Vehicular headlamp

Abstract

In a headlamp providing a predetermined light distribution pattern by combining illumination light beams that are respectively emitted from a plurality of light source units LU1 to LU4 each of which using a light emitting element as the light source, at least one of the plurality of light source units being a light source unit that forms a hot zone in the light distribution pattern, the lamp center being provided within a light emission area of the light source unit LU1 that forms the hot zone, and a center mark CM that indicates the lamp center being provided on the front cover of the lamp.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of the headlamp according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a schematic perspective view of one of the projector-type light source units of the lamp of FIG. 1, FIG. 2B is a schematic vertical cross sectional view thereof, and FIG. 2C is a schematic front view of the reflectors thereof;

FIG. 3A is a schematic perspective view of a diffusion-type light source unit installed in the lamp of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a schematic vertical cross sectional view thereof;

FIGS. 4A through 4E illustrates the low-beam pattern and the radiation areas of the respective light source units installed in the lamp of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5A is a front view of the headlamp of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the relevant part taken along the line VB-VB in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of a head light testing apparatus used for the lamp of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the imaging device of the head light testing apparatus of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the headlamp according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are, respectively, cross-sectional side views of the relevant parts of the headlamp according to still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10A shows a reflection assisting member according to the present invention, and FIG. 10B shows the reflection assisting member attached to the headlamp of the present invention; and

FIGS. 11A through 11C illustrate different modes of the lamp centers according to the present invention.

Claims

1. A vehicular headlamp comprising a plurality of light source units having respectively a light emitting element as a light source thereof and being configured so as to provide a predetermined light distribution pattern by combining illumination light beams respectively emitted from said plurality of light source units, wherein: at least one of said plurality of light source units forms a hot zone in said light distribution pattern;a lamp center is provided within a light emission area of said at least one of said plurality of light source units that forms said hot zone; andsaid vehicular headlamp is further provided with a center mark indicative of said lamp center.

2. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of light source units is a low-beam lamp, andsaid hot zone is an area surrounding an elbow point within a low-beam light distribution pattern of said vehicular headlamp.

3. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of light source units forms said hot zone; andsaid lamp center is provided substantially at a center of a light emission area of said one of said plurality of light source units.

4. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 2, wherein one of said plurality of light source units forms said hot zone; andsaid lamp center is provided substantially at a center of a light emission area of said one of said plurality of light source units.

5. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1, wherein said hot zone is formed by two or more of said plurality of light source units; andsaid lamp center is provided substantially at a center of a light emission areas of said two or more of said plurality of light source units.

6. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 2, wherein said hot zone is formed by two or more of said plurality of light source units; andsaid lamp center is provided substantially at a center of a light emission areas of said two or more of said plurality of light source units.

7. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1, wherein said light source unit forming said hot zone is a projector-type light source unit that has a lens thereon; andsaid lamp center is provided at a substantially center portion of a front face of said lens of said projector-type light source unit.

8. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 4, wherein said light source unit forming said hot zone is a projector-type light source unit that has a lens thereon; andsaid lamp center is provided at a substantially center portion of a front face of said lens of said projector-type light source unit.

9. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 6, wherein said light source unit forming said hot zone is a projector-type light source unit that has a lens thereon; andsaid lamp center is provided at a substantially center portion of a front face of said lens of said projector-type light source unit.

10. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1, wherein said center mark is comprised of a reflective member provided on a front face of said vehicular headlamp and at a position that corresponds to said lamp center.

11. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of guide marks are provided in a perimeter area of a front face of said vehicular headlamp; andsaid lamp center is set at an intersection point of line segments that pass through said guide marks.

12. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of guide marks are provided in a perimeter area of a front face of said vehicular headlamp; andsaid lamp center is set at an intersection point of line segments that pass through said guide marks.

13. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1, wherein said center mark is a marking member which is attachable on and detachable from a front face of said vehicular headlamp.

14. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 10, wherein said center mark is a marking member which is attachable on and detachable from a front face of said vehicular headlamp.