Drum-Type Movable Light Shielding Plate and Lighting Device Using the Same

Abstract

A lighting device can include a light shielding plate configured to impart a required or desired light distribution pattern by shielding light received directly from a light source and/or light reflected from a reflector. The light shielding plate can be configured to be movable between at least two predetermined positions so as to impart at least two light distribution patterns to the projected light. The movement of the light shielding plate can be achieved by rotation about a vertical rotary shaft.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics, features, and advantages of the disclosed subject matter will become clear from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a conventional exemplary lighting device configured as a headlight;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one exemplary embodiment of a lighting device made in accordance with principles of the presently disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away diagram showing another exemplary embodiment of a lighting device made in accordance with principles of the presently disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing still another exemplary embodiment of a lighting device made in accordance with principles of the presently disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a disassembled drum-type movable light shielding plate made in accordance with principles of the presently disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating still another exemplary embodiment of a lighting device made in accordance with principles of the presently disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the drum-type movable light shielding plate of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6, for providing a high-beam light distribution pattern;

FIG. 8 is a diagram for illustrating the arrangement of the drum-type movable light shielding plate of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6, for providing a low-beam light distribution pattern;

FIG. 9 is a graph showing a low-beam light distribution pattern and a high-beam light distribution pattern for the drum-type movable light shielding plate of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the function of the reflector for assisting the formation of the high-beam light distribution pattern by the drum-type movable light shielding plate of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6, for providing a high-beam light distribution pattern; and

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view illustrating still another exemplary embodiment of a lighting device made in accordance with principles of the presently disclosed subject matter.

Claims

1. A light shielding plate for imparting a desired light distribution pattern to projected light by shielding light traveling in an illumination direction and received from at least one of a light source directly and a reflector, the light shielding plate comprising: a vertical rotary shaft portion; anda light shielding portion, wherein the light shielding portion includes light shielding parts which are continuously formed, are arranged in a horizontal direction, and are configured to impart at least two light distribution patterns to the projected light, the light shielding portion configured to be movable about the vertical rotary shaft portion and between at least two predetermined positions so as to impart the at least two light distribution patterns to the projected light, andthe rotary shaft portion is located further in the illumination direction as compared to the light shielding portion.

2. The light shielding plate according to claim 1, wherein the light shielding portion includes a reflecting part configured to reflect light, which is blocked by the light shielding plate, into the illumination direction to be used to form the desired light distribution pattern.

3. The light shielding plate according to claim 1, further comprising: a projection lens which is integrally provided with the light shielding plate and movable with the light shielding plate, and wherein light with at least one of the at least two light distribution patterns is projected in an illumination direction of the projection lens by rotation of the light shielding plate.

4. A lighting device comprising: a light source;a reflector configured to reflect light from the light source in an illumination direction;a light shielding plate configured to impart a desired light distribution pattern with projected light by shielding light received from at least one of the light source directly and the reflector, the light shielding plate including, a vertical rotary shaft portion, anda light shielding portion, wherein the light shielding portion includes light shielding parts which are continuously formed and are arranged in a horizontal direction for imparting at least two light distribution patterns with the projected light, the light shielding portion being configured to be movable about the vertical rotary shaft portion between at least two predetermined positions so as to impart the at least two light distribution patterns with the projected light; anda projection lens, whereinthe rotary shaft portion is located further in the illumination direction as compared to the light shielding portion, and adjacent the projection lens.

5. The lighting device according to claim 4, wherein the light shielding portion includes a reflecting part configured to reflect light, which is blocked by the light shielding plate, in the illumination direction to be used to form the desired light distribution pattern.

6. The lighting device according to claim 4, wherein the projection lens and the light shielding plate are integrally provided and movable with respect to at least one of the light source and reflector, and wherein light with at least one of the at least two light distribution patterns is projected in the illumination direction by rotation of the light shielding plate.

7. A vehicle lighting device comprising: a light source;a reflector located behind the light source, and configured to reflect light from the light source in an illumination direction;a projection lens located in front of the light source, and configured to project light received at least one of from the light source directly and from the reflector in the illumination direction; anda light shielding plate configured to impart a desired light distribution pattern with the projected light by shielding the light received at least one of from the light source directly and from the reflector, the light shielding plate including, a vertical rotary shaft portion, anda light shielding portion, wherein the light shielding portion includes light shielding parts which are continuously formed and arranged in a horizontal direction for imparting at least two light distribution patterns with the projected light, the light shielding portion being configured to be movable about the vertical rotary shaft portion and between at least two predetermined positions so as to impart the at least two light distribution patterns with the projected light, andthe rotary shaft portion being located further in the illumination direction as compared to the light shielding portion, and adjacent the projection lens.

8. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 7, wherein the reflector is an ellipsoidal reflector having a first focus and a second focus, and the projection lens has a projection lens focus, the light source is located substantially at the first focus, andthe light shielding portion is located substantially at the second focus and the projection lens focus.

9. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 7, wherein the light shielding portion includes a reflecting part configured to reflect light, which is blocked by the light shielding plate, into the illumination direction so as to form the desired light distribution pattern.

10. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 7, wherein the projection lens and the light shielding plate are integrally provided and movable with respect to at least one of the light source and the reflector, and wherein light with at least one of the at least two light distribution patterns is projected in the illumination direction of the projection lens by rotation of the light shielding plate.

11. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 7, wherein the at least two light distribution patterns includes a first light distribution pattern and a second light distribution pattern that is different from the first light distribution pattern, and the light shielding parts includes a first light shielding part configured to impart the first light distribution pattern with the projected light, and a second light shielding part configured to impart the second light distribution pattern with the projected light.

12. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 11, wherein moving the light shielding portion about the vertical rotary shaft portion causes the first light shielding part to move away from a focus of the projection lens and the second light shielding part to move towards the focus of the projection lens.

13. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 7, further comprising: a second lens located below the projection lens.

14. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 7, further comprising: an auxiliary reflector located adjacent the projection lens in a horizontal direction.

15. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 7, wherein the light shielding plate includes an upper half part and a lower half part, and the lower half part includes a flat face and a step.

16. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 7, wherein the rotary shaft portion is located between the projection lens and the light shielding portion.

17. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 7, wherein the light shielding plate is movable with respect to the projection lens, and wherein light with at least one of the at least two light distribution patterns is projected in the illumination direction of the projection lens by rotation of the light shielding portion from a first of the at least two predetermined positions to a second of the at least two predetermined positions.