JP2017191745A - Vehicle lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

In a vehicular illumination system including a projector-type vehicular lamp having a two-dimensional spatial light modulator, a color blur generated in the vicinity of a light / dark boundary line is made inconspicuous by an inexpensive configuration. As a plurality of light control elements constituting a control region 20A of a two-dimensional spatial light modulator 20, a first light control element group G1 for forming a light distribution pattern for low beam, and a low beam via a cut-off line It is set as the structure provided with the 2nd light control element group G2 for forming the dark part which adjoins the light distribution pattern for an object. In addition, a plurality of light control elements (light control elements constituting the third light control element group G) positioned at the boundary portion B between the first and second light control element groups G1 and G2 are separated from the light control elements. Gradation control that gradually changes the amount of light that reaches the projection lens 12 between two light amounts that reach the projection lens 12 from the light control elements constituting each of the first and second light control element groups G1 and G2. Is configured to be performed by the control device 50. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular illumination system including a projector-type vehicular lamp having a two-dimensional spatial light modulator.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a projector-type vehicular lamp is known in which a two-dimensional spatial light modulator is disposed between a light source unit and a projection lens.

  For example, “Patent Document 1” describes a vehicular lamp including a light transmission type liquid crystal shutter as a two-dimensional spatial light modulator.

  Note that “Patent Document 2” describes a configuration of a projection lens in a projector-type vehicular lamp in which fine irregularities are provided on the surface thereof.

  Further, “Patent Document 3” describes a combination of a plurality of lenses as a configuration of a projection lens in a projector-type vehicle lamp.

JP 2011-23157 A JP 62-113301 A JP 61-49302 A

  In the vehicular lamp described in the above-mentioned “Patent Document 1”, the light emitted from the light source unit is irradiated to the front of the lamp through the two-dimensional spatial light modulator and the projection lens, so that a required light / dark boundary line is provided. It is possible to form a light distribution pattern (for example, a low beam light distribution pattern).

  However, in such a vehicle lamp, a plurality of light control elements constituting the two-dimensional spatial light modulator form a light control element group for forming the light distribution pattern and a surrounding dark part. Therefore, there is a problem that a red or blue color blur caused by the chromatic aberration of the projection lens is generated in the vicinity of the bright / dark boundary line.

  On the other hand, as described in the above-mentioned “Patent Document 2”, if the projection lens surface is provided with fine irregularities, it is possible to reduce the color blur that occurs in the vicinity of the light / dark boundary line. It becomes. However, in such a case, since the degree of color blur reduction depends on the uneven shape of the mold for molding the projection lens, in order to reduce color blur stably, it is more than a normal mold. A lot of maintenance is required, and the manufacturing cost increases accordingly.

  On the other hand, if the projection lens is composed of a plurality of lenses as described in “Patent Document 3”, it is possible to reduce the color blur that occurs in the vicinity of the light / dark boundary line. However, in this case, since it is necessary to assemble a plurality of lenses with high accuracy, the cost of the projection lens itself and its manufacturing cost increase.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in a vehicular illumination system including a projector-type vehicular lamp having a two-dimensional spatial light modulator, a low-cost configuration makes it possible to produce a light / dark boundary line. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicular lighting system that can make a color blur generated in the vicinity inconspicuous.

  The present invention is intended to achieve the above object by devising the configuration of the two-dimensional spatial light modulator.

That is, the vehicle lighting system according to the present invention is:
A projection lens; a light source unit that emits light toward the projection lens; and a two-dimensional spatial light modulator disposed between the light source unit and the projection lens. A vehicular lamp configured to form a required light distribution pattern having a bright and dark boundary line by irradiating the lamp front through the two-dimensional spatial light modulator and the projection lens, and the two-dimensional spatial light In a vehicle lighting system comprising a control device for controlling a modulator,
The two-dimensional spatial light modulator includes a first light control element group for forming the light distribution pattern as a plurality of light control elements constituting the two-dimensional spatial light modulator, and the light / dark boundary line. A second light control element group for forming a dark portion adjacent to the light distribution pattern,
For the plurality of light control elements located at the boundary between the first light control element group and the second light control element group, the control device determines the amount of light reaching the projection lens from the light control element. The level is gradually changed between the amount of light reaching the projection lens from the light control element constituting one light control element group and the amount of light reaching the projection lens from the light control element constituting the second light control element group. It is comprised so that adjustment control may be performed, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The specific configuration of the “two-dimensional spatial light modulator” is not particularly limited as long as it includes a plurality of light control elements that can adjust the amount of light reaching the projection lens. A liquid crystal shutter, a reflective liquid crystal, a digital micromirror (DMD), or the like can be used.

