Vehicle lamp

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9481291-B2
Application number	US-201414262273-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 25, 2014
Priority date	Apr 26, 2013
Publication date	Nov 1, 2016
Grant date	Nov 1, 2016

Abstract

A vehicle lamp includes a light source, a projection lens through which at least a portion of light emitted from the light source passes, and an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a reference position of an optical axis of the projection lens. The adjustment mechanism includes a first member having a movement axis, a second member holding the first member, a first screw arranged to adjust the reference position in a first direction, and a second screw arranged to adjust the reference position in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The first member is arranged such that the movement axis is positioned on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis and including a focal point of the projection lens. An action by a rotation of the first screw and an action by a rotation of the second screw are applied to one of the first and second members.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle lamp comprising:
a light source;
a projection lens through which at least a portion of light emitted from the light source passes; and
an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a reference position of an optical axis of the projection lens,
wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises:
a first member having a movement axis about which the first member rotates;
a second member holding the first member;
a first screw arranged to adjust the reference position in a first direction; and
a second screw arranged to adjust the reference position in a second direction intersecting the first direction,

wherein the first member is arranged such that the movement axis is positioned on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis and including a focal point of the projection lens,
wherein an action by a rotation of the first screw and an action by a rotation of the second screw are applied to one of the first member and the second member,
wherein the vehicle lamp further comprises a housing which defines an enclosed space in which the light source and the projection lens are disposed,
wherein the first screw is disposed through the housing such that part of the first screw is exposed outside the housing, and
wherein the second screw is disposed through the housing such that part of the second screw is exposed outside the housing.

2. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 ,
wherein the rotation of the first screw causes one of the first member and the second member to rotate around the movement axis, and
wherein the rotation of the second screw causes one of the first member and the second member to move in a direction in which the movement axis extends.

3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 2 , wherein the action by the rotation of the first screw and the action by the rotation of the second screw are both applied to one of the first member and the second member.

4. The vehicle lamp according to claim 3 , wherein the action by the rotation of the first screw and the action by the rotation of the second screw are both applied to the first member.

5. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 , further comprising a holder holding the projection lens, wherein the first member is provided as a portion of the holder.

6. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 , wherein the first direction corresponds to a vertical direction of a vehicle on which the vehicle lamp is mounted.

7. The vehicle lamp according to claim 6 , further comprising
an actuator including a drive shaft to displace the optical axis in the first direction,
wherein the first screw and the drive shaft are arranged in a parallel manner along a direction in which the first screw and the drive shaft extend.

8. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 , further comprising a movable shade to change a shape of a light distribution pattern to be formed by the light emitted from the light source.

9. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 , further comprising a heat sink to which the light source is fixed, wherein the first screw and the second screw are arranged to extend through the heat sink.

10. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first member is configured to be rotated about the movement axis while contacting the second member by rotation of the first screw, and
wherein the first member is configured to be slid along the movement axis while contacting the second member by rotation of the second screw.

11. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a lens holder that holds the projection lens,
wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to move the lens holder with respect to the light source to adjust the reference position of the optical axis of the projection lens.

12. The vehicle lamp according to claim 11 , further comprising:
a support portion on which the light source is fixed,
wherein the second member is provided to the support portion at positions interposing the projection lens, and
wherein the lens holder includes a pair of shaft portions, each having the first member at a distal end thereof, which is held by a corresponding one of the second members.

13. The vehicle lamp according to claim 12 ,
wherein the second member comprises a groove in which the first member is held to be slidable and rotatable.

14. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first screw comprises a first head portion and a first screw portion, and the second screw comprises a second head portion and a second screw portion, and
wherein the first and second head portions are disposed outside the housing.

15. A vehicle lamp comprising:
a light source;
a projection lens through which at least a portion of light emitted from the light source passes; and
an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a reference position of an optical axis of the projection lens,
wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises:
a first member having a movement axis about which the first member rotates;
a second member holding the first member;
a first screw arranged to adjust the reference position in a first direction; and
a second screw arranged to adjust the reference position in a second direction intersecting the first direction,

wherein the first member is arranged such that the movement axis is positioned on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis and including a focal point of the projection lens,
wherein an action by a rotation of the first screw and an action by a rotation of the second screw are applied to one of the first member and the second member,
wherein the first member is configured to be rotated about the movement axis while contacting the second member by rotation of the first screw, and
wherein the first member is configured to be slid along the movement axis while contacting the second member by rotation of the second screw.

16. A vehicle lamp comprising:
a light source;
a projection lens through which at least a portion of light emitted from the light source passes; and
an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a reference position of an optical axis of the projection lens,
wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises:
a first member having a movement axis about which the first member rotates;
a second member holding the first member;
a first screw arranged to adjust the reference position in a first direction; and
a second screw arranged to adjust the reference position in a second direction intersecting the first direction,

wherein the first member is arranged such that the movement axis is positioned on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis and including a focal point of the projection lens,
wherein an action by a rotation of the first screw and an action by a rotation of the second screw are applied to one of the first member and the second member,
wherein the vehicle lamp further comprises a lens holder that holds the projection lens, and
wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to move the lens holder with respect to the light source to adjust the reference position of the optical axis of the projection lens.

Assignees

• Koito Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Shibata Hiroki
• Tatsukawa Masashi

Classifications

• F21S41/635

  by moving refractors, filters or transparent cover plates · CPC title

• B60Q1/076

  by electrical means {including means to transmit the movements, e.g. shafts or joints} · CPC title

• F21S41/295

  specially adapted to projection lenses · CPC title

• B60Q1/0683 Primary

  Adjustable by rotation of a screw · CPC title

• B60Q1/115

  by electric means {(details of the electric drive components, e.g. motors, shafts, ball joints B60Q1/076)} · CPC title