The present invention relates to a lamp unit.
Vehicle lamp units adapted to irradiate a scenery in front of a vehicle with a predetermined light distribution pattern by selectively reflecting light output from a light source, using a reflecting device provided on its surface with a plurality of reflective elements arranged in a matrix to (patent document 1). A large number of reflective elements are arranged in a tiltable manner in the reflective device. It is possible to switch the position of the large number of reflective elements between the first position and the second position. The reflecting device is configured to form a light distribution pattern for illuminating the road surface, etc. by appropriately changing the position of each reflective element to the first position at which the direction of reflection of the light from the light source contributes to the formation of a light distribution pattern or to the second position at which the direction of reflection does not contribute to the formation of a light distribution pattern.
[Patent Literature] JP2016-110760
The aforementioned lamp unit is configured to form a desired light distribution pattern in a space in front of the vehicle by selectively reflecting light output from a single light source. Therefore, the elements of the lamp unit are arranged to adapt to a single light source. Accordingly, the elements of the lamp unit are not optimally arranged in the case a plurality of light sources are employed.
The present invention addresses the above-described issue, and an illustrative purpose thereof is to provide a novel lamp unit capable of using light output from a plurality of irradiating optical systems efficiently.
A lamp unit according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a projective optical system; a light deflector that is provided behind the projective optical system and selectively reflects incident light toward the projective optical system; a first irradiating optical system that irradiates a reflecting part of the light deflector with first light; and a second irradiating optical system that irradiates the reflecting part of the light deflector with second light. The first irradiating optical system and the second irradiating optical system are arranged such that a direction of irradiation by the first light and a direction of irradiation by the second light are not parallel when a front of the reflecting part is viewed.
Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings that are meant to be exemplary, not limiting, and wherein like elements are numbered alike in several figures, in which:
Hereinafter, the invention will be described based on preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Identical or like constituting elements, members, processes shown in the drawings are represented by identical symbols and a duplicate description will be omitted. The embodiments do not intend to limit the scope of the invention but exemplify the invention. Not all of the features and the combinations thereof described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention.
A lamp unit according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a projective optical system; a light deflector that is provided behind the projective optical system and selectively reflects incident light toward the projective optical system; a first irradiating optical system that irradiates a reflecting part of the light deflector with first light; and a second irradiating optical system that irradiates the reflecting part of the light deflector with second light. The first irradiating optical system and the second irradiating optical system are arranged such that a direction of irradiation by the first light and a direction of irradiation by the second light are not parallel when a front of the reflecting part is viewed.
This inhibits the first light that is not reflected toward the projective optical system when the first light radiated by the first irradiating optical system is reflected by the light deflector from interfering with the second irradiating optical system. Similarly, the second light that is not reflected toward the projective optical system when the second light radiated by the second irradiating optical system is reflected by the light deflector is inhibited from interfering with the first irradiating optical system. This increases the flexibility of arrangement and configuration of the irradiating optical systems and makes it possible to use more of the light radiated by the respective irradiating optical systems in the projective optical system.
The light deflector may be configured such that at least a partial region of the reflecting part is adapted to be switched, around a pivot shaft, between i) a first reflecting position that reflects light radiated by the first irradiating optical system or the second irradiating optical system toward the projective optical system such that reflected light is effectively used as part of a light distribution pattern and ii) a second reflecting position that reflects light radiated by the first irradiating optical system or the second irradiating optical system such that reflected light is not effectively used, the first irradiating optical system may be provided on one side of the pivot shaft when a front of the reflecting part is viewed, and the second irradiating optical system may be provided on the other side of the pivot shaft when the front of the reflecting part is viewed. Since the first irradiating optical system and the second irradiating optical system can be provided on both sides of the light deflector, the incidence direction of the light traveling toward the reflecting part of the light deflector can be properly set without considering the interference between the irradiating optical systems.
The first irradiating optical system may be arranged to irradiate the reflecting part diagonally with the first light when the front of the reflecting part is viewed, and the second irradiating optical system may be arranged to irradiate the reflecting part diagonally with the second light when the front of the reflecting part is viewed. This can reduce the width of the lamp unit.
The light deflector may include a micromirror array. This allows light distribution patterns of various shapes to be formed promptly and accurately.
The projective optical system may include a projection lens. The light deflector may be configured such that the first light and the second light reflected at the second reflecting position are not incident on the projection lens. This inhibits occurrence of stray light.
Optional combinations of the aforementioned constituting elements, and implementations of the invention in the form of methods, apparatuses, and systems may also be practiced as additional modes of the present invention.