  The specific configuration of the “optical unit” is not particularly limited. For example, a configuration in which direct light from the light source reaches the projection lens, and light emitted from the light source is reflected by a reflector to reach the projection lens. For example, a configuration in which light emitted from a light source is transmitted through a lens to reach a projection lens can be employed.

  The “required light distribution pattern” is not particularly limited as long as it is a light distribution pattern having a light / dark boundary line. For example, the light distribution pattern for low beam or a distribution for forming a part thereof is used. A light pattern, a light distribution pattern for forming a part of a high beam light distribution pattern, a light distribution pattern for a fog lamp, or the like can be employed.

  The “gradation control” includes the amount of light reaching the projection lens from the light control element located at the boundary portion, the amount of light reaching the projection lens from the light control element constituting the first light control element group, and the second light control element. The specific contents of the control are not particularly limited as long as the control is gradually changed between the light amount reaching the projection lens from the light control elements constituting the group.

  In the vehicular lighting system according to the present invention, the light emitted from the light source unit of the vehicular lamp is irradiated to the front of the lamp through the two-dimensional spatial light modulator and the projection lens, so that a required light / dark boundary line is provided. A light distribution pattern can be formed.

  At that time, as a plurality of light control elements constituting the two-dimensional spatial light modulator, a first light control element group for forming a required light distribution pattern, and a required light distribution pattern via a light / dark boundary line, A second light control element group for forming an adjacent dark portion, and for a plurality of light control elements located at the boundary portion, the amount of light reaching the projection lens from the light control element is changed to the first light. Gradation control that gradually changes between the amount of light reaching the projection lens from the light control element constituting the control element group and the amount of light reaching the projection lens from the light control element constituting the second light control element group is controlled. Since it is performed by the apparatus, the following effects can be obtained.

  That is, from the projection lens, the light that has reached from the light control element located at the end of the first light control element group and the light that has arrived from the light control element located at the boundary part partially overlap with each other in front of the lamp. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the blurring of red and blue colors generated in the vicinity of the light / dark boundary line and form the light / dark boundary line blurred in white. As a result, it is possible to make the color blur generated in the vicinity of the bright / dark boundary line due to the chromatic aberration of the projection lens inconspicuous.

  Therefore, in order to reduce the color blur that occurs in the vicinity of the light / dark boundary line, it is unnecessary to provide fine projections and depressions on the surface of the projection lens or to configure the projection lens with a plurality of lenses as in the past. Thus, the vehicular lamp can be configured at low cost.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in the vehicle illumination system including the projector-type vehicle lamp having the two-dimensional spatial light modulator, the color blur generated in the vicinity of the light / dark boundary line is made inconspicuous by an inexpensive configuration. can do.

  In the above configuration, as the gradation control by the control device, the control is performed to change the amount of light reaching the projection lens from the light control element located at the boundary portion substantially along a smooth curve having an inflection point in the middle. Then, the light reaching the projection lens from the light control element located at the end of the first light control element group can be efficiently overlapped with the light reaching the projection lens from the light control element located at the boundary portion. . As a result, the color blur that occurs in the vicinity of the light / dark boundary line can be made less noticeable.

  In the above configuration, if the light source unit includes a light source and an optical member configured to emit a light beam having a bright central portion by controlling light from the light source, a light / dark boundary line is provided. It is possible to easily form a required light distribution pattern as a light distribution pattern having a bright central region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows the vehicle illumination system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: The figure which shows the vehicle lamp in a side cross section II-II line direction view of FIG. Detailed view of part III in Fig. 2 The figure which shows the content of the gradation control performed in the said embodiment with a prior art example The figure which shows the two specific examples of the said gradation control The figure which shows the light distribution pattern for low beams formed with the irradiation light from the said vehicle lamp The figure similar to FIG. 1 which shows the modification of the said embodiment

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a view showing a vehicular lighting system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a view showing a vehicular lamp 10 in a side cross section. FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrows II-II in FIG.

