Patent Application
20150098236
The present invention relates to a headlight optical structure, and more particularly, to a headlight having a main reflective member and an additional reflector to guide the light tracks to be focused at a position close to the light source.
The conventional projector type headlight utilizes an oval reflection surface of the headlight to guide the light beams. The oval reflection surface has a first focal point and a second focal point. LEDs are located at the first focal point and the light beams are reflected by the oval reflection surface and focused at the second focal point, and then passes through the lens. The LEDs are inserted to the headlight in the direction the same as the light beams passing through the lens so that the headlight needs sufficient depth to accommodate the LEDs.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,093,966 discloses a “Vehicle Headlamp” as shown in
The light source 101 is located below the optical axis Ax, and a first additional reflector 103 is located between the light source 101 and the lens 20 so that the light beams generated from the light source 101 pass through the lens 20.
A second additional reflector 104 is installed in front of the light source 101 so as to reflect the light beams reflected from the first additional reflector 103, and the light beams are reflected toward the optical axis Ax.
Due to the installation of the light source 101, the light beams that go forward relative to the light source 101 cannot pass through the lens 20 via the rear reflector 102. In other words, the lamination is in-effective and the energy wastes. Therefore, by using the first additional reflector 103, cooperated with the second additional reflector 104 located at the front of the light source 101, the light beams that move toward the lens 20 will be reflected by the first additional reflector 103 and then reflected by the second additional reflector 104 or the rear reflector 102, so as to be effectively guided to go through the lens 20.
However, a portion of the light beams generated from the light source 101 of the conventional headlamp are directly reflected by the rear reflector 102 and then pass through the lens 20. The rest portion of the light beams moves toward and are reflected by the first additional reflector 103, and then reflected by the rear reflector 102. Because the optical surface of the rear reflector 102 is designed according to the position of the light source 101, the light beams reflected by the first additional reflector 103 and reaching to the rear reflector 102 do not meet the requirements of the optical design of the rear reflector 102. The tracks of the light beams that are directly reflected by the rear reflector 102 and the tracks of the light beams that are first reflected by the first additional reflector 103 have significant difference. The final luminous distribution pattern that is supposed to meet the regulations is affected. It is obvious that a lot of design concerns are involved when installing the first and second additional reflectors 103, 104. The problems caused by the two luminous distribution patterns also increase the time needed when designing the optical structure, and the manufacturing cost is increased.
The present invention intends to provide a headlight which improves the shortcomings mentioned above.
The present invention relates to a headlight and comprises a main reflective member having an oval reflective surface which has a first focal point and a second focal point. A light source is located at the first focal point of the main reflective member. At least one additional reflector is located on one side of the main reflective member, wherein the light source is located between the main reflective member and the additional reflector. The at least one additional reflector has a curved reflective surface which has a third focal point located close to the first focal point.
Preferably, the third focal point is located within an area of four times of a radius of the light source.
Preferably, the third focal point is located within an area of two times of a radius of the light source.
Preferably, the third focal point is located on a periphery of a radius of the light source.
Preferably, the curved reflective surface is a spherical surface.
Preferably, the curved reflective surface is a non-spherical surface.
Preferably, the headlight further comprises a base that accommodates the main reflective member and the light source. A lens is connected to the base and located on an optical axis of the light source.
Preferably, a shade is located between the main reflective member and the lens.
The present invention improves the shortcoming of the need of a deep headlight case. Besides, the conventional headlight have the first and second additional reflectors, and the optical surface of the rear reflector is designed according to the position of the light source, so that the light beams reflected by the first additional reflector or the rear reflector have different tracks which affect the required luminous distribution pattern. Furthermore, the need of the first and second additional reflectors includes the manufacturing cost.
Compared with the conventional headlight, the present invention comprises the main reflective member and the additional reflector so as to guide the light beams to be reflected by the additional reflector and are focused at a position close to the light source. In other words, the light beams reflected by the additional reflector are focused at the periphery of the light source. The tracks of the light beams are close to that of the light beams directly reflected by the main reflective member. Therefore, the depth of the headlight case can be shortened and the time for designing the optical design is reduced.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
Referring to
An additional reflector 3 is located on one side of the main reflective member 1 wherein the light source 2 is located between the main reflective member 1 and the additional reflector 3. The additional reflector 3 has a curved reflective surface 31 which is a non-spherical surface has a third focal point F3 which is located close to the first focal point F1.
A base 4 which has the main reflective member 1 formed thereto and the light source 2 is located in the base 4. A lens 5 is connected to the base 4 and located on the optical axis Ax of the light source 2. A shade 6 is located between the main reflective member 1 and the lens 5.
As shown in
The light source is inserted to the base from one side so that the installation direction of the light source is perpendicular to the optical axis of the light source, and this shortens the depth of the base of the headlight. The light source is located between the main reflective member and the additional reflector to achieve the desired features.
The time required for designing the optical structure of the present invention is reduced. The third focal point of the additional reflector is located close to the first focal point of the main reflective member so that the light beams reflected by the additional reflector are focused at the position close to the light source. Therefore, the present invention does not need the first and second additional reflectors as used in the conventional headlight, and does not have to deal with the problems caused by the difference of the tracks of the light beams reflected by the first and second additional reflectors. The present invention only needs the additional reflector and can have the desired luminous distribution pattern.
The present invention utilizes the main reflective member and the additional reflector to let the light beams reflected by the additional reflector to pass the third focal point, and then reflected by the main reflective member and pass through the lens. The tracks from the additional reflector are similar and close to the tracks that are directly reflected by the main reflective member, such that the tracks and the luminous distribution pattern meet the regulations. The present invention also significantly increases the brightness.
While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
