Vehicle headlamp

Abstract

A vehicle headlamp is provided with an upper stage light source unit, a middle stage light source unit, and a lower stage light source unit. The upper stage light source unit, the middle stage light source unit, and the lower stage light source unit are provided at a lamp body constituting a lamp member by way of a support member. A low beam light distribution pattern is formed on a front side of a vehicle by overlapping light from the respective light source units. The lower stage light source unit includes two subunits, the two subunits commonly share a single cylindrical lens.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a vehicle headlamp according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along a line II-II of the vehicle headlamp according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a first subunit (second subunit) provided at an upper stage light source unit.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a third subunit provided at a middle stage light source unit.

FIGS. 5( a) and 5(b) illustrate horizontal sectional views of the third subunit (fourth subunit).

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lower stage light source unit.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing a fifth subunit of the lower stage light source unit.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view showing a sixth subunit of the lower stage light source unit.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the lower stage light source unit.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a light distribution pattern for low beam formed by the vehicle headlamp of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a light distribution pattern for high beam formed by the vehicle headlamp of the embodiment.

FIGS. 12( a) to 12(d) illustrate schematic sectional views showing a relationship between the third subunit and a light distribution pattern.

FIGS. 13( a) to 13(d) illustrate other schematic sectional views showing the relationship between the third subunit and the light distribution pattern.

FIGS. 14( a) to 14(h) illustrate views showing a relationship between pivoting movement and a light distribution pattern when a diverging member is provided at a light source unit of a directly emitted type.

FIG. 15 is a control block diagram showing a control related to the vehicle headlamp of the embodiment and switching ON/OFF thereof.

FIG. 16 is a table showing a pattern of controlling to switch ON/OFF by a switch ON/OFF controller.

FIGS. 17( a) to 17(d) illustrate schematic views showing examples of realizing light distribution patterns in AFS.

FIGS. 18( a) to 18(c) illustrate schematic views showing examples of realizing light distribution patterns in AFS.

Claims

1. A vehicle headlamp comprising: a plurality of light source units; anda lamp member for supporting the plurality of light source units, wherein a low beam light distribution pattern is formed on a front side of a vehicle by overlapping light from the respective light source units;wherein one of the plurality of the light source units includes: a lens having a focal line extending in a horizontal direction, the lens substantially extending along a direction of the focal line; andfirst and second subunits for irradiating light to the lens;the first subunit is a directly emitted type subunit including a first light emitting element for emitting light from a vicinity of the focal line of the lens in a direction of the lens and irradiating light to the front side by way of the lens; andthe second subunit is a reflecting type subunit including a second light emitting element for emitting light and a reflector for reflecting light from the second light emitting element to a vicinity of the focal line of the lens and irradiating light to the front side by way of the lens.

2. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein a light distribution pattern projected from the second subunit to the front side by way of the lens is diverged in a vertical direction more than a light distribution pattern projected from the first subunit to the front side by way of the lens.

3. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element are arranged on the same board.

4. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the first light emitting element is arranged at a vicinity of the focal line of the lens and above the focal line.