a) is a view for explaining an operation in an excitation state and
a) is a sectional view illustrating a state brought before a deformation of a rubber washer,
Embodiments of an infrared light irradiating lamp for a vehicle according to the invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like items in the figures are shown with the same reference numbers.
In this application, a longitudinal direction of the vehicle is the direction in which a vehicle incorporating the infrared light irradiating lamp would travel, and front and forward denote a forward direction of travel of the vehicle, while behind and rear denote a backward direction of travel of the vehicle. A vertical direction is a direction perpendicular to a ground plane of the vehicle. A longitudinal direction of a filament is a direction in which the filament has the greatest length.
An infrared light irradiating lamp 100 for a vehicle according to the embodiment is used in a night forward visual field detecting system, for example, and is provided in a front portion of a vehicle to irradiate an infrared light onto a forward part of the vehicle. The night forward visual field detecting system is constituted by the infrared light irradiating lamp 100 for a vehicle shown in
Images of invisible distant pedestrians, obstacles, or lane marks which are photographed by the CCD camera are sent to the image processing analyzing apparatus. By carrying out an edge processing or a pattern recognition from the images, it is possible to easily recognize the pedestrians, the obstacles, and the lane marks.
The images of the pedestrians, the obstacles, and the lane marks can be given to a driver through the head up display (HUD), and can decide the features of the objects on a road (the pedestrians, the obstacles, and the lane marks) through a shape recognition, thereby giving a notice to the driver in a voice.
As shown in
Extensions 27a, 27b, 27c and 27e constituted by a division into a plurality of portions are provided in the lamp body 21. The extensions 27a, 27b, 27c and 27e form an opening 29 for causing the light source unit 25 to appear and cover a portion of the light source unit 25 which does not need to be exposed.
As shown in
The reflector 33 has a reflector reflecting plane 33a taking an almost elliptical spherical shape and serving to reflect a light emitted from the light source bulb 31 close to the optical axis Ax, and has a first focal point f1 and a second focal point f2 between the reflector 33 and the projection lens 37.
The light source unit 25 has such a structure that a filament 31a of the light source bulb 31 is positioned on the first focal point f1 of the reflector 33 and the second focal point f2 of the reflector 33 is positioned in the vicinity of a rear focal point of the convex lens 37 so that a light of the light source which is reflected by an effective reflecting plane subjected to an aluminum evaporation treatment in the reflector 33 is changed into an almost parallel light L1 through the convex lens 37 and is thus projected and distributed.
More specifically, a light distribution pattern created by the light source unit 25 is the same as that of a headlamp of a car for forming a main beam.
As shown in
A lens holding frame 39 formed of a metal and taking a shape of a circular ring is fixed to the front edge portion of the lens holder 35 with a screw 40, and the peripheral flange portion 37a of the convex lens 37 is fixed and held in an engaging state with the lens engaging portion 35a.
A coupling flange portion 41 of the lens holder 35 and a coupling flange portion 43 of the reflector 33 are bonded to each other by bonding means such as a screw 45.
The light source bulb 31 of the light source unit 25 is inserted and fixed into an attaching opening portion 47 of the reflector 33 from the side of the optical axis Ax as shown in
In the light source unit 25, consequently, the longitudinal direction of the filament 31a is almost orthogonal to the direction of the optical axis Ax and the filament 31a is disposed to be positioned on the first focal point f1. A removing ring 51 is fixed to the attaching opening portion 47 through a screw 49, and the removing ring 51 removably inserts and attaches the light source bulb 31 in a drip proof structure.
In the infrared light irradiating lamp 100 for a vehicle, as shown in
For example, in the conventional structure in which the light source bulb 9 is disposed on the optical axis as shown in
On the other hand, when the light source bulb 31 is inserted apart into the lower side of the optical axis Ax as in the embodiment, it is possible to maintain the larger reflector reflecting plane 33a which is continuous from a lower side of the optical axis Ax to an upper side thereof as compared with the case in which the reflector reflecting plane is vertically divided into two parts and is thus used. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the light reflected by the reflecting plane on the lower side from being wasted when the shade or a member such as a filter driving unit 55 which will be described below is present on the lower side of the optical axis Ax, for example. Thus, it is possible to increase the utilization efficiency of the light. In other words, it is possible to maintain an effective continuous reflecting plane to be large.
The filter driving unit 55 having a movable shaft 53 to be driven in an axial direction which is extended vertically and a bracket 57 are provided between the convex lens 37 and the light source bulb 31.
The bracket 57 is formed in such a manner that an infrared light transmitting filter 59 is held on a tip portion 57a, the movable shaft 53 is linked to a base end 57b on an opposite side of the tip portion 57a with a rotating shaft 61 interposed therebetween and a distance from the rotating shaft 61 to the base end 57b is shorter than a distance from the rotating shaft 61 to the tip portion 57a.
