Optical unit, vehicle monitor, and obstruction detector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10748015-B2
Application number	US-201715434121-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 16, 2017
Priority date	Apr 13, 2010
Publication date	Aug 18, 2020
Grant date	Aug 18, 2020

Abstract

Disclosed is an optical unit wherein a rotating reflector rotates about a rotation axis in one direction, while reflecting light emitted from a light source. The rotating reflector is provided with a reflecting surface such that the light reflected by the rotating reflector, while rotating, forms a desired light distribution pattern, said light having been emitted from the light source. The light source is composed of light emitting elements. The rotation axis is provided within a plane that includes an optical axis and the light source. The rotating reflector is provided with, on the periphery of the rotation axis, a blade that functions as the reflecting surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An optical unit comprising:
a rotating reflector including a plurality of blades rotated about a rotation axis in one direction while reflecting light emitted from a light source, the plurality of blades arranged in a circumferential direction of the rotation axis; and
a plurality of light sources that are formed of light emitting elements, wherein
the blades of the rotating reflector are each provided with a reflecting surface that does not intersect with the rotation axis so that the light of the light source reflected by the rotating reflector, while the rotating reflector is rotated, forms a desired light distribution pattern and a direction perpendicular to each reflecting surface is not perpendicular to the rotating axis, wherein each blade has a same shape so that each reflecting surface has a twisted shape so that an angle between the rotation axis and the reflecting surface is changed in a circumferential direction having a center on the rotation axis, and is shaped to change a direction of reflection of the light emitted from the light source periodically, relative to the rotation axis,
the plurality of light sources comprise:
a first light source disposed so that the light emitted in a direction inclined with respect to the rotation axis is reflected at a first position of each reflecting surface; and
a second light source disposed so that the light emitted in a direction inclined with respect to the rotation axis is reflected at a second position of each reflecting surface that is radially closer to the rotation axis than the first position.

2. An optical unit comprising:
a rotating reflector including a plurality of blades rotated about a rotation axis in one direction while reflecting light emitted from a light source, the plurality of blades arranged in a circumferential direction of the rotation axis;
a plurality of light sources that are formed of light emitting elements; and
a projection lens that projects the light reflected by the rotating reflector in a light irradiation direction of the optical unit, wherein
the blades of the rotating reflector are each provided with a reflecting surface that does not intersect with the rotation axis so that the light of the light source reflected by the rotating reflector, while the rotating reflector is rotated, forms a desired light distribution pattern and a direction perpendicular to each reflecting surface is not perpendicular to the rotating axis, wherein each blade has a same shape so that each reflecting surface has a twisted shape so that an angle between the rotation axis and the reflecting surface is changed in a circumferential direction having a center on the rotation axis, and is shaped to change a direction of reflection of the light emitted from the light source periodically, relative to the rotation axis,
the plurality of light sources comprise:
a first light source disposed so that the light emitted in a direction inclined with respect to the rotation axis is reflected at a first position of each reflecting surface; and
a second light source disposed so that the light emitted in a direction inclined with respect to the rotation axis is reflected at a second position of each reflecting surface that is radially closer to the rotation axis than the first position, and wherein
the first light source is disposed closer to the projection lens than the second light source.

Assignees

• Koito Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yamamura Satoshi

Classifications

• G06V20/584

  of vehicle lights or traffic lights · CPC title

• F21S41/147

  the main emission direction of the LED being angled to the optical axis of the illuminating device · CPC title

• F21S41/36 Primary

  Combinations of two or more separate reflectors · CPC title

• G01S13/88

  Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications (electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00) · CPC title

• B60Q2300/42

  oncoming vehicle · CPC title