Illumination device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016363282-A1
Application number	US-201615171214-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 2, 2016
Priority date	Jun 10, 2015
Publication date	Dec 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided is an illumination device mounted in a vehicle. The illumination device includes: a light source; a projection lens unit having a projection lens; a support member that supports the projection lens; a shaft portion including a pivot axis that extends in a direction intersecting with an optical axis; a shaft holding portion that holds the shaft portion to be pivotable around the pivot axis; a screw member provided to be rotatable around a rotation axis that extends in a direction different from the optical axis; and a conversion mechanism that converts a rotating motion of the screw member around the rotation axis into a pivoting motion of the shaft portion around the pivot axis. The screw member and the conversion mechanism are positioned farther away from the optical axis than the shaft portion and the shaft holding portion in the direction intersecting with the optical axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An illumination device mounted in a vehicle, the illumination device comprising:
a light source; a projection lens unit having a projection lens configured to allow at least some of light emitted from the light source to pass therethrough; a support member configured to support the projection lens; a shaft portion provided in one of the projection lens unit and the support member, and including a pivot axis that extends in a direction intersecting with an optical axis of the projection lens; a shaft holding portion provided in the other of the projection lens unit and the support member, and configured to hold the shaft portion to be pivotable around the pivot axis of the projection lens; a screw member provided to be rotatable around a rotation axis that extends in a direction different from the optical axis; and a conversion mechanism configured to convert a rotating motion of the screw member around the rotation axis into a pivoting motion of the shaft portion around the pivot axis, wherein the screw member and the conversion mechanism are positioned farther away from the optical axis than the shaft portion and the shaft holding portion in the direction intersecting with the optical axis.

2 . The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein the conversion mechanism includes:
a transmission member screwed with the screw member to convert the rotating motion of the screw member around the rotation axis to a linear motion; a cam surface provided in one of the transmission member and the projection lens unit; and a cam follower provided in the other of the transmission member and the projection lens unit, and configured to convert the linear motion to the pivoting motion of the shaft portion around the pivot axis by sliding on the cam surface.

3 . The illumination device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller configured to control an operation of the light source, wherein the conversion mechanism is disposed between the shaft portion and the controller in the direction intersecting with the optical axis.

4 . The illumination device of claim 2 , further comprising:
a controller configured to control an operation of the light source, wherein the conversion mechanism is disposed between the shaft portion and the controller in the direction intersecting with the optical axis.

5 . The illumination device of claim 3 , further comprising:
a housing defining a part of a lamp chamber that accommodates the light source, the support member, the shaft portion, the shaft holding portion, the conversion mechanism, and a part of the screw member, and including a light transmitting unit configured to allow the light, which has passed through the projection lens, to pass therethrough; and a connector disposed at a side where the light transmitting unit is provided in the housing, and configured to supply a power to the controller.

6 . The illumination device of claim 4 , further comprising:
a housing defining a part of a lamp chamber that accommodates the light source, the support member, the shaft portion, the shaft holding portion, the conversion mechanism, and a part of the screw member, and including a light transmitting unit configured to allow the light, which has passed through the projection lens, to pass therethrough; and a connector disposed at a side where the light transmitting unit is provided in the housing, and configured to supply a power to the controller.

7 . The illumination device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a housing defining a part of a lamp chamber that accommodates the light source, the support member, the shaft portion, the shaft holding portion, the conversion mechanism, and a part of the screw member, and including a light transmitting unit configured to allow the light, which has passed through the projection lens, to pass therethrough, wherein the housing further includes a protrusion that protrudes outward at a side where the light transmitting unit is provided in the housing, and the screw member is held in the housing such that the rotation axis passes through the protrusion.

8 . The illumination device of claim 3 , further comprising:
a housing defining a part of a lamp chamber that accommodates the light source, the support member, the shaft portion, the shaft holding portion, the conversion mechanism, and a part of the screw member, and including a light transmitting unit configured to allow the light, which has passed through the projection lens, to pass therethrough; and a ventilation unit disposed at a side where the light transmitting unit is provided in the housing, and provided in communication with the lamp chamber.

Assignees

• Koito Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Shibata Hiroki

Classifications

• F21S45/33

  specially adapted for headlamps · CPC title

• F21S41/19

  Attachment of light sources or lamp holders (achieving variable light distribution by movable light sources F21S41/657) · CPC title

• F21S41/00 Primary

  Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps (reversing lights F21S43/00) · CPC title

• F21V23/003

  the elements being electronics drivers or controllers for operating the light source, e.g. for a LED array · CPC title

• F21S41/336

  with discontinuity at the junction between adjacent areas · CPC title