerodynamic characteristics.

  In the vehicle headlamp 5 described above, a predetermined light distribution can be obtained even if the diameter of the projection lens 7 is reduced to about 60 to 70 mm. However, the optical element (that is, the projection lens) with respect to the size of the light source can be obtained. The size becomes smaller. For this reason, the reflection image by the reflective surface of a light source is large compared with the case of the said vehicle headlamp 1, the handling becomes difficult, and the freedom degree of light distribution design will become small.

Furthermore, in the vehicle headlamp 9 according to Patent Document 1, since the vertical width can be configured to be small, the degree of freedom in light distribution design is large.
However, the upper and lower reflection surfaces 9a and 9b are formed of spheroidal surfaces, and the light reflected by these reflection surfaces 9a and 9b is irradiated forward with a relatively wide width in the vertical direction. Become. For this reason, similarly, the degree of freedom in light distribution design is reduced.
In addition, a relatively long optical system is formed in the front-rear direction, and the entire lamp is also relatively long. This increases the mounting space at the front end of the vehicle body, which limits the vehicle body design. .

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular headlamp that can be configured to have a relatively narrow vertical width with a simple configuration and has a high degree of freedom in light distribution design.

  According to the present invention, the object is that the light source and the focal position are arranged in the vicinity of the light source so as to reflect the light from the light source forward in the light irradiation direction, and are concave toward the front. The first focal position is located near the light source, and the second focal position is so as to reflect the light from the first reflecting surface of the paraboloidal system having a relatively narrow vertical width and the light from the light source downward. Is reflected by the second reflecting surface of the concave elliptical system, which is disposed above the light source so as to be positioned at the conjugate position by the plane mirror disposed below the light source, and the second reflecting surface. A plane mirror disposed on the lower side of the light source so as to reflect light forward in the light irradiation direction, and disposed on the front side from the plane mirror, the focal position on the light source side being the second of the second reflecting surface It is arranged so that it is located near the conjugate position by the plane mirror at the focal position of Characterized in that it comprises a convex projection lens, and by the vehicle headlamp is achieved.

  In the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, preferably, the first reflecting surface is formed so as to diffuse light from the light source with respect to the left-right direction in regions on both side ends thereof.

  In the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, preferably, the first reflecting surface is formed of a paraboloidal free-form surface.

  In the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, preferably, the first reflecting surface is divided into a plurality of parts in the left-right direction.

  The vehicle headlamp according to the present invention preferably includes a light shielding member disposed in an optical path between the second reflecting surface and the projection lens.

  In the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, preferably, the light shielding member is disposed between the plane mirror and the projection lens in the vicinity of a conjugate position by the plane mirror at the second focal position of the second reflecting surface. In addition, a cut-off line is formed for the light whose upper edge is irradiated forward in the light irradiation direction.

  In the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, preferably, the light shielding member is disposed so as to be insertable into and removable from the optical path between the second reflecting surface and the projection lens.

  In the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, preferably, the light shielding member is disposed below the light source and between the first reflecting surface and the plane mirror.

According to the said structure, the light reflected on the 1st reflective surface directly among the light radiate | emitted from the light source becomes substantially parallel light, and is irradiated toward the light irradiation direction front.
Further, after being reflected by the second reflecting surface and further reflected by the plane mirror, it is focused toward the second focal position, and further irradiated forward through the projection lens.

In this case, the first reflecting surface is formed relatively narrow with respect to the vertical direction, the second reflecting surface facing downward is disposed only on the upper side of the light source, and the plane mirror is disposed obliquely upward on the lower side of the light source. Be placed. A projection lens is also arranged. Therefore, the whole lamp can be configured small in the vertical direction.
And the light distribution pattern of the irradiation light irradiated toward the front in the light irradiation direction is formed by the first reflecting surface of the parabolic system, the second reflecting surface of the elliptic system, and the projection lens. , The degree of freedom of light distribution design increases.
Therefore, the entire vehicle headlamp can be configured to be thin in the vertical direction. Further, the combination of the parabolic reflecting surface, the elliptic reflecting surface, and the projection lens increases the degree of freedom of light distribution design, and it becomes possible to design vehicle headlamps suitable for various vehicle body shapes.