[Lamp Unit]
The lamp unit 10 according to the embodiment includes a projective optical system 12, a light deflector 100 provided behind the projective optical system 12 and on a light axis Ax and selectively reflecting incident light to the projective optical system 12, and a first irradiating optical system 16 and a second irradiating optical system 17 for irradiating a reflecting part 100a of the light deflector 100 with the light. The projective optical system 12 includes a first projection lens 18a and a second projection lens 18b. The irradiating optical system 16 includes a light source 20 and a reflector 22. The irradiating optical system 17 includes a light source 24 and a reflector 26.
The lamp unit 10 according to the embodiment is main used as a vehicle lamp (e.g., vehicle head lamp). The application is not limited to this, and the embodiment is also applicable to lamps in illuminating devices and mobile objects (airplanes, rail cars).
A semiconductor light emitting device such as a light emitting diode (LED), a laser diode (LD), and an electroluminescence (EL) device, etc., an electric bulb, an incandescent lamp (halogen lamp), a discharge lamp, or the like may be used as the light source 20 and the light source 24. A light condensing member may be provided between the light source and the reflector. The light condensing member is configured to guide much of the light output from the light source to the reflecting surface of the reflector. For example, a convex lens, a solid shell-shaped light guide, a reflecting mirror having a reflecting inner surface, etc. is used. More specifically, the light condensing member may be a compound parabolic concentrator. In the case most of the light output from the light source can be guided to the reflecting surface of the reflector, the light condensing member need not be used. For example, the light source is mounted at a predetermined position of a heat sink made of a metal, a ceramic, etc.
The light deflector 100 is provided on the light axis X of the projective optical system 12 and is configured to selectively reflect the light output from the light source 20 and the light source 24 to the projective optical system 12. For example, the light deflector 100 is an arrangement of a plurality of micromirrors in an array (matrix) such as a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) and a digital mirror device (DMD). By controlling the angle of the reflecting surface of each of the plurality of these micromirrors, the direction of reflection of the light output from the light source 20 and the light source 24 can be selectively changed. In other words, the light deflector 100 can reflect a portion of the light output from the light source 20 and the light source 24 toward the projective optical system 12 and reflect the other portion of the light in a direction in which the light is not effectively used. The direction in which the light is not effectively used can be understood as a direction in which the impact of reflected light is small (e.g., the direction in which the reflected light contributes little to the formation of a desired light distribution pattern) or the direction in which the reflected light travels toward a light absorbing member (light shielding member).
The micromirror array of the light deflector 100 described later is arranged in the neighborhood of the composite focal point of the first projection lens 18a and the second projection lens 18b of the projective optical system 12 according to the embodiment. The projective optical system 12 may include one optical member such as a lens or three or more optical members. The optical member included in the projective optical system is not limited to a lens and may be a reflecting member.
The first irradiating optical system 16 according to the embodiment includes a reflector 22 that reflects the light output from the light source 20 toward the light deflector 100. The reflector 22 is configured to focus the reflected light on the reflecting part 100a of the light deflector 100. This allows the light output from the light source 20 to travel toward the reflecting part 100a of the light deflector 100 efficiently.
Similarly, the second irradiating optical system 17 according to the embodiment includes a reflector 26 that reflects the light output from the light source 24 toward the light deflector 100. The reflector 26 is configured to focus the reflected light toward the reflecting part 100a of the light deflector 100. This allows the light output from the light source 24 to travel toward the reflecting part 100a of the light deflector 100 efficiently.
A reflecting surface 22a of the reflector 22 and a reflecting surface 26a of the reflector 26 have a larger area than the reflecting part 100a of the light deflector 100. This can reduce the size of the light deflector 100. The lamp unit 10 configured as described above can be used in a variable light distribution headlamp that can be turned on or off in part.
[Light Deflector]
As shown in
Each mirror element 102 of the micromirror array 104 can be switched between a reflecting position P1 (the position indicated by the solid line shown in
As shown in
A desired projected image, a desired reflected image, and the first light distribution pattern can be obtained by controlling the reflecting position of each mirror element 102 to selectively change the direction of reflection of the light output from the light source 20.
The lamp unit 10 according to the embodiment is provided with the second irradiating optical system 17 in addition to the first irradiating optical system 16.
As shown in
A desired projected image, a desired reflected image, and the second light distribution pattern can be obtained by controlling the reflecting position of each mirror element 102 to selectively change the direction of reflection of the light output from the light source 24.
Thus, the light deflector 100 according to the embodiment is configured such that at least some of the mirror elements 102 of the reflecting part 100a can be switched, around a pivot shaft 102b, between i) the reflecting position P1 or the reflecting position P2 that are the first reflecting position that reflects the light radiated by the irradiating optical system 16 or the irradiating optical system 17 toward the projective optical system 12 such that the reflected light is effectively used as part of a desired light distribution pattern and ii) the reflecting position P2 or the reflecting position P1 that are the second reflecting position that reflects the light radiated by the irradiating optical system 16 or the irradiating optical system 17 such that the reflected light is not effectively used.