Furthermore, the bracket 57 includes a frame-shaped holder portion 63 for accommodating the infrared light transmitting filter 59, and a clip 65 for interposing the infrared light transmitting filter 59 engaged and accommodated in the holder portion 63 between a surface and a back face so as not to slip from the holder portion 63.
When the infrared light transmitting filter 59 is put in the holder portion 63 and the clip 65 is engaged with the holder portion 63, therefore, the infrared light transmitting filter 59 is held in the clip 65 simultaneously with the engagement of the clip 65 with the holder portion 63. With a simple structure and an easy attaching work, consequently, the infrared light transmitting filter 59 can be attached to the bracket 57 reliably and strongly.
The infrared light transmitting filter 59 is obtained by depositing, on a glass plate, an infrared light transmitting film for reflecting a visible light component and transmitting an infrared light component. In the light source unit 25 according to the embodiment, by disposing the infrared light transmitting film in the vicinity of the second focal point f2 of the reflector 33 in the proximity of a light collecting portion, it is possible to reduce a range in which the infrared light transmitting film is to be formed.
The movable shaft 53 is absorbed and driven by a magnetic force in a downward direction of
A base member 71 for inserting the movable shaft 53 is fixed to an upper part of the yoke 67 with a screw 73. A through hole 71a for protruding the movable shaft 53 therethrough is provided on the base member 71. A bearing portion 75 for causing the rotating shaft 61 to penetrate therethrough and supporting the rotating shaft 61 is erected in the vicinity of the through hole 71a.
A collar 77a, the base end 57b, a collar 77b, an outside spring 79 and an E ring 81 are sequentially provided on the tip of the rotating shaft 61 penetrating through the bearing portion 75. Consequently, the bracket 57 is supported to be rockable around the rotating shaft 61.
A cam bearing 83 is attached to the base end 57b of the bracket 57 and is slidably coupled (linked) to a step portion 53a of the movable shaft 53. The outside spring 79 energizes the bracket 57 in a clockwise direction of
On the other hand, when the magnet coil is ON, that is, the magnet coil 69 is excited, the movable shaft 53 is moved downward by a magnetic force of the magnet coil 69 so that the cam bearing 83 is pushed downward by the step portion 53a. Consequently, the bracket 57 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction against the energizing force of the outside spring 79 as shown in
In a filter driving unit 55 according to one or more embodiments, internal energizing means is not provided on the movable shaft 53 of the magnet coil 69, and the movable shaft 53 and the bracket 57 are energized and disposed in one direction by a clockwise moment of the bracket 57, which is generated by the outside spring 79.
Consequently, a clearance between members is put into one side and a looseness between the members is generated with difficulty by a small number of components. Corresponding to the fact that the energizing means is not built in, moreover, it is also possible to reduce a size and a weight of the magnet coil 69.
The infrared light transmitting filter 59 held in the bracket 57 can be displaced between a transmitting position in which a light reflected by the reflector 33 is intercepted and a retreating position in which the reflected light is not intercepted between the light source bulb 31 and the second focal point f2 by a vertical operation of the movable shaft 53.
If the bracket 57 is disposed in the position in which the light reflected by the reflector 33 is intercepted, the light emitted from the light source bulb 31 is transmitted through the infrared light transmitting filter 59 and can be used as an infrared light irradiating lamp. On the other hand, if the bracket 57 is disposed in the position in which the light reflected by the reflector 33 is not intercepted, the light emitted from the light source bulb 31 is directly irradiated as a visible light and can be used as a normal headlight.
In other words, according to the infrared light irradiating lamp 100 for a vehicle according to the embodiment, it is possible to cause one lamp to function as two different lamps, that is, an infrared light irradiating lamp and a normal headlight.
By transversely inserting the light source bulb 31, moreover, it is possible to maintain a larger space between the convex lens 37 and the light source bulb 31 as compared with the longitudinal insertion along the optical axis Ax. Therefore, it is possible to utilize the space as a movable space of the infrared light transmitting filter 59.
Moreover, the filter driving unit 55 having the movable shaft 53 to be driven in a vertical direction which is orthogonal to the optical axis Ax is provided between the light source bulb 31 and the convex lens 37, and furthermore, the movable shaft 53 rotates the infrared light transmitting filter 59 through the bracket 57. Therefore, the filter driving unit 55 can greatly move the infrared light transmitting filter 59 in a small joining portion housing space by utilizing the principles of a lever and can displace the infrared light transmitting filter 59 between the transmitting position and the retreating position.
Furthermore, the light source unit 25 according to the embodiment includes a shade 91 provided with an opening portion 91a for causing a part of the light reflected by the reflector 33 to pass therethrough as shown in
The infrared light transmitting filter 59 is displaced in order to intercept the reflected light passing through the opening portion 91a between the shade 91 and the light source bulb 31.
