Vehicle lamp

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10317031-B2
Application number	US-201615130677-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2016
Priority date	Apr 15, 2015
Publication date	Jun 11, 2019
Grant date	Jun 11, 2019

Abstract

A vehicle lamp includes a semiconductor laser element configured to emit laser light, a condenser lens configured to condense the laser light, a phosphor configured to form white light by converting wavelength of at least a portion of the laser light condensed, and a reflector configured to reflect the white light. A light transmitting portion is formed in a portion, at which an extension path obtaining by extending an optical path of the laser light before contacting the phosphor is intersected with the reflector, of the reflector. A light confinement part is formed above the light transmitting portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle lamp comprising:
a semiconductor laser element configured to emit laser light;
a condenser lens configured to condense the laser light;
a phosphor configured to form white light by converting wavelength of at least a portion of the laser light condensed; and
a reflector configured to reflect the white light,
wherein a light transmitting portion is formed in a portion, at which an extension path obtaining by extending an optical path of the laser light before contacting the phosphor is intersected with the reflector, of the reflector,
wherein a light confinement part is formed above the light transmitting portion,
wherein the reflector comprises:
a reflecting surface, and
an opposite surface disposed on an opposite side of the reflecting surface,

wherein the light transmitting portion is formed as an escape hole,
wherein the light confinement part is formed above the escape hole,
wherein the light confinement part is a closed space formed by a wall surface and the opposite surface,
wherein a photo sensor is provided in a region other than a point where the extended optical path of the laser light and the wall surface intersect,
wherein at least a portion of the wall surface where the extended optical path of the laser light and the wall surface intersect forms a light scattering surface that is configured to generate a scattered light, and
wherein the photo sensor is configured to detect the scattered light.

2. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 ,
wherein the vehicle lamp further comprises a light-shielding metal configured to reduce a leakage amount of light, the light-shielding metal provided on the extension path of the optical path of the laser light in the closed space.

3. A vehicle lamp comprising:
a semiconductor laser element configured to emit laser light;
a condenser lens configured to condense the laser light;
a phosphor configured to form white light by converting wavelength of at least a portion of the laser light condensed; and
a reflector configured to reflect the white light,
wherein a light transmitting portion is formed in a portion, at which an extension path obtaining by extending an optical path of the laser light before contacting the phosphor is intersected with the reflector, of the reflector,
wherein a light confinement part is formed above the light transmitting portion,
wherein the reflector has a transparent resin base body, and a reflective surface of the reflector is formed by a deposition layer which is coated and formed on a part of an inner surface of the reflector, and
wherein a surface, which is surrounded by the deposition layer and on which the deposition layer is not formed, serves as the light transmitting portion, and the transparent resin base body serves as the light confinement part.

4. The vehicle lamp according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a photo sensor provided on the extension path of the optical path of the laser light in the transparent resin base body.

5. The vehicle lamp according to claim 3 , wherein a light-shielding layer is coated and formed on a surface opposite to the surface of the transparent resin base body where the deposition layer is formed.

6. A vehicle lamp comprising:
a semiconductor laser element configured to emit laser light;
a condenser lens configured to condense the laser light;
a phosphor configured to form white light by converting wavelength of at least a portion of the laser light condensed; and
a reflector configured to reflect the white light,
wherein a light transmitting portion is formed in a portion, at which an extension path obtaining by extending an optical path of the laser light before contacting the phosphor is intersected with the reflector, of the reflector,
wherein a light confinement part is formed above the light transmitting portion,
wherein the vehicle lamp further comprises:
a shade provided between the phosphor and the light transmitting portion, and

wherein the shade has a pin hole formed in such a way that a straight line connecting an expected maximum movement position of the condenser lens and an outer edge of the light transmitting portion passes through the inside of the pin hole.

Assignees

• Koito Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Tatara Naoki
• Yamamura Satoshi
• Uchida Naoki
• Tsuda Toshiaki

Classifications

• F21S45/48

  with means for conducting heat from the inside to the outside of the lighting devices, e.g. with fins on the outer surface of the lighting device · CPC title

• F21S41/176

  Light sources where the light is generated by photoluminescent material spaced from a primary light generating element · CPC title

• F21S41/14

  characterised by the type of light source · CPC title

• F21S41/32

  Optical layout thereof · CPC title

• F21S41/20 Primary

  characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters · CPC title