Lighting device for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10246002-B2
Application number	US-201715819505-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2017
Priority date	Dec 14, 2016
Publication date	Apr 2, 2019
Grant date	Apr 2, 2019

Abstract

A lighting device for a vehicle includes an irradiator that includes a light source mounted in the vehicle, and a shield that is provided to face an emission side of band-shaped light from the light source. The irradiator is configured to emit the band-shaped light from the light source at a predetermined irradiation angle to irradiate a road surface with the band-shaped light, and the irradiator is configured to change an irradiation direction of the band-shaped light toward the road surface. The shield is configured to shield a part of the band-shaped light such that the road surface is illuminated in a shape of a figure indicating prescribed information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lighting device for a vehicle, the lighting device comprising:
an irradiator that includes a light source mounted in the vehicle, the irradiator being configured to emit band-shaped light from the light source at a predetermined irradiation angle to irradiate a road surface with the band-shaped light, and the irradiator being configured to change an irradiation direction of the band-shaped light toward the road surface;
a detector configured to detect a pedestrian; and
a shield that is provided to face an emission side of the band-shaped light from the light source, the shield being configured to shield a part of the band-shaped light such that the road surface is illuminated in a shape of a figure indicating prescribed information in an orientation configured to be read by the detected pedestrian.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the shield has an emission hole that is formed to make a part of the band-shaped light pass and to have a shape similar to the figure in a shield portion shielding a part of the band-shaped light.

3. The lighting device according to claim 2 , wherein the prescribed information is character information that attracts attention of the detected pedestrian.

4. The lighting device according to claim 2 , wherein:
the irradiator includes a first light emitter and a second light emitter as the light source;
the first light emitter is configured to emit light for irradiating a first irradiation region on a road surface at a prescribed distance from the vehicle;
the second light emitter is configured to irradiate a second irradiation region on a road surface at a prescribed distance from the vehicle in a direction away from the first irradiation region; and

the shield has a first emission hole that is formed to make a part of light emitted from the first light emitter pass, and a second emission hole that is formed to make a part of light emitted from the second light emitter pass, a size of the second emission hole being smaller than a size of the first emission hole.

5. The lighting device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a control device configured to perform control such that, in a case where the pedestrian is detected by the detector, the irradiator irradiates a region at a prescribed distance from the detected pedestrian with light.

6. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the figure is projected at a position 70 degrees or less downward from an estimated eye level of the detected pedestrian.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd
• Koito Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Mouri Fumihiko
• Yamamoto Susumu
• Yamamura Satoshi

Classifications

• B60Q1/18

  being additional front lights {(bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483)} · CPC title

• F21S41/255

  Lenses with a front view of circular or truncated circular outline · CPC title

• B60Q2300/45

  Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers · CPC title

• F21S41/663

  by switching light sources (by switching incandescent light sources F21S41/162) · CPC title

• F21V11/08

  using diaphragms containing one or more apertures · CPC title