Lamp device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11215699-B2
Application number	US-201716474187-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2017
Priority date	Dec 28, 2016
Publication date	Jan 4, 2022
Grant date	Jan 4, 2022

Abstract

A lamp housing ( 143 ) houses a light source ( 141 ). A front sensor housing ( 152 ) houses a front LiDAR sensor ( 151 ). A supporting unit ( 17 ) supports the lamp housing ( 143 ) and the front sensor housing ( 152 ). The lamp housing ( 143 ) and the front sensor housing ( 152 ) are arranged in a direction corresponding to a left-right direction of a vehicle, when viewed from a direction corresponding to a front-rear direction of the vehicle. A maximum dimension (UD 1 ) of the lamp housing ( 143 ) in an up-down direction of the vehicle is smaller than a maximum dimension (UD 2 ) of the front sensor housing ( 152 ) in the same direction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A lamp device adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of light sources;
a first sensor configured to sense external information of the vehicle;
a lamp housing that houses the light sources;
a first sensor housing that houses the first sensor; and
a first supporting member that supports the lamp housing and the first sensor housing,
wherein the lamp housing and the first sensor housing are arranged in a direction corresponding to a left-right direction of the vehicle when viewed from a direction corresponding to a front-rear direction of the vehicle; and
wherein a maximum dimension of the lamp housing in a direction corresponding to an up-down direction of the vehicle is smaller than a maximum dimension of the first sensor housing in the same direction.

2. The lamp device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second sensor configured to sense external information of the vehicle in a manner that is different from the first sensor; and
a second sensor housing that houses the second sensor,
wherein the lamp housing is located between the first sensor housing and the second sensor housing;
wherein an upper end of the lamp housing is located below an upper end of the first sensor housing and an upper end of the second sensor housing; and
wherein a lower end of the lamp housing is located above a lower end of the first sensor housing and a lower end of the second sensor housing.

3. The lamp device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the second sensor housing is supported by the first supporting member.

4. The lamp device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second supporting member that supports the first sensor housing with the first supporting member therebetween.

5. The lamp device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first supporting member is a portion of a casing that encloses the lamp housing and the first sensor housing.

6. The lamp device according to claim 5 ,
wherein the first sensor housing has a plurality of outer surfaces extending in intersecting directions; and
wherein an inner surface of the casing has a portion extending in the outer surfaces.

7. The lamp device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first supporting member has a first engagement member extending in a direction corresponding to an inside-outside direction of the vehicle; and
wherein the first engagement member is configured to engage with a second engagement member that is provided on the vehicle.

8. The lamp device according to claim 1 ,
wherein a maximum dimension of the lamp housing in the direction corresponding to the left-right direction of the vehicle is larger than the maximum dimension thereof in the direction corresponding to the up-down direction of the vehicle.

9. A lamp device adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of light sources;
a first sensor configured to sense external information of the vehicle;
a lamp housing that houses the light sources;
a first sensor housing that houses the first sensor; and
a first supporting member that supports the lamp housing and the first sensor housing,
wherein the lamp housing and the first sensor housing are arranged in a direction corresponding to a front-rear direction of the vehicle when viewed from a direction corresponding to a left-right direction of the vehicle; and
wherein a maximum dimension of the lamp housing in a direction corresponding to an up-down direction of the vehicle is smaller than a maximum dimension of the first sensor housing in the same direction.

10. The lamp device according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a second sensor configured to sense external information of the vehicle in a manner that is different from the first sensor; and
a second sensor housing that houses the second sensor,
wherein the lamp housing is located between the first sensor housing and the second sensor housing;
wherein an upper end of the lamp housing is located below an upper end of the first sensor housing and an upper end of the second sensor housing; and
wherein a lower end of the lamp housing is located above a lower end of the first sensor housing and a lower end of the second sensor housing.

11. The lamp device according to claim 10 ,
wherein the second sensor housing is supported by the first supporting member.

12. The lamp device according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a second supporting member that supports the first sensor housing with the first supporting member therebetween.

13. The lamp device according to claim 9 ,
wherein the first supporting member is a portion of a casing that encloses the lamp housing and the first sensor housing.

14. The lamp device according to claim 13 ,
wherein the first sensor housing has a plurality of outer surfaces extending in intersecting directions; and
wherein an inner surface of the casing has a portion extending in the outer surfaces.

15. The lamp device according to claim 9 ,
wherein the first supporting member has a first engagement member extending in a direction corresponding to an inside-outside direction of the vehicle; and
wherein the first engagement member is configured to engage with a second engagement member that is provided on the vehicle.

16. The lamp device according to claim 9 ,
wherein a maximum dimension of the lamp housing in the direction corresponding to the left-right direction of the vehicle is larger than the maximum dimension thereof in the direction corresponding to the up-down direction of the vehicle.

17. A lamp device adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of light sources;
a first sensor configured to sense external information of the vehicle;
a lamp housing that houses the light sources;
a first sensor housing that houses the first sensor; and
a first supporting member that supports the lamp housing and the first sensor housing,
wherein the lamp housing and the first sensor housing are arranged in a direction corresponding to an up-down direction of the vehicle when viewed from a direction corresponding to a front-rear direction of the vehicle; and
wherein a maximum dimension of the lamp housing in a direction corresponding to a left-right direction of the vehicle is smaller than a maximum dimension of the first sensor housing in the same direction.

18. The lamp device according to claim 17 , further comprising:
a second sensor configured to sense external information of the vehicle in a manner that is different from the first sensor; and
a second sensor housing that houses the second sensor,
wherein the lamp housing is located between the first sensor housing and the second sensor housing;
wherein a left end of the lamp housing is located on the right of a left end of the first sensor housing and a left end of the second sensor housing; and
wherein a right end of the lamp housing is located on the left of a right end of the first sensor housing and a right end of the second sensor housing.

19. The lamp device according to claim 18 ,
wherein the second sensor housing is supported by the first supporting member.

20. The lamp device according to claim 17 , further comprising:
a second supporting member that supports the first sensor housing with the first supporting member therebetween.

21. The lamp device according to claim 17 ,
wherein the first supporting member is a portion of a casing that encloses the lamp housing and the first sensor housing.

22. The lamp device acc

Assignees

• Koito Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Masuda Takeshi
• Inoue Hiroki
• Kasaba Yusuke
• Kamiya Misako
• Yamamoto Teruaki
• Katagiri Minami

Classifications

• B60Q1/0023

  the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera · CPC title

• F21S41/151

  arranged in one or more lines · CPC title

• G01S2013/93277

  in the lights · CPC title

• G01S7/4813 Primary

  Housing arrangements · CPC title

• B60Q1/06 Primary

  adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle (B60Q1/05 takes precedence) · CPC title