More specifically, the infrared light transmitting filter 59 is displaced on the light source bulb 31 side of the shade 91. Therefore, the infrared light transmitting filter 59 and the vicinal members are covered with the shade 91, and the external appearances of the infrared light transmitting filter 69, the filter driving unit 55 and the bracket 57 cannot be seen from the outside of the lamp (the outside of the convex lens 37). Consequently, the appearance can be enhanced.
As shown in
A hollow rubber washer 97 is provided coaxially with the movable shaft 53 between the plate 93 and the abutting surface 95.
a) is sectional views illustrating a state brought before a deformation of the rubber washer,
The rubber washer 97 has a pair of holes 97a and 97b in a central part and is formed to take a doughnut shape having an almost U-shaped section. Moreover, a plurality of (four in the embodiment) ribs 97c is extended in a radial direction over an upper surface of the rubber washer 97. Furthermore, a plurality of (four in the embodiment) projections 97d is provided at an equal interval along an opening edge of the hole 97a on an inner side of the opening edge.
When the magnet coil 69 is excited and the movable shaft 53 is moved in an axial direction so that the plate 93 tries to collide with the abutting surface 95, therefore, the rubber washer 97 is interposed between the plate 93 and the abutting surface 95 as shown in
When the excitation state of the magnet coil 69 is set continuously, the air is gradually released and gone from a gap maintained between the upper surface of the rubber washer 97 and the plate 93 through the rib 97c provided on the upper surface and a repulsive force of the rubber washer 97 is decreased so that a load of the magnet coil 69 is decreased. When the rubber washer 97 is broken as shown in
Moreover, the hollow rubber washer 97 is also provided coaxially with the movable shaft 53 between the base member 71 and the plate 93. When the magnetic force of the magnet coil 69 is dissipated, the movable shaft 53 is moved in an axial direction and the plate 93 tries to collide with the base member 71 as shown in
Furthermore, a movable space between the abutting surface 95 and the plate 93 is covered with the base member 71. Consequently, a sound is insulated from the movable space, the magnet coil 69 is turned ON/OFF and the movable shaft 53 is moved in the axial direction so that it is possible to relieve a leakage of the colliding sound generated when the plate 93 collides with the abutting surface 95 or the base member 71. Moreover, the base member 71 for supporting the rotating shaft 61 serves as a sound insulating member. Therefore, the number of components can be prevented from being increased.
In addition, a solenoid protecting plate 99 for intercepting a direct light emitted from the light source bulb 31 and the light reflected by the reflector 33 is formed integrally with the base member 71 as shown in
More specifically, the filter driving unit 55 is to be disposed close to an opening on the front surface of the reflector 33. When a temperature is excessively raised by a radiation from an outside in addition to the generation of heat of the magnet coil 69 itself, however, an insulating coat of a conductor is deteriorated so that an operational reliability is reduced. Therefore, it is possible to maintain the operational reliability of the magnet coil 69 with a simple structure without increasing the number of components by the solenoid protecting plate 99 provided integrally with the base member 71.
As shown in
Therefore, the infrared light transmitting filter 59 is disposed in the opening portion 91a of the shade 91 so that the light emitted from the light source bulb 31 is transmitted through the infrared light transmitting filter 59 and is emitted as a reddish infrared light. By mixing, into the infrared light, a white light which is emitted from the light source bulb 31 and is not transmitted through the infrared light transmitting filter 59 but the clearance 101, however, it is possible to reduce the convex lens 37 which becomes reddish and is visually observed in the irradiation of an infrared light.
More specifically, according to the infrared light irradiating lamp 100 for a vehicle according to the embodiment, it is possible to maintain a larger space between the second focal point f2 and the light source bulb 31 as compared with the longitudinal insertion along the optical axis Ax by transversely inserting the light source bulb 31 in such a manner that the longitudinal direction of the filament 31a is almost orthogonal to the direction of the optical axis Ax. Therefore, it is possible to utilize the space as a movable space of the infrared light transmitting filter 59.
Moreover, the filter driving unit 55 having the movable shaft 53 to be vertically driven is provided between the light source bulb 31 and the convex lens 37, and furthermore, the movable shaft 53 rotates the infrared light transmitting filter 59 through the bracket 57. Therefore, the filter driving unit 55 can greatly move the infrared light transmitting filter 59 in a small joining portion housing space by using the principles of a lever, thereby displacing the infrared light transmitting filter 59 between the transmitting position and the retreating position.
As compared with the conventional infrared light irradiating lamp, accordingly, it is possible to dispose the infrared light transmitting filter 59 more greatly apart from the convex lens in a rearward direction and to prevent a glare without increasing the overall length of the lamp body.
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2006-217483 | Aug 2006 | JP | national |