  As shown in these drawings, the vehicular lighting system 100 according to the present embodiment includes a vehicular lamp 10 and a control device 50 that controls the vehicular lamp 10.

  The vehicular lamp 10 is a projector-type lamp unit, and is used in a state of being housed in a lamp chamber formed by a lamp body (not shown) and a translucent cover. In FIG. 1, the left direction is the front of the lamp (also the front of the vehicle).

  The vehicular lamp 10 includes a projection lens 12, a light source unit 14 that emits light toward the projection lens 12, and a two-dimensional spatial light modulator 20 disposed between the light source unit 14 and the projection lens 12. It is the composition provided with.

  The vehicular lamp 10 irradiates light emitted from the light source unit 14 to the front of the lamp through the two-dimensional spatial light modulator 20 and the projection lens 12, whereby a low beam light distribution pattern and a high beam light distribution pattern are obtained. And can be selectively formed.

  The projection lens 12 has an optical axis Ax extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, but when the vehicle lamp 10 is incorporated in the lamp body, the optical axis Ax is 0.5 to 0.5 relative to the vehicle front-rear direction. It is arranged in a state extending about 0.6 ° downward.

  The projection lens 12 is a plano-convex aspheric lens having a convex front surface and a flat rear surface, and is fixedly supported by the holder 16 at the peripheral edge thereof. The projection lens 12 projects the light source image formed on the rear focal plane (that is, the focal plane including the rear focal point F of the projection lens 12) onto the virtual vertical screen in front of the lamp as a reverse image. It has become.

  The light source unit 14 supports a light source 32, a reflector 34 that controls reflection of light from the light source 32, a mirror member 36 that regularly reflects light from the light source 32 reflected by the reflector 34 forward, and the like. And a base member 38 to be configured.

  The light source 32 is a white light emitting diode having a horizontally long light emitting surface, and is fixedly supported on the base member 38 with the light emitting surface facing forward. The base member 38 is fixedly supported by the holder 16.

  The reflector 34 is disposed so as to cover the light source 32 from the front side, and is fixedly supported by the base member 38 at the rear edge. The reflector 34 reflects light from the light source 32 upward as convergent light. At this time, the reflection surface 34a of the reflector 34 has a smaller degree of convergence of the light from the light source 32 in the direction along the vertical plane perpendicular to the optical axis Ax than in the direction along the vertical plane including the optical axis Ax. Thus, it is configured with a curved surface to be reflected.

  The mirror member 36 is composed of a heat ray transmitting mirror disposed obliquely upwardly toward the front on the optical axis Ax, and is fixedly supported by the base member 38 at the lower end thereof. At this time, the mirror member 36 emits light emitted from the light source 32 in a direction perpendicular to the light emitting surface and reflected by the reflector 34 so as to reach the vicinity of the rear focal point F of the projection lens 12. The inclination angle is set.

  As a result, the light source unit 14 emits a light beam having a bright central portion toward the projection lens 12.

  The two-dimensional spatial light modulator 20 is composed of a light transmissive liquid crystal shutter, and is disposed along a vertical plane orthogonal to the optical axis Ax at the position of the rear focal point F of the projection lens 12.

  The two-dimensional spatial light modulator 20 includes a pair of transparent substrates 22 disposed at a predetermined interval in the front-rear direction, a liquid crystal member 24 disposed between the pair of transparent substrates 22, and a pair of transparent substrates 22. And a pair of polarizing plates 26 disposed on the outer surface of the transparent substrate 22 (that is, the front surface of the front transparent substrate 22 and the rear surface of the rear transparent substrate 22), and fixedly supported by the frame member 28 around the periphery. Has been.

  Each of the pair of transparent substrates 22 is composed of a glass substrate, and a transparent electrode and an alignment film (not shown) are formed on the inner surface of each transparent substrate 22. The pair of transparent substrates 22 are formed in a horizontally long rectangular shape with the optical axis Ax as the center.

