Lighting apparatus and automobile including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9765940-B2
Application number	US-201514688194-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 16, 2015
Priority date	May 9, 2014
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

A lighting apparatus for vehicle use that projects light forward includes: a base; a low beam light emitting device disposed on the base; a high beam light emitting device disposed on the base; a lens body disposed in front of the low beam light emitting device and the high beam light emitting device; and a first light restrictor disposed in front of the high beam light emitting device, the first light restrictor restricting light emitted by the high beam light emitting device from traveling downward.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lighting apparatus for vehicle use that projects light forward, the lighting apparatus comprising:
a base;
a low beam light emitting device disposed on the base;
a high beam light emitting device disposed on the base;
a lens body disposed in front of the low beam light emitting device and the high beam light emitting device; and
a first light restrictor disposed in front of the high beam light emitting device, the first light restrictor restricting light emitted by the high beam light emitting device from traveling downward,
wherein the lens body includes:
a low beam lens unit disposed in front of the low beam light emitting device; and
a high beam lens unit disposed in front of the high beam light emitting device, the first light restrictor positioned in front of the high beam lens unit.

2. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the low beam lens unit has a rear surface, the high beam lens unit has a front surface, and the front surface and the rear surface are substantially flush.

3. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the low beam lens unit and the high beam lens unit are integrally formed.

4. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the base includes:
a heat sink; and
a shield that defines a predetermined low beam cut-off line, and
the first light restrictor is a portion of an outer surface of the heat sink.

5. An automobile comprising:
the lighting apparatus according to claim 1 ;
a vehicle body including the lighting apparatus in a front portion; and
a lighting controller configured to turn on the low beam light emitting device and the high beam light emitting device when high beams are turned on; and
an engine controller connected to the lighting controller.

6. A lighting apparatus for vehicle use that projects light forward, the lighting apparatus comprising:
a base;
a low beam light emitting device disposed on the base;
a high beam light emitting device disposed on the base;
a lens body disposed in front of the low beam light emitting device and the high beam light emitting device; and
a first light restrictor disposed in front of the high beam light emitting device, the first light restrictor restricting light emitted by the high beam light emitting device from traveling downward,
wherein the lens body includes:
a low beam lens unit disposed in front of the low beam light emitting device; and
a high beam lens unit disposed in front of the high beam light emitting device,
the first light restrictor comprises a portion of an outer surface of the low beam lens unit.

7. The lighting apparatus according to claim 6 ,
wherein the low beam lens unit has a rear surface, the high beam lens unit has a front surface, and the front surface and the rear surface are substantially flush.

8. The lighting apparatus according to claim 6 ,
wherein the low beam lens unit and the high beam lens unit are integrally formed.

9. An automobile comprising:
the lighting apparatus according to claim 6 ;
a vehicle body including the lighting apparatus in a front portion; and
a lighting controller configured to turn on the low beam light emitting device and the high beam light emitting device when high beams are turned on; and
an engine controller connected to the lighting controller.

10. A lighting apparatus for vehicle use that projects light forward, the lighting apparatus comprising:
a base;
a low beam light emitting device disposed on the base;
a high beam light emitting device disposed on the base;
a lens body disposed in front of the low beam light emitting device and the high beam light emitting device; and
a first light restrictor disposed in front of the high beam light emitting device, the first light restrictor restricting light emitted by the high beam light emitting device from traveling downward,
wherein the base includes:
a heat sink; and
a shield that defines a predetermined low beam cut-off line, and
the first light restrictor comprises a reflective surface that reflects light and is a portion of an outer surface of the shield.

11. The lighting apparatus according to claim 10 ,
wherein the lens body includes:
a low beam lens unit disposed in front of the low beam light emitting device; and
a high beam lens unit disposed in front of the high beam light emitting device,
wherein the low beam lens unit and the high beam lens unit are integrally formed.

12. The lighting apparatus according to claim 10 ,
wherein the lens body includes:
a low beam lens unit disposed in front of the low beam light emitting device; and
a high beam lens unit disposed in front of the high beam light emitting device,
wherein the low beam lens unit has a rear surface, the high beam lens unit has a front surface, and the front surface and the rear surface are substantially flush.

13. An automobile comprising:
the lighting apparatus according to claim 10 ;
a vehicle body including the lighting apparatus in a front portion; and
a lighting controller configured to turn on the low beam light emitting device and the high beam light emitting device when high beams are turned on; and
an engine controller connected to the lighting controller.

14. A lighting apparatus for vehicle use that projects light forward, the lighting apparatus comprising:
a base;
a low beam light emitting device disposed on the base;
a high beam light emitting device disposed on the base;
a lens body disposed in front of the low beam light emitting device and the high beam light emitting device;
a first light restrictor disposed in front of the high beam light emitting device, the first light restrictor restricting light emitted by the high beam light emitting device from traveling downward, and
a second light restrictor disposed in front of the low beam light emitting device, the second light restrictor restricting light emitted by the low beam light emitting device from traveling upward.

15. The lighting apparatus according to claim 14 ,
wherein the base includes:
a heat sink; and
a shield that defines a predetermined low beam cut-off line, and
the second light restrictor is a portion of an inner surface of the shield.

16. The lighting apparatus according to claim 14 ,
wherein the lens body includes:
a low beam lens unit disposed in front of the low beam light emitting device; and
a high beam lens unit disposed in front of the high beam light emitting device,
wherein the low beam lens unit has a rear surface, the high beam lens unit has a front surface, and the front surface and the rear surface are substantially flush.

17. The lighting apparatus according to claim 14 ,
wherein the lens body includes:
a low beam lens unit disposed in front of the low beam light emitting device; and
a high beam lens unit disposed in front of the high beam light emitting device,
wherein the low beam lens unit and the high beam lens unit are integrally formed.

18. An automobile comprising:
the lighting apparatus according to claim 14 ;
a vehicle body including the lighting apparatus in a front portion; and
a lighting controller configured to turn on the low beam light emitting device and the high beam light emitting device when high beams are turned on; and
an engine controller connected to the lighting controller.

Assignees

• Panasonic Ip Man Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kanayama Yoshihiko
• Aoki Hiro
• Kai Makoto
• Ogata Tomoyuki

Classifications

• F21S45/48

  with means for conducting heat from the inside to the outside of the lighting devices, e.g. with fins on the outer surface of the lighting device · CPC title

• F21S41/322

  the reflector using total internal reflection · CPC title

• F21S41/148

  the main emission direction of the LED being perpendicular to the optical axis · CPC title

• F21S41/285

  Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S41/24 - F21S41/2805 · CPC title

• F21S41/151

  arranged in one or more lines · CPC title