Vehicle headlamp

Abstract

A vehicle headlamp includes a lamp 110 having shade switching means 140 for providing a desired light distribution pattern by blocking a portion of light emitted from a light source. Light distribution pattern switching controlling means controls the shade switching means 140 in response to receipt of an instruction of switching a light distribution pattern of the lamp. Leveling means 130 controls deflection of an optical axis of the lamp in a vertical direction. The light distribution pattern switching controlling means controls the shade switching means 140 such that a cut line is formed by a height substantially the same as that of a cut line of high beam when an instruction of switching to a light distribution pattern of “remote optically recognizing beam” is received and controls the leveling means 130 such that the cut line is formed by a height of a cut line requested for “middle beam”.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing a sectional structure and circuit connection of a headlamp of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 2 is a disassembled perspective view of a portion of Embodiment 1.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate perspective views showing a design of a shade switching mechanism.

FIGS. 4A to 4C illustrate light distribution pattern diagrams switched by Embodiment 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates plane views of light distribution patterns and vertical sectional views for explaining the operation of a shade switching mechanism.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate diagrams showing a correlation between timings of operating a leveling mechanism and a shade switching mechanism and a height of a cut line.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a rotary shade of Embodiment 2.

FIGS. 8A to 8C illustrate light distribution pattern diagrams of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a shade switching mechanism of Embodiment 3.

FIGS. 10A to 10C illustrate known light distribution pattern diagrams.

Claims

1. A vehicle headlamp comprising: a lamp having shade switching means for providing a light distribution pattern by blocking a portion of light emitted from a light source;a light distribution pattern switching controlling means for controlling the shade switching means in response to receiving an instruction to switch the light distribution pattern; anda leveling means for controlling deflection of an optical axis of the lamp in a vertical direction;wherein the light distribution pattern switching controlling means is adapted to control the shade switching means and to control the leveling means in switching the light distribution pattern.

2. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the shade switching means is adapted to change at least a height of a cut line in the light distribution pattern, and the light distribution pattern switching controlling means is adapted to control an inclination in an up and down direction of the optical axis of the lamp by the leveling means in correspondence with the height of the cut line of the shade switching means.

3. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 2, wherein the light distribution pattern switching controlling means is adapted to control the shade switching means such that the cut line is constituted by a height substantially the same as a height of a cut line of a high beam and to control the leveling means such that the cut line is formed by a height of a cut line requested for a remote optically recognizing beam in response to receipt of an instruction of switching to a light distribution pattern of the remote optically recognizing beam.

4. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 3, wherein the shade switching means includes a rotary shade adapted to change the height of the cut line at a plurality of rotational positions, and the rotational shade is adapted to form at least light distribution patterns of a low beam and the high beam.

5. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 2, wherein a time of starting to control the leveling means is earlier than a time of starting to control the shade switching means.

6. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 2, wherein a time period of controlling the leveling means and a time period of controlling the shade switching means are substantially the same.

7. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 3, wherein a time of starting to control the leveling means is earlier than a time of starting to control the shade switching means.

8. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 3, wherein a time period of controlling the leveling means and a time period of controlling the shade switching means are substantially the same.

9. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 4, wherein a time of starting to control the leveling means is earlier than a time of starting to control the shade switching means.

10. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 4, wherein a time period of controlling the leveling means and a time period of controlling the shade switching means are substantially the same.