  A horizontally long rectangular region surrounded by the frame member 28 in the two-dimensional spatial light modulator 20 is a control region 20A for controlling the degree of transmission of reflected light from the mirror member 36, and the mirror member 36 is included in the control region 20A. All the reflected light from is incident.

  The two-dimensional spatial light modulator 20 is fixedly supported by the holder 16 at the lower end of the frame member 28.

  FIG. 3 is a detailed view of part III in FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the control region 20A of the two-dimensional spatial light modulator 20 is composed of a plurality of light control elements 20s arranged in a vertical and horizontal lattice pattern. Each light control element 20s is formed in a submicron size.

  The plurality of light control elements 20s includes a first light control element group G1 for forming a low beam light distribution pattern, a second light control element group G2 for forming a high beam light distribution pattern, and the first light control element group G1. It consists of a third light control element group G3 located at the boundary portion B between the light control element group G1 and the second light control element group G2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first light control element group G1 is located above the second light control element group G2, and its lower edge extends horizontally from the optical axis Ax to the right in the front view of the lamp. At the same time, it extends slightly diagonally downward to the left from the optical axis Ax and then extends horizontally in the left direction.

  The light control elements 20s constituting the first light control element group G1 are always maintained in the light transmission mode, and allow the reflected light from the mirror member 36 to pass therethrough.

  On the other hand, the light control element 20s constituting the second light control element group G2 is in the light blocking mode when the low beam is turned on to block the reflected light from the mirror member 36 (the optical path of the reflected light blocked in FIG. 1 is indicated by a two-dot chain line). On the other hand, when the high beam is turned on, the light transmission mode is set to allow the reflected light from the mirror member 36 to be transmitted.

  When the low beam is turned on, a cut-off line (bright / dark boundary line) of the low beam light distribution pattern is formed by the lower edge of the first light control element group G1 (or the upper edge of the second light control element group G2). ing.

  The third light control element group G3 located at the boundary portion B between the first light control element group G1 and the second light control element group G2 extends in a strip shape along the lower edge of the first light control element group G1. . The light control elements 20s constituting the third light control element group G3 are in the light-transmitting mode when the high beam is turned on and allow the reflected light from the mirror member 36 to be transmitted. The gradation control mode is intermediate to the mode, and transmission of reflected light from the mirror member 36 is allowed in stages (this will be described later).

  The light source 32 and the two-dimensional spatial light modulator 20 are connected to a control device 50, and this control device 50 is connected to a light switch 52 and a beam changeover switch 54.

  Then, the control device 50 turns on and off the light source 32 by an input from the light switch 52, and the light blocking mode of the light control elements 20s constituting the second light control element group G2 by an input from the beam changeover switch 54. Switching control to the light transmission mode and gradation control of the light control element 20s constituting the third light control element group G3 are performed.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing details of gradation control by the control device 50 performed at the time of low beam lighting together with a conventional example.

  FIG. 4A1 is a diagram showing the transmitted light amount of the reflected light from the mirror member 36 in the control region 20A of the two-dimensional spatial light modulator 20 at the position of the IV-IV line cross section of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4 (a1), in the light control element 20s constituting the first light control element group G1, the transmitted light amount of the reflected light from the mirror member 36 is maintained at the maximum value. On the other hand, in the light control element 20s constituting the second light control element group G2, the transmitted light amount of the reflected light from the mirror member 36 is maintained at the minimum value (zero). In the light control element 20s constituting the third light control element group G3, the mirror member 36 approaches the boundary position B1 with the first light control element group G1 from the boundary position B2 with the second light control element group G2. The transmitted light amount of the reflected light from is gradually increased.

  The curve C indicating the change in the amount of transmitted light is a smooth curve having an inflection point between the boundary position B1 and the boundary position B2 (for example, a sigmoid having an inflection point at the center position between the boundary position B1 and the boundary position B2). Curve etc.).

  On the other hand, FIG. 4 (b1) is a view similar to FIG. 4 (a1) showing the transmitted light amount of the reflected light from the mirror member in the control region of the conventional two-dimensional spatial light modulator.

