Vehicular lamp

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9528676-B2
Application number	US-201414484569-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2014
Priority date	Sep 26, 2013
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

An occupation space of a lamp including a mechanism for adjusting a reference position of an optical axis is reduced. The optical axis adjustment mechanism 17 adjusts a reference position of an optical axis of a projection lens through which at least some of the light emitted from the light source 21 passes. The optical axis adjustment mechanism 17 includes an actuator 71 , an aiming screw 72 and a slider 73 . The actuator 71 includes an electrically driven output shaft 71 b which pivots the optical axis in a horizontal direction about a rotation axis B extending in a vertical direction. The slider 73 is disposed to be slidable along the rotation axis B. The aiming screw 72 slides the slider 73 according to its rotation so as to translate the optical axis in the vertical direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lamp mounted in a vehicle, comprising:
a light source,
a projection lens through which at least some of light emitted from the light source passes, and
an optical axis adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a reference position of an optical axis of the projection lens,
wherein the optical axis adjustment mechanism includes
an actuator having an electrically driven output shaft which pivots the optical axis in a second direction intersecting with a first direction about a pivot axis extending in the first direction,
a slider disposed to be slidable along the pivot axis, and
an aiming screw configured to slide the slider according to rotation of the aiming screw so as to translate the optical axis in the first direction, and
wherein the pivot axis on which the actuator acts is used in common as a sliding movement axis on which the aiming screw acts.

2. The lamp of claim 1 , further comprising:
a support configured to support the light source, and
a lens holder configured to hold the projection lens, and disposed to be displaceable independently of the support,
wherein the actuator and the slider are coupled with the lens holder.

3. The lamp of claim 2 , wherein the pivot axis extends to intersect with a focus of the projection lens.

4. The lamp of claim 2 , further comprising:
a frame including a bearing extending in the first direction,
wherein the lens holder includes a first portion and a second portion extending in the first direction, and
the first portion is coupled with the bearing to be rotatable and slidable,
the second portion is coupled with the slider to be rotatable and non-slidable, and is coupled with the output shaft to be non-rotatable and slidable, and
the slider is supported by the frame so as to be non-rotatable and slidable with respect to the output shaft.

5. The lamp of claim 3 , further comprising:
a frame including a bearing extending in the first direction,
wherein the lens holder includes a first portion and a second portion extending in the first direction, and
the first portion is coupled with the bearing to be rotatable and slidable,
the second portion is coupled with the slider to be rotatable and non-slidable, and is coupled with the output shaft to be non-rotatable and slidable, and
the slider is supported by the frame so as to be non-rotatable and slidable with respect to the output shaft.

6. The lamp of claim 4 , further comprising:
a reflector configured to reflect at least some of the light emitted from the light source toward the projection lens,
wherein a non-through hole configured to receive a part of the first portion is formed at a position facing the bearing in the reflector.

7. The lamp of claim 5 , further comprising:
a reflector configured to reflect at least some of the light emitted from the light source toward the projection lens,
wherein a non-through hole configured to receive a part of the first portion is formed at a position facing the bearing in the reflector.

8. The lamp of claim 1 , further comprising
a support configured to support the light source, and
wherein the aiming screw extends through the support.

9. The lamp of claim 2 , further comprising
a support configured to support the light source, and
wherein the aiming screw extends through the support.

10. The lamp of claim 3 , further comprising
a support configured to support the light source, and
wherein the aiming screw extends through the support.

11. The lamp of claim 4 , further comprising
a support configured to support the light source, and
wherein the aiming screw extends through the support.

12. The lamp of claim 5 , further comprising
a support configured to support the light source, and
wherein the aiming screw extends through the support.

13. The lamp of claim 6 , further comprising
a support configured to support the light source, and
wherein the aiming screw extends through the support.

14. The lamp of claim 7 , further comprising
a support configured to support the light source, and
wherein the aiming screw extends through the support.

15. The lamp of claim 1 , wherein the first direction corresponds to a vertical direction of the vehicle.

16. A lamp mounted in a vehicle, comprising:
a light source,
a projection lens through which at least some of light emitted from the light source passes,
an optical axis adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a reference position of an optical axis of the projection lens,
a support configured to support the light source,
a lens holder configured to hold the projection lens, and disposed to be displaceable independently of the support, and
a frame including a bearing extending in the first direction,
wherein the optical axis adjustment mechanism includes
an actuator having an electrically driven output shaft which pivots the optical axis in a second direction intersecting with a first direction about a pivot axis extending in the first direction,
a slider disposed to be slidable along the pivot axis, and
an aiming screw configured to slide the slider according to rotation of the aiming screw so as to translate the optical axis in the first direction,
wherein the actuator and the slider are coupled with the lens holder, and
wherein the lens holder includes a first portion and a second portion extending in the first direction,
the first portion is coupled with the bearing to be rotatable and slidable,
the second portion is coupled with the slider to be rotatable and non-slidable, and is coupled with the output shaft to be non-rotatable and slidable, and
the slider is supported by the frame so as to be non-rotatable and slidable with respect to the output shaft.

Assignees

• Koito Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Shibata Hiroki
• Oishi Kazutami

Classifications

• B60Q1/0683

  Adjustable by rotation of a screw · CPC title

• F21S41/295

  specially adapted to projection lenses · CPC title

• F21S41/698

  Shaft-shaped screens rotating along its longitudinal axis · CPC title

• 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