  When the first reflecting surface is formed so as to diffuse the light from the light source in the left and right direction in the regions on both sides, the light distribution can be sufficiently performed in the left and right direction. Increases design freedom.

  When the first reflecting surface is formed of a free-form surface of a paraboloidal system and divided into a plurality of parts in the left-right direction, the light from the light source can be easily It can be formed to diffuse in the direction.

  In the case where a light shielding member disposed in the optical path between the second reflecting surface and the projection lens is provided, at least a part of the light incident on the projection lens from the second reflecting surface. By cutting off, the degree of freedom of light distribution design is increased.

  The light-shielding member is disposed between the plane mirror and the projection lens in the vicinity of a conjugate position by the plane mirror at the second focal position of the second reflecting surface, and the upper edge thereof is in front of the light irradiation direction. When a cut-off line is formed with respect to the light irradiated toward it, a light distribution pattern suitable for a passing beam can be formed by forming the cut-off line in the light distribution pattern by the light shielding member.

  In the case where the light shielding member is disposed between the second reflecting surface and the projection lens so as to be detachable from the optical path, a light distribution pattern suitable for a passing beam when the light shielding member is inserted. When the light shielding member is retracted, a light distribution pattern suitable for the traveling beam can be formed.

  When the light shielding member is disposed between the first reflecting surface and the plane mirror below the light source, the light shielding member is parallel to the optical axis when the light shielding member is inserted into and removed from the optical path. Since it only needs to move, the whole lamp can be configured to be thin.

  Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle headlamp that can be configured to have a relatively narrow vertical width with a simple configuration and that has a large degree of freedom in light distribution design.

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 is particularly limited in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

[Example 1]
1 to 3 show the configuration of a first embodiment of a vehicle headlamp according to the present invention.
1 to 3, a vehicle headlamp 10 is configured as a headlamp of an automobile, and a bulb 11 as a light source and a first reflector that reflects light from the bulb 11 forward in the light irradiation direction. A reflecting surface 12, second and third reflecting surfaces 13 and 14 for reflecting light traveling upward from the bulb 11 forward on the lower side of the optical axis O of the bulb 11, and third reflection; The projection lens 15 is configured to focus light that is reflected by the surface 14 and travels forward, and a light shielding member 16 that is disposed in the optical path from the third reflection surface to the projection lens 15.

The bulb 11 is a bulb generally used for automobile headlights or auxiliary headlamps. For example, incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs, discharge lamps such as HID (High Intensity Discharge), etc. are used. The optical axis O is arranged substantially horizontally toward the front in the light irradiation direction, is fixedly held by a socket, and is supplied with power.
In the illustrated case, the bulb 11 is configured as a discharge bulb having a light-shielding film in the lower half. However, in the case of a filament-type incandescent bulb, halogen bulb, or the like without such a light-shielding film, the bulb 11 starts from the bulb 11. What is necessary is just to provide the light-shielding plate so that light may not enter into the 3rd reflective surface 14 toward the downward direction.

The reflecting surface 12 is formed in a concave shape so as to reflect the light L from the bulb 11 forward in the light irradiation direction, and its focal position F is located near the light emitting point of the bulb 11. Further, it is configured as a parabolic reflecting surface.
Here, the paraboloidal reflecting surface includes not only a rotating paraboloid but also a free-form surface based on a paraboloid.

  Further, the reflection surface 12 has a right and left diffusion function so as to mainly form a light distribution pattern for a low beam below the horizontal line, and is narrow in the vertical direction, that is, thin. .

As shown in FIG. 1, the second reflecting surface 13 is disposed on the upper side of the bulb 11, and in the illustrated case, the second reflecting surface 13 is integrally formed continuously from the upper edge of the reflecting surface 12. The second reflecting surface 13 has a first focal position F1 located near the light emission center of the bulb 11. Moreover, it is comprised as an ellipse-type reflective surface in the concave shape toward the downward direction so that the long axis may extend diagonally toward the back and slightly rearward.
Here, the elliptical reflecting surface includes not only a spheroid and an elliptic cylinder but also a free-form surface based on an ellipsoid.

