Lamp unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9212799-B2
Application number	US-201414262009-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 25, 2014
Priority date	Apr 25, 2013
Publication date	Dec 15, 2015
Grant date	Dec 15, 2015

Abstract

A lamp unit for a vehicle lamp can include: a lens having an aspherical shape, including a first lens portion, and a second lens portion disposed adjacent to the first lens portion and forming a concave portion on at least a part of a rear side surface thereof; a first reflective surface disposed rearward of the first lens portion; a second reflective surface disposed rearward of the second lens portion; a first light source configured to emit light to be reflected by the first reflective surface, pass through the first lens portion and be emitted forward; and a second light source configured to emit light to be reflected by the second reflective surface, pass through the second lens portion and be emitted forward. A shape of a rear side surface of the second lens portion can be configured to diffuse the light from the second light source vertically and horizontally.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lamp unit, comprising:
a lens shaped as an aspherical lens, the lens including a first lens portion, and a second lens portion thinner in a light emitting direction than the first lens portion and disposed adjacent to the first lens portion, the second lens portion forming a concave portion on at least a part of a rear side surface of the aspherical lens;
a first reflective surface disposed rearward of the first lens portion;
a second reflective surface disposed rearward of the second lens portion;
a first light source configured to emit light which is reflected by the first reflective surface, passes through the first lens portion and is emitted forward; and
a second light source configured to emit light which is reflected by the second reflective surface, passes through the second lens portion and is emitted forward,
wherein a shape of a rear side surface of the second lens portion is configured so that light from the second light source reflected by the second reflective surface, passing through the second lens portion and emitted forward is diffused vertically and horizontally.

2. The lamp unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the rear side surface of the second lens portion includes at least one lens cut.

3. The lamp unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the shape of the rear side surface of the second lens portion is configured so that light from the second light source reflected by the second reflective surface, passing through the second lens portion and emitted forward is diffused vertically and horizontally to form at least a portion of a daytime running lamp light distribution pattern.

4. The lamp unit according to claim 3 ,
wherein a shape of the first reflective surface is configured so that light from the first light source emitted forward through the first lens portion forms at least a portion of a headlamp light distribution pattern.

5. The lamp unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein a shape of the first reflective surface is configured so that light from the first light source emitted forward through the first lens portion forms at least a portion of a headlamp light distribution pattern.

6. The lamp unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein a front side surface of the lens is configured so that a front side surface of the first lens portion and a front side surface of the second lens portion form a common single lens surface that forms a continuous convex surface.

7. The lamp unit according to claim 6 , further comprising
a light shielding portion configured to shield at least a portion of light from the second light source directed to the first lens portion.

8. The lamp unit according to claim 6 ,
wherein the shape of the second reflective surface is configured so that light from the second light source reflected by the second reflective surface condenses forward or rearward of the second lens portion.

9. The lamp unit according to claim 1 , further comprising
a light shielding portion configured to shield at least a portion of light from the second light source directed to the first lens portion.

10. The lamp unit according to claim 9 ,
wherein the shape of the second reflective surface is configured so that light from the second light source reflected by the second reflective surface condenses forward or rearward of the second lens portion.

11. The lamp unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the shape of the second reflective surface is configured so that light from the second light source reflected by the second reflective surface condenses forward or rearward of the second lens portion.

12. The lamp unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first light source is configured to direct light in an upward direction about a first light emitting axis, and the second light source is configured to direct light in a downward direction substantially opposed to the upward direction and about a second light emitting axis.

13. The lamp unit according to claim 12 ,
wherein the first light source is located rearward and further from a center of the lens than the second light source.

14. The lamp unit according to claim 12 ,
wherein the first reflective surface and second reflective surface are incorporated into a single continuous homogenous structure that extends from the first light source to the second light source and intersects both the first light emitting axis and second light emitting axis.

15. The lamp unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first lens portion and second lens portion are incorporated into a single continuous homogenous structure.

16. The lamp unit according to claim 15 ,
wherein the first lens portion has a rear surface that is substantially flat in shape.

17. The lamp unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first lens portion has a rear surface that is substantially flat in shape.

18. A vehicle, comprising:
a headlight configured to direct light along a light emitting direction located in front of the vehicle, including:
a lens with a first lens portion and a second lens portion, the second lens portion having a total thickness in the light emitting direction thinner than a total thickness of the first lens portion in the light emitting direction, the second lens portion including a concave portion on a rear surface of the second lens portion;
a first reflective surface disposed rearward of the first lens portion;
a second reflective surface disposed rearward of the second lens portion;
a first light source configured to emit light along an axis that intersects the first reflective surface; and
a second light source configured to emit light along a second axis that intersects the second reflective surface,

wherein a shape of the rear surface of the second lens portion is configured so that light from the second light source passes through the second lens portion and is diffused vertically and horizontally.

19. A lamp unit configured to emit light along a light emitting direction, comprising:
a lens having a first lens portion and a second lens portion, the second lens portion having a total thickness in the light emitting direction thinner than a total thickness of the first lens portion in the light emitting direction, the second lens portion including a concave portion on a rear surface of the second lens portion, the lens further including a front surface opposed to the rear surface of the second lens portion wherein the front surface is configured as a continuous convex surface spanning both the first lens portion and second lens portion;
at least one reflective surface disposed rearward of the lens;
a first light source located adjacent to the at least one reflective surface; and
a second light source, wherein the first light source is configured to direct light upward such that the light from the first light source intersects the at least one reflective surface, and the second light source is configured to direct light downward such that the light from the second light source intersects the at least one reflective surface.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd
• Stanley Electric Co Ltd

Inventors

• Todaka Shinichi
• Fisher Nathan Marion
• Glazier Joshua Thomas
• Kiyota Mitsuaki
• Herpy Robert William

Classifications

• F21S41/19

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

• F21S41/265

  Composite lenses; Lenses with a patch-like shape · CPC title

• F21S43/40

  characterised by the combination of reflectors and refractors · CPC title

• F21S43/37

  Attachment thereof · CPC title

• F21S41/336

  with discontinuity at the junction between adjacent areas · CPC title