Vehicle lamp having a novel reflective distribution pattern

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9291323-B2
Application number	US-201514611424-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 2, 2015
Priority date	Feb 3, 2014
Publication date	Mar 22, 2016
Grant date	Mar 22, 2016

Abstract

A vehicle lamp includes a 2D image forming device configured to form a brightness image using light emitted from a light source, an optical projection system configured to project the brightness image forward, and a light blocking member disposed on a path of light emitted from the light source through the 2D image forming device and onward toward the optical projection system, and configured to block at least a portion of the light.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle lamp comprising:
a 2D image forming device configured to form a brightness image using light emitted from a light source;
an optical projection system configured to project the brightness image forward; and
a light blocking member disposed on a path of light emitted from the light source through the 2D image forming device and onward toward the optical projection system, and configured to block at least a portion of the light,
wherein the 2D image forming device and light blocking member are separate members.

2. The vehicle lamp of claim 1 , wherein:
the light blocking member includes a light blocking region configured to block light emitted from the light source, and
the light blocking region is made of a material having a reflectivity of 15% or less.

3. The vehicle lamp of claim 1 , further comprising:
a movement mechanism configured to move the light blocking member, wherein: the movement mechanism is configured to move the light blocking member between a first position when forming a first light distribution pattern, and a second position when forming a second light distribution pattern different from the first light distribution pattern.

4. The vehicle lamp of claim 1 , wherein the light blocking member includes a cutline forming portion configured to form a cutline of a low beam light distribution pattern.

5. The vehicle lamp of claim 1 , wherein the light blocking member is disposed on a path of light emitted from the light source toward the 2D image forming device.

6. The vehicle lamp of claim 1 , wherein the light blocking member is disposed between the 2D image forming device and the optical projection system.

7. The vehicle lamp of claim 1 , wherein the 2D image forming device comprises a transmission type liquid crystal panel configured to control a proportion of the light emitted from the light source to be transmitted through the liquid crystal panel.

8. The vehicle lamp of claim 1 , wherein the 2D image forming device comprises a reflection type 2D image forming device.

9. The vehicle lamp of claim 8 , wherein the reflection type 2D image forming device comprises a reflection type liquid crystal panel or a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS).

10. The vehicle lamp of claim 1 , further comprising:
a movement mechanism configured to move the light blocking member,
wherein: the movement mechanism is configured to move the light blocking member linearly between a first position and a second position different from the first position.

11. The vehicle lamp of claim 10 , wherein the movement mechanism is configured to move the light blocking member between the first position when forming a first light distribution pattern, and the second position when forming a second light distribution pattern different from the first light distribution pattern.

12. The vehicle lamp of claim 1 , wherein the light blocking member comprises a plurality of light blocking members.

Assignees

• Koito Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yagi Takayuki
• Yamamura Satoshi

Classifications

• F21S41/321

  the reflector being a surface of revolution or a planar surface, e.g. truncated · CPC title

• F21S41/675

  by moving reflectors · CPC title

• F21S41/689

  Flaps, i.e. screens pivoting around one of their edges · CPC title

• F21S41/255

  Lenses with a front view of circular or truncated circular outline · CPC title

• F21S41/36

  Combinations of two or more separate reflectors · CPC title