As shown in FIG. 1, the third reflecting surface 14 is disposed below the bulb 11 and is formed as a plane mirror.
The third reflecting surface 14 is arranged obliquely upward slightly forward so that the long axis of the second reflecting surface 13 is bent forward in the light irradiation direction.
Thereby, the major axis of the second reflecting surface 13 bent by the third reflecting surface 14, that is, the optical axis O1, extends substantially horizontally toward the front in the light irradiation direction.
Here, the third reflecting surface 14 is arranged above the second reflecting surface 13 with respect to the second focal position F2, and the light reflected by the second reflecting surface 13 is: After being reflected by the third reflecting surface 14, the light is focused toward a conjugate position F 2 ′ with respect to the second focal position F 2 and the third reflecting surface 14.

  The projection lens 15 is composed of a convex lens, preferably an aspheric lens, and the rear focal point on the optical axis O1 is the second focal position F2 of the second reflecting surface 13. It arrange | positions so that it may be located in the conjugate position F2 'vicinity.

The light shielding member 16 is for giving a predetermined light distribution pattern for a low beam to the light traveling forward from the third reflecting surface 14, and is made of an opaque material. .
Here, the light shielding member 16 is disposed in the vicinity of a focal position on the rear side of the projection lens 15, that is, a position F 2 ′ conjugate with the second focal position F 2 of the second reflecting surface 13.
The light shielding member 16 has an upper edge 16a that forms a cut-off line for a desired light distribution pattern, for example, a light distribution pattern for a low beam.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the second reflecting surface 13 is divided into a plurality (six in the illustrated case) of regions 13a, 13b, and 13c in the left-right direction. Each of the second focal positions is distributed to the left and right.
Correspondingly, the third reflecting surface 14, the projection lens 15, and the light shielding member 16 are respectively arranged on the left and right.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, the light reflected by the right regions 13a, 13b, and 13c toward the second reflecting surface 13 is reflected by the third reflecting surface 14 on the right and then reflected. Proceeding forward along the axis O1, converged by the right projection lens 15 and irradiated forward.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the regions 13a, 13b, and 13c of the second reflecting surface 13 are arranged so that their height positions are substantially the same. The overall height is kept relatively low.
Moreover, each area | region 13a, 13b, 13c of each said area | region 2nd reflective surface 13 can be set as a mutually different light distribution design by mutually selecting the area and curvature suitably. Based on the difference, it is possible to arbitrarily set the light distribution of the far irradiation light in the vicinity of the center of the light distribution pattern and the front irradiation light spreading in the left and right directions.

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 outside and emits light.
A part L1 of the light emitted from the bulb 11 is reflected directly or reflected by the reflecting surface 12 to become substantially parallel light and travels forward in the light irradiation direction. Based on the shape of the reflecting surface 12, FIG. As shown by reference numeral A, a light distribution pattern of a passing beam is formed.

  The light L2 emitted upward from the bulb 11 is reflected directly or by the respective regions 13a, 13b, and 13c of the second reflecting surface 13, and proceeds while focusing toward the second focal position F2. After being reflected by the third reflecting surface 14, the light is focused toward the second focal position F 2 of the second reflecting surface 13 and a conjugate position F 2 ′ with respect to the third reflecting surface 14, and further through the projection lens 15. The light is irradiated toward the front of the light irradiation direction while focusing.

  At that time, a cut-off is formed by the upper edge 16a of the light shielding member 16, and as shown by reference numerals B1, B2, and B3 in FIG. The light distribution pattern is formed.

  Accordingly, the light L2 emitted upward from the bulb 11 that has not conventionally contributed to the formation of the light distribution pattern is guided forward by the second reflecting surface 13 and the third reflecting surface 14 in the light irradiation direction, and projected. The lens 15 irradiates while focusing near the center of the light distribution pattern. Thereby, the light utilization efficiency of the bulb 11 is improved.

Further, according to the area and curvature of each region 13a, 13b, 13c of the second reflecting surface 13, the lateral distribution of the light distribution patterns B1, B2, B3 by the light reflected by these regions 13a, 13b, 13c Is set appropriately. Thereby, the maximum luminous intensity near the center of the light distribution pattern can be increased. Moreover, the spread of the surrounding light and the light intensity change can be arbitrarily set, and the degree of freedom of light distribution design is increased. That is, the light distribution of the far irradiation light and the spreading light around it can be arbitrarily set by a combination of light distribution patterns having different sizes such as the above-described light distribution patterns B1, B2, and B3.
Thereby, the visibility by the light distribution pattern for the passing beam is improved.