  As shown in FIG. 4 (b1), in the conventional two-dimensional spatial light modulator, the control region is divided into the first light control element group G1 and the second light control element group G2. At the boundary position, the transmitted light amount of the reflected light from the mirror member 36 changes stepwise from the minimum value (zero) to the maximum value.

  For this reason, it is assumed that a light distribution pattern having a rectangular dark portion D as shown in FIG. 4B2 is formed by the light emitted from the projection lens after passing through the control region of the conventional two-dimensional spatial light modulator. In the vicinity of both ends of the rectangular dark portion D, a red color blur Br and a blue color blur Bb due to the chromatic aberration of the projection lens are generated.

  On the other hand, in the two-dimensional spatial light modulator 20 of the present embodiment, the presence of the third light control element group G3 located at the boundary portion B between the first light control element group G1 and the second light control element group G2. As a result, the transmitted light amount of the reflected light from the mirror member 36 gradually changes along the curve C. Therefore, the light emitted from the projection lens 12 after passing through the control region 20A of the two-dimensional spatial light modulator 20 is the first light. The light reaching the projection lens 12 from the light control element 20s located closer to the boundary position B1 in the control element group G1 and the light reaching the projection lens 12 from the light control element 20s constituting the third light control element group G3 are partial. Will overlap.

  Therefore, if a light distribution pattern having a rectangular dark portion D as shown in FIG. 4A2 is formed by the light emitted from the projection lens 12, for example, a red color is formed in the vicinity of both end edges of the rectangular dark portion D. As a result, white blurring Bn occurs instead of blurring in the blue color.

  Next, the gradation control performed by the control device 50 when the low beam is turned on (that is, the transmitted light amount of the reflected light from the mirror member 36 in the light control element 20s constituting the third light control element group G3 substantially follows the curve C). A specific example of the control performed for gradual change will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing two specific examples of gradation control by the control device 50.

  FIGS. 5A1 to 5A3 are diagrams illustrating an example in which gradation control is performed temporally by PWM control.

  In this gradation control, among the plurality of light control elements 20s constituting the third light control element group G3, the light control element 20s located near the boundary position B2 is as shown in FIG. 5 (a1). For the light control element 20s positioned near the boundary position B1, the pulse width is increased as shown in FIG. 5 (a3), and the boundary position B1 and the boundary position are reduced. For the light control element 20s located at the center with respect to B2, by setting the pulse width to an intermediate width as shown in FIG. It is designed to gradually change along the line.

  FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating an example in which gradation control is performed spatially by changing the ratio of the light control element 20s in the translucent mode.

  In this gradation control, in the third light control element group G3, as the boundary position B2 approaches the boundary position B1, the number of light control elements 20s in the light-shielding mode is gradually decreased, and the light control elements 20s in the light transmission mode are set. By gradually increasing the number of light beams, the amount of transmitted light reflected from the mirror member 36 is gradually changed substantially along the curve C.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a low beam light distribution pattern PL formed on a virtual vertical screen disposed at a position 25 m ahead of the vehicle by light emitted from the vehicle lamp 10.

  This low beam light distribution pattern PL is a left light distribution pattern for low beam, and has upper and lower cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 at its upper edge. The cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 extend in the horizontal direction at the left and right steps with the VV line passing through the HV, which is a vanishing point in the front direction of the lamp, in the vertical direction, and on the right side of the VV line. The opposite lane side portion is formed as a lower cut-off line CL1, and the own lane side portion on the left side of the VV line is formed as an upper cut-off line CL2 that rises from the lower cut-off line CL1 through an inclined portion. Is formed.

  In this low beam distribution pattern PL, the elbow point E, which is the intersection of the lower cut-off line CL1 and the VV line, is located about 0.5 to 0.6 ° below HV. In the low beam light distribution pattern PL, a region near the elbow point E is formed as a high luminous intensity region HZ.

  In the low-beam light distribution pattern PL, the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 are formed as light and dark boundary lines that are somewhat blurred. At that time, white blur Bn (indicated by a broken line in FIG. 7) is generated due to light protruding upward from the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 instead of blurring of red and blue colors.

  In addition, the light distribution pattern which shows an external shape with a dashed-two dotted line in FIG. 7 is the light distribution pattern PH for high beams.

  Next, the effect of this embodiment is demonstrated.

