Lighting apparatus and automobile including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9810396-B2
Application number	US-201514693152-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2015
Priority date	May 9, 2014
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

A lighting apparatus for vehicle use that projects light forward includes: a base, a low beam lamp including a low beam light emitting device disposed on the base; a first high beam lamp including a first high beam light emitting device disposed on the base; a second high beam lamp including a second high beam light emitting device disposed on the base; and a lighting controller configured to turn on the low beam light emitting device, the first high beam light emitting device, and the second high beam light emitting device when high beams are turned on. A center of an area illuminated by the first high beam lamp and a center of an area illuminated by the second high beam lamp are horizontally spaced apart from each other.

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 lamp including a low beam light emitting device disposed on the base;
a first high beam lamp including a first high beam light emitting device disposed on the base;
a second high beam lamp including a second high beam light emitting device disposed on the base; and
a lighting controller configured to turn on the low beam light emitting device, the first high beam light emitting device, and the second high beam light emitting device when high beams are turned on,
wherein a center of an area illuminated by the first high beam lamp and a center of an area illuminated by the second high beam lamp are horizontally spaced apart from each other,
wherein a horizontal width of the area illuminated by the second high beam lamp is greater than a horizontal width of the area illuminated by the first high beam lamp.

2. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first high beam lamp includes a first collimating lens,
the second high beam lamp includes a second collimating lens, and
an optical axis of the second collimating lens is oblique to an optical axis of the first collimating lens.

3. The lighting apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the first collimating lens is substantially circular in front view, and
the second collimating lens is substantially elliptical in front view.

4. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first high beam lamp comprises a plurality of first high beam lamps, and
the plurality of first high beam lamps are horizontally offset from each other.

5. The lighting apparatus according to claim 4 ,
wherein the plurality of first high beam lamps are vertically offset from each other.

6. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first high beam lamp and the second high beam lamp are vertically offset from each other.

7. An automobile comprising:
the lighting apparatus according to claim 1 ;
a vehicle body including the lighting apparatus in a front portion; and
an engine controller connected to the lighting controller.

8. A lighting apparatus for vehicle use that projects light forward, the lighting apparatus comprising:
a base;
a low beam lamp including a low beam light emitting device disposed on the base;
a first high beam lamp including a first high beam light emitting device disposed on the base;
a second high beam lamp including a second high beam light emitting device disposed on the base; and
a lighting controller configured to turn on the low beam light emitting device, the first high beam light emitting device, and the second high beam light emitting device when high beams are turned on,
wherein a center of an area illuminated by the first high beam lamp and a center of an area illuminated by the second high beam lamp are horizontally spaced apart from each other,
wherein the first high beam lamp includes a first collimating lens,
the second high beam lamp includes a second collimating lens, and
an optical axis of the second collimating lens is oblique to an optical axis of the first collimating lens.

9. The lighting apparatus according to claim 8 ,
wherein the first collimating lens is substantially circular in front view, and
the second collimating lens is substantially elliptical in front view.

10. The lighting apparatus according to claim 8 ,
wherein the first high beam lamp comprises a plurality of first high beam lamps, and
the plurality of first high beam lamps are horizontally offset from each other.

11. The lighting apparatus according to claim 10 ,
wherein the plurality of first high beam lamps are vertically offset from each other.

12. The lighting apparatus according to claim 8 ,
wherein the first high beam lamp and the second high beam lamp are vertically offset from each other.

13. An automobile comprising:
the lighting apparatus according to claim 8 ;
a vehicle body including the lighting apparatus in a front portion; 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

• F21S41/148

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

• 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

• F21S41/151

  arranged in one or more lines · CPC title

• F21W2107/10

  for land vehicles · CPC title

• F21W2102/00

  Exterior vehicle lighting devices for illuminating purposes · CPC title