  Further, since the reflecting surface 12 is formed narrow in the vertical direction and the second reflecting surface 13 is disposed downward above the bulb 11, the overall height of the vehicle headlamp 10 is relatively high. It can be made small. Further, the optical path between the second reflecting surface 13 and the third reflecting surface 14 extends in the vertical direction. Thereby, the whole length (depth) of the vehicle headlamp 10 can be configured to be short.

[Example 2]
5 to 7 show the configuration of the second embodiment of the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention.
5 to 7, the vehicle headlamp 20 has substantially the same configuration as the vehicle headlamp 10 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. Is omitted.

  Compared to the vehicle headlamp 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle headlamp 20 has a second reflecting surface 13 and a third reflector below the bulb 11 instead of the light shielding member 16. A light blocking member 21 is provided so as to be detachable with respect to the optical path between the reflecting surface 14 and the optical path.

The light shielding member 21 can be moved from the insertion position shown in FIG. 5 to the retracted position shown in FIG.
The driving means 22 is composed of, for example, a solenoid and is appropriately controlled. For this reason, the light shielding member 21 is moved between the insertion position and the retracted position.
Accordingly, when the light shielding member 21 is in the retracted position, the light reflected by the second reflecting surface 13 can be incident on the third reflecting surface 14. Further, when in the insertion position, the light reflected by the second reflecting surface 13 is blocked and does not enter the third reflecting surface 14.

  Further, in the vehicle headlamp 20, the regions 13a, 13b, 13c of the second reflecting surface 13 are reflected by these regions 13a, 13b, 13c and further reflected by the third reflecting surface 14. Is irradiated in the form of a spot near the center through the projection lens 15 toward the front of the light irradiation direction. Thereby, the curvature is selected so as to form the traveling beam light distribution patterns C1, C2, and C3, respectively.

  According to the vehicle headlamp 20 having such a configuration, when the light shielding member 21 is in the insertion position, a part of the light L1 emitted from the bulb 11 is reflected directly or by the reflection surface 12. As shown in FIG. 9A, the light distribution pattern A for the passing beam spreads to the left and right based on the shape of the reflection surface 12 as a substantially parallel light and traveling forward in the light irradiation direction. Will be formed.

  Further, the light L2 emitted upward from the bulb 11 is reflected directly or by the respective regions 13a, 13b, and 13c of the second reflecting surface 13, and then converges toward the second focal position F2. However, the light is blocked by the light blocking member 21 before being reflected by the third reflecting surface 14.

  Therefore, in this case, the light irradiated toward the front in the light irradiation direction is only the light L1, and the light distribution pattern A for the passing beam is formed as shown in FIG. 9A.

  On the other hand, when the light shielding member 21 is at the retracted position, a part L1 of the light emitted from the bulb 11 is reflected directly or by the reflecting surface 12 and becomes substantially parallel light. Proceeding forward in the direction, based on the shape of the reflection surface 12, a light distribution pattern A spreading to the left and right is formed, as indicated by symbol A in FIG. 9B.

Further, the light L2 emitted upward from the bulb 11 is reflected directly or by the respective regions 13a, 13b, 13c of the second reflecting surface 13, and the second light L2 is not blocked by the light shielding member 21. After converging toward the focal position F2, the light is reflected by the third reflecting surface 14, and then directed to a conjugate position F2 ′ with respect to the second focal position F2 of the second reflecting surface 13 and the third reflecting surface 14. Then, the light is converged through the projection lens 15 and irradiated in the form of a spot near the center toward the front in the light irradiation direction.
For this reason, the light reflected by the regions 13a, 13b, and 13c of the second reflecting surface 13 is irradiated forward through the third reflecting surface 14 and the projection lens 15, respectively. As a result, light distribution patterns C1, C2, and C3 near the center are formed.