By using the light deflector 100 in which the mirror elements 102 as described above are arranged in a matrix, a plurality of functions characterized by different light distribution patterns can be realized in the single lamp unit 10. For example, as shown in
In the case of a lamp unit in which the direction of reflection and the direction of transmittance of a plurality of irradiating optical systems are controlled by a single light deflector, on the other hand, stray light may be produced if another irradiating optical system is located in a region traveled by the reflected light R2 or the reflected light R2′ of the respective irradiating optical systems. It is therefore desired to arrange each irradiating optical system in a region that does not overlap (interfere with) a region traveled by the reflected light R2 or the reflected light R2′ as much as possible.
By arranging the first irradiating optical system 16 and the second irradiating optical system 17 such that the direction of irradiation by the first light radiated by the first irradiating optical system 16 is opposite (parallel) to the direction of irradiation by the second light radiated by the second irradiating optical system 17 when the front of the reflecting part 100a is viewed, however, the second irradiating optical system 17 will be located in the region of the reflected light R2 and the first irradiating optical system 16 will be located in the region of the reflected light R2′, as shown in
It is therefore necessary to adjust the direction or spread of the light radiated by the first irradiating optical system 16 and the second irradiating optical system 17 to prevent such a situation. More specifically, it is necessary to reduce the angular spread of the incident light Lin and the incident light Lin′ to a certain degree or shift the regions in which the reflected light R1 and the reflected light R1′ are incident on the first projection lens 18a.
As shown in
In this background, we have arranged the first irradiating optical system 16 and the second irradiating optical system 17 such that the direction of irradiation by the incident light Lin and the direction of irradiation by the incident light Lin′ are not parallel when the front of the reflecting part 100a is viewed.
As shown in
As shown in
In the lamp unit 10 according to the embodiment, the angle of incidence of the center of the incident light Lin and the incident light Lin′ on the reflecting part 100a (front view) is in the range of 30-40° below (or above) the horizontal plane. Further, the angle of incidence of the center of the incident light Lin and the incident light Lin′ on the reflecting part 100a (top view) is in the range of 30-40° with respect to the plane that includes the surface of the reflecting part 100a. This can reduce the width of the lamp unit 10.
As described above, the first irradiating optical system 16 and the second irradiating optical system 17 of the lamp unit 10 according to the embodiment can be provided separately on both sides of the light deflector 100. Accordingly, the incidence direction of the light traveling toward the reflecting part 100a of the light deflector 100 can be properly set without considering the interference between the irradiating optical systems.
This inhibits the reflected light R2 that is not reflected toward the projective optical system 12 when the incident light Lin radiated by the first irradiating optical system 16 is reflected by the light deflector 100 from interfering with the second irradiating optical system 17. Similarly, the reflected light R2′ that is not reflected toward the projective optical system 12 when the incident light Lin′ radiated by the second irradiating optical system 17 is reflected by the light deflector 100 is inhibited from interfering with the first irradiating optical system 16. This increases the flexibility of arrangement and configuration of the irradiating optical systems and makes it possible to use more of the light radiated by the respective irradiating optical systems in the projective optical system.
Further, the light deflector 100 is configured such that the reflected light R2 produced by the reflection of the incident light Lin at the reflecting position P2 and the reflected light R2′ produced by the reflection of the incident light Lin′ at the reflecting position P1 are not incident on the projection lens 18a. This inhibits occurrence of stray light.
A description is given above of a case in which two irradiating optical systems (light sources) are provided. Alternatively, three or more irradiating optical systems may be provided.
The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those described above and appropriate combinations or replacements of the features of the embodiments are also encompassed by the present invention. The embodiments may be modified by way of combinations, rearranging of the processing sequence, design changes, etc., based on the knowledge of a skilled person, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
JP2018-046662 | Mar 2018 | JP | national |
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-046662, filed on Mar. 14, 2018 and International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2019/009780, filed on Mar. 11, 2019, the entire content of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
20170210278 | Matsuno | Jul 2017 | A1 |
20170282785 | Albou et al. | Oct 2017 | A1 |
20180156414 | Hoshino | Jun 2018 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2014216087 | Nov 2014 | JP |
2015174551 | Oct 2015 | JP |
2016110760 | Jun 2016 | JP |
2017204460 | Nov 2017 | JP |
2015033764 | Mar 2015 | WO |
2018021109 | Feb 2018 | WO |
Entry |
---|
International Search Report (PCT/ISA/210) dated May 28, 2019 issued by the Japan Patent Office in corresponding PCT Application No. PCT/JP2019/009780, with English translation (4 pages). |
Written Opinion (PCT/ISA/237) dated May 28, 2019 issued issued by the Japan Patent Office in corresponding PCT Application No. PCT/JP2019/009780, with English translation (13 pages). |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20200408378 A1 | Dec 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | PCT/JP2019/009780 | Mar 2019 | US |
Child | 17018093 | US |