  In the vehicular illumination system 100 according to the present embodiment, the low beam is emitted by irradiating the light emitted from the light source unit 14 of the vehicular lamp 10 forward through the two-dimensional spatial light modulator 20 and the projection lens 12. The light distribution pattern PL (required light distribution pattern) can be formed.

  At that time, as a plurality of light control elements 20s constituting the two-dimensional spatial light modulator 20, a first light control element group G1 for forming a low beam light distribution pattern PL, and cut-off lines CL1, CL2 (bright / dark boundary lines) ) And a second light control element group G2 for forming a dark portion adjacent to the light distribution pattern for low beam PL, but a plurality of light control elements 20s (that is, third elements) positioned at the boundary portion B thereof. For the light control element 20s) constituting the light control element group G3, the amount of light reaching the projection lens 12 from the light control element 20s reaches the projection lens 12 from the light control element 20s constituting the first light control element group G1. Gradation control that gradually changes between the amount of light that reaches the projection lens 12 from the light control element 20s that constitutes the second light control element group G2 is performed by the control device 50. Because drunk and the like are performed, it is possible to obtain the following effects.

  That is, the projection lens 12 partially overlaps the light reaching from the light control element G1 located at the lower end of the first light control element group G1 and the light reaching from the light control element G1 located at the boundary portion B. Therefore, the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 are formed in a state in which the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 are blurred in white by reducing the bleeding of red and blue colors generated in the vicinity of the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2. it can. As a result, the color blur that occurs near the cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 due to the chromatic aberration of the projection lens 12 can be made inconspicuous.

  Therefore, in order to reduce the color blur that occurs in the vicinity of the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2, as in the past, the projection lens 12 is provided with fine irregularities, or the projection lens 12 is composed of a plurality of lenses. Therefore, the vehicular lamp 10 can be configured at low cost.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the vehicle illumination system 100 including the projector-type vehicle lamp 10 having the two-dimensional spatial light modulator 20 is generated in the vicinity of the cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 with an inexpensive configuration. You can make the color blur less noticeable.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, as the gradation control by the control device 50, the amount of light reaching the projection lens 12 from the light control element 20s located at the boundary portion B is substantially along a smooth curve C having an inflection point in the middle. Therefore, the light reaching the projection lens 12 from the light control element G1 located at the lower end of the first light control element group G1 and the light control element G1 located at the boundary portion B are used. Light that has reached the projection lens 12 can be efficiently overlapped. As a result, the color blur that occurs near the cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 can be made less noticeable.

  In the present embodiment, the light source unit 14 includes a reflector 34 and a mirror member 36 (optical member) configured to emit a light beam having a bright central portion by controlling the light source 32 and light from the light source 32. Therefore, the low beam light distribution pattern PL can be easily formed as a light distribution pattern with a bright central region.

  In the above embodiment, the light source unit 14 has a configuration in which the light from the light source 32 reflected upward by the reflector 34 is regularly reflected by the mirror member 36 and reaches the two-dimensional spatial light modulator 20. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the light from the light source 32 arranged in the position is reflected forward by the reflector 34 and directly reaches the two-dimensional spatial light modulator 20.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the left light distribution pattern for low beam distribution PL is formed has been described. However, the same configuration as that of the above embodiment is also provided when the right light distribution pattern for low beam distribution PL is formed. By adopting, it is possible to obtain the same operational effects as the above embodiment.

  Next, a modification of the above embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing a vehicular lighting system 200 according to this modification.

  As shown in the figure, the basic configuration of the vehicular lighting system 200 is the same as that of the vehicular lighting system 100 according to the above embodiment, but a part of the configuration of the vehicular lamp 110 is included in the above embodiment. This is different from the vehicular lamp 10.

  That is, the vehicular lamp 110 according to the present modification is also configured as a projector-type lamp unit, but is configured as a direct-type lamp unit including the light source 132 and the base member 138 that supports the light source unit 114 as the light source unit 114. Has been.

  The light source 132 is a white light emitting diode having a horizontally-long rectangular light emitting surface, like the light source 32 of the above embodiment, and is fixedly supported by the base member 138 with the light emitting surface facing forward on the optical axis Ax. ing. The base member 138 is fixedly supported by the holder 116.

  Further, in the vehicular lamp 110 according to this modification, a plurality of light control elements constituting the control region 120A of the two-dimensional spatial light modulator 120 form a low beam light distribution pattern as in the above embodiment. A first light control element group G1 for forming a second light control element group G2 for forming a high-beam light distribution pattern, and a third light control element group G3 located at a boundary portion B thereof. However, the vehicular lamp 10 according to the above-described embodiment is that the peripheral region of the first and second light control element groups G1 and G2 is configured as a fourth light control element group G4 that is always maintained in the light shielding mode. Is different.

  That is, in this modification, the direct light from the light source 132 reaches the entire control region 120A of the two-dimensional spatial light modulator 120, but due to the presence of the fourth light control element group G4, the low beam distribution is achieved. The outer shape of the light pattern and the high beam distribution pattern is defined.

  Also in this modification, the light source 132 is turned on and off by the control device 50, the switching control between the light blocking mode and the light transmitting mode of the light control elements constituting the second light control element group G2, and the third light control. The gradation control of the light control elements constituting the element group G3 is performed.

  Even when the configuration of the present modification is employed, substantially the same operational effects as in the case of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  In the above modification, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the control device 50 performs control to set the light transmittance in the first light control element group G1 to a different value for each region instead of being uniform in the entire region. For example, the light transmission degree is increased in the area near the optical axis Ax, while the light transmission degree is reduced in the area away from the optical axis Ax, so that the light distribution pattern for the low beam is relatively bright in the central area. Can be formed.

  In addition, the numerical value shown as a specification in the said embodiment and its modification is only an example, and of course, you may set these to a different value suitably.

  The invention of the present application is not limited to the configuration described in the above-described embodiment and its modifications, and a configuration with various other changes can be adopted.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,110 Vehicle lamp 12 Projection lens 14,114 Light source unit 16,116 Holder 20,120 Two-dimensional spatial light modulator 20A, 120A Control area 20s Light control element 22 Transparent substrate 24 Liquid crystal member 26 Polarizing plate 28 Frame member 32, 132 Light source 34 Reflector (optical member)
34a Reflecting surface 36 Mirror member (optical member)
38, 138 Base member 50 Control device 52 Light switch 54 Beam changeover switch 100, 200 Vehicle lighting system Ax Optical axis B Boundary portion B1, B2 Boundary position Bn White blur Bb Blue color blur Br Red color blur C curve CL1 Lower cut-off line (bright / dark border)
CL2 Upper cut-off line (bright / dark border)
D rectangular dark portion E elbow point F rear focal point G1 first light control element group G2 second light control element group G3 third light control element group G4 fourth light control element group HZ high light intensity region PH high beam light distribution pattern PL Low beam light distribution pattern (required light distribution pattern)

Claims (3)

A projection lens; a light source unit that emits light toward the projection lens; and a two-dimensional spatial light modulator disposed between the light source unit and the projection lens. A vehicular lamp configured to form a required light distribution pattern having a bright and dark boundary line by irradiating the lamp front through the two-dimensional spatial light modulator and the projection lens, and the two-dimensional spatial light In a vehicle lighting system comprising a control device for controlling a modulator,
The two-dimensional spatial light modulator includes a first light control element group for forming the light distribution pattern as a plurality of light control elements constituting the two-dimensional spatial light modulator, and the light / dark boundary line. A second light control element group for forming a dark portion adjacent to the light distribution pattern,
For the plurality of light control elements located at the boundary between the first light control element group and the second light control element group, the control device determines the amount of light reaching the projection lens from the light control element. The level is gradually changed between the amount of light reaching the projection lens from the light control element constituting one light control element group and the amount of light reaching the projection lens from the light control element constituting the second light control element group. It is comprised so that adjustment control may be performed, The vehicle lighting system characterized by the above-mentioned.   The control device performs control for changing the amount of light reaching the projection lens from a plurality of light control elements located at the boundary portion substantially along a smooth curve having an inflection point in the middle as the gradation control. The vehicular lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicular lighting system is configured to perform.   The light source unit includes a light source and an optical member configured to emit a light beam having a bright central portion by controlling light from the light source. The vehicle lighting system described.

Images