Therefore, in this case, as shown in FIG. 9B, the light irradiated toward the front in the light irradiation direction further overlaps the light distribution pattern C1, C2, C3 on the above-mentioned light distribution pattern A for the passing beam. A combined light distribution pattern is formed.
Thereby, the maximum luminous intensity near the center is increased by the light distribution patterns C1, C2, and C3, and a light distribution pattern suitable for the traveling beam is formed. Further, the light distribution pattern A forms a light distribution pattern that spreads as auxiliary light in the vicinity of the center. For this reason, irradiation light without unevenness can be obtained from a distance from the vehicle to the front. Further, the light shielding member 21 can be divided and inserted / removed, and the light distribution patterns C1, C2, and C3 are separately controlled by separately controlling the light, so that stepwise irradiation light with no unevenness from far away to the front of the vehicle is possible. Will be obtained.

  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 bulb (discharge bulb) 11 having a light shielding film in the lower half is used as the light source. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a discharge bulb without such a light shielding film, Obviously, halogen bulbs and the like can also be used.
In this case, a light shielding plate may be provided so that light emitted downward from the light source does not directly enter the third reflecting surface 14.

  Thus, according to the present invention, an extremely excellent vehicle headlamp that can be configured to have a relatively narrow vertical width with a simple configuration and has a large degree of freedom in light distribution design is provided. obtain.

It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of 1st embodiment of the vehicle headlamp by this invention. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the vehicle headlamp of FIG. It is a schematic front view which shows the vehicle headlamp of FIG. It is a graph which shows the light distribution pattern in the vehicle headlamp of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of 2nd embodiment of the vehicle headlamp by this invention. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the vehicle headlamp of FIG. It is a schematic front view which shows the vehicle headlamp of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the state at the time of the light-shielding member evacuation in the vehicle headlamp of FIG. 2 is a graph showing a light distribution pattern when the light shielding member is inserted and when the light shielding member is retracted in the vehicle headlamp of FIG. 1. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of an example of the conventional vehicle headlamp. It is a horizontal sectional view of the vehicle headlamp of FIG. It is a graph which shows the light distribution pattern by the vehicle headlamp of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of the other example of the conventional vehicle headlamp. It is a graph which shows the light distribution pattern by the vehicle headlamp of FIG. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the structure of the further another example of the conventional vehicle headlamp.

Explanation of symbols

10 Vehicle headlights 11 Bulb (light source)
12 Reflective surface (parabolic reflective surface)
13 Second reflection surface (elliptic reflection surface)
14 Third reflective surface (plane mirror)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Projection lens 16 Light-shielding member 16a Upper edge 20 Vehicle headlamp 21 Light-shielding member 22 Driving means

Claims (8)

A light source;
The first of the paraboloidal system which is disposed so that the focal position is located in the vicinity of the light source so as to reflect the light from the light source forward in the light irradiation direction, and is concave toward the front and has a relatively narrow vertical width. The reflective surface of
The first focal position is located in the vicinity of the light source so that the light from the light source is reflected downward, and the second focal position is located at a conjugate position by a plane mirror disposed below the light source. A second reflecting surface of an elliptical system that is concave downwardly disposed above the light source;
A plane mirror disposed on the lower side of the light source so as to reflect the light reflected by the second reflecting surface forward in the light irradiation direction;
A convex projection lens disposed in front of the plane mirror and disposed so that the focal position on the light source side is located near the conjugate position by the plane mirror of the second focal position of the second reflecting surface;
A vehicle headlight characterized by comprising:   2. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the first reflecting surface is formed so as to diffuse light from a light source in a lateral direction in regions on both side ends thereof.   The vehicle headlamp according to claim 2, wherein the first reflecting surface is formed of a paraboloidal free-form surface.   The vehicle headlamp according to claim 2, wherein the first reflecting surface is divided into a plurality of parts in the left-right direction.   The vehicle headlamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: a light shielding member disposed in an optical path between the second reflecting surface and the projection lens.   The light-shielding member is disposed between the plane mirror and the projection lens in the vicinity of a conjugate position by the plane mirror at the second focal position of the second reflecting surface, and the upper edge thereof is in front of the light irradiation direction. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 5, wherein a cut-off line is formed with respect to light emitted toward the vehicle.   The vehicle headlamp according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the light shielding member is disposed so as to be detachable with respect to the optical path between the second reflecting surface and the projection lens. .   8. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 7, wherein the light shielding member is disposed below the light source and between the first reflecting surface and a plane mirror.

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