Vehicle lighting device

Abstract

A vehicle lighting device includes a reflection type lamp unit including a first LED that emits light downward; and a reflective face that reflects part of the light emitted by the first LED outward to the front of the vehicle lighting device. Part of the light emitted by the first LED is output, as directly emitted light, directly to the front of the vehicle lighting device. The reflective face includes a first reflective portion that reflects light as vertically almost parallel light and as horizontally diffused light, and a second reflective portion that reflects light below the light reflected by the first reflective portion and above the directly emitted light.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a vehicle lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the vehicle lighting device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle lighting device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a light source holder.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a first reflective portion.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the first reflective portion.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory diagram showing the light distribution state of the vehicle lighting device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an iso-illuminance curve for a PES lamp unit.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an iso-illuminance curve for a reflection type lamp unit.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an iso-illuminance curve, for the vehicle lighting device, obtained by synthesizing the iso-illuminance curves for the PES lamp unit and the reflection type lamp unit.

FIG. 11 is a perspective diagram showing a light distribution pattern for a low beam that is formed on a virtual vertical screen, at a distance 25 m ahead of the vehicle lighting device shown in FIG. 1, by light emitted to the front by the vehicle lighting device.

FIG. 12 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a first reflective portion formed according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 is an cross-sectional view of the essential portion of a conventional reflection type lamp unit.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a light distribution pattern for a low beam that is formed on a virtual vertical screen, at a distance 25 m ahead of a conventional vehicle lighting device, by light emitted to the front by the vehicle lighting device.

Claims

1. A vehicle lighting device comprising: a reflection type lamp unit comprising: a first LED that emits light downward; anda reflective face that reflects part of the light emitted by the first LED outward to the front of the vehicle lighting device,wherein part of the light emitted by the first LED is output, as directly emitted light, directly to the front of the vehicle lighting device, andwherein the reflective face comprises: a first reflective portion that reflects light as vertically almost parallel light and as horizontally diffused light, anda second reflective portion that reflects light below the light reflected by the first reflective portion and above the directly emitted light.

2. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first reflective portion and the second reflective portion are integrally formed, and wherein the second reflective portion is located near an upper end of the reflective face.

3. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first reflective portion is formed of a plurality of reflective segments such that adjacent segments are contiguously formed and extended substantially vertically; wherein the plurality of reflective segments comprise a central reflective segment located below the first LED; and wherein the second reflective portion is formed and connected to the central reflective segment.

4. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising: a PES lamp unit, which forms a cut line pattern, comprising: a second LED that emits light upward;a third reflective portion that reflects light emitted by the second LED;a linear light blocking portion that reflects part of the light reflected by the third reflective portion; anda projection lens,wherein the second LED and the first LED are arranged on an upper face and a lower face of a horizontally arranged light source holder, andwherein the first LED is located to the rear of the projection lens.

5. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 4, wherein the first reflective portion, the second reflective portion, and the third reflective portion are integrally formed.

6. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the first reflective portion is formed of a plurality of reflective segments such that adjacent segments are contiguously formed and extended substantially vertically; wherein the plurality of reflective segments comprise a central reflective segment located below the first LED; and wherein the second reflective portion is formed and connected to the central reflective segment.

7. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 2, further comprising: a PES lamp unit, which forms a cut line pattern, comprising: a second LED that emits light upward;a third reflective portion that reflects light emitted by the second LED;a linear light blocking portion that reflects part of the light reflected by the third reflective portion; anda projection lens,wherein the second LED and the first LED are arranged on an upper face and a lower face of a horizontally arranged light source holder, andwherein the first LED is located to the rear of the projection lens.

8. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 3, further comprising: a PES lamp unit, which forms a cut line pattern, comprising: a second LED that emits light upward;a third reflective portion that reflects light emitted by the second LED;a linear light blocking portion that reflects part of the light reflected by the third reflective portion; anda projection lens,wherein the second LED and the first LED are arranged on an upper face and a lower face of a horizontally arranged light source holder, andwherein the first LED is located to the rear of the projection lens.

9. A vehicle lighting device according to claim 7, wherein the first reflective portion, the second reflective portion, and the third reflective portion are integrally formed.

10. A vehicle lighting device according to claim 8, wherein the first reflective portion, the second reflective portion, and the third reflective portion are integrally formed.