Vehicle lamp with integrally formed housing, first light guiding lens, and second light guiding lens

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9987975-B2
Application number	US-201415037695-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2014
Priority date	Nov 19, 2013
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle lamp has a circuit board on which a light emitting element is mounted, a housing for holding the circuit board, a first light guiding lens for guiding part of light emitted from the light emitting element in a predetermined direction, and a second light guiding lens for guiding at least the other part of the light emitted from the light emitting element in the other predetermined direction. The housing, the first light guiding lens and the second light guiding lens are formed integrally.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle lamp comprising:
a circuit board on which a light emitting element is mounted;
a housing for holding the circuit board;
a first light guiding lens for guiding part of light emitted from the light emitting element in a predetermined direction, and
a second light guiding lens for guiding at least the other part of the light emitted from the light emitting element in the other predetermined direction,
wherein the housing, the first light guiding lens and the second light guiding lens are formed integrally,
wherein the housing comprises a circuit board disposing portion formed into a box shape that is opened upwards, and
wherein the second light guiding lens is provided so as to connect to an upper end portion of the first light guiding lens at a lower end portion thereof, to connect to the circuit board disposing portion at a rear end portion thereof and to project to the front while projecting obliquely upwards from the first light guiding lens.

2. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 ,
wherein a first light entering surface which part of light emitted from the light emitting element enters is formed on the first light guiding lens,
wherein a second light entering surface which at least the other part of the light emitted from the light emitting element enters and a reflecting surface which reflects light which enters from the second light entering surface are formed on the second light guiding lens, and
wherein the light which enters from the first light entering surface and the light which enters from the second light entering surface are emitted in different directions.

3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 2 ,
wherein a functional surface is formed on the second light guiding lens, and
wherein part of light which enters from the second light entering surface is reflected at the reflecting surface and light which enters from the second light entering surface is emitted from the functional surface or is reflected on the functional surface depending on a light guiding path in the second light guiding lens.

4. The vehicle lamp according to claim 3 ,
wherein the first light entering surface intersects an axis of light emitted from the light emitting element at right angles, and
wherein the second light entering surface is inclined relative to the axis of the light emitted from the light emitting element and is formed so as to project towards the light emitting element.

5. The vehicle lamp according to claim 4 ,
wherein a functional surface from which part of light emitted from the light emitting element is emitted is formed on the second light guiding lens,
wherein a first light exiting surface which emits light which enters from the first light entering surface are formed on the first light guiding lens, and
wherein the first light exiting surface and the functional surface are positioned on opposite sides with a plane held therebetween which includes a light emitting surface of the light emitting element and intersects an optical axis of the light emitting element at right angles.

6. The vehicle lamp according to claim 5 ,
wherein a first light entering surface which part of light emitted from the light emitting element enters and a first light exiting surface which emits light which enters from the first light entering surface are formed on the first light guiding lens, and
wherein the first guiding lens has a shape in which an external shape becomes larger as the first guiding lens extends from the first light entering surface towards the first light exiting surface.

7. The vehicle lamp according to claim 4 ,
wherein a first light entering surface which part of light emitted from the light emitting element enters and a first light exiting surface which emits light which enters from the first light entering surface are formed on the first light guiding lens, and
wherein the first guiding lens has a shape in which an external shape becomes larger as the first guiding lens extends from the first light entering surface towards the first light exiting surface.

8. The vehicle lamp according to claim 3 ,
wherein a functional surface from which part of light emitted from the light emitting element is emitted is formed on the second light guiding lens,
wherein a first light exiting surface which emits light which enters from the first light entering surface are formed on the first light guiding lens, and
wherein the first light exiting surface and the functional surface are positioned on opposite sides with a plane held therebetween which includes a light emitting surface of the light emitting element and intersects an optical axis of the light emitting element at right angles.

9. The vehicle lamp according to claim 8 ,
wherein a first light entering surface which part of light emitted from the light emitting element enters and a first light exiting surface which emits light which enters from the first light entering surface are formed on the first light guiding lens, and
wherein the first guiding lens has a shape in which an external shape becomes larger as the first guiding lens extends from the first light entering surface towards the first light exiting surface.

10. The vehicle lamp according to claim 3 ,
wherein a first light entering surface which part of light emitted from the light emitting element enters and a first light exiting surface which emits light which enters from the first light entering surface are formed on the first light guiding lens, and
wherein the first guiding lens has a shape in which an external shape becomes larger as the first guiding lens extends from the first light entering surface towards the first light exiting surface.

11. The vehicle lamp according to claim 2 ,
wherein the first light entering surface intersects an axis of light emitted from the light emitting element at right angles, and
wherein the second light entering surface is inclined relative to the axis of the light emitted from the light emitting element and is formed so as to project towards the light emitting element.

12. The vehicle lamp according to claim 11 ,
wherein a functional surface from which part of light emitted from the light emitting element is emitted is formed on the second light guiding lens,
wherein a first light exiting surface which emits light which enters from the first light entering surface are formed on the first light guiding lens, and
wherein the first light exiting surface and the functional surface are positioned on opposite sides with a plane held therebetween which includes a light emitting surface of the light emitting element and intersects an optical axis of the light emitting element at right angles.

13. The vehicle lamp according to claim 12 ,
wherein a first light entering surface which part of light emitted from the light emitting element enters and a first light exiting surface which emits light which enters from the first light entering surface are formed on the first light guiding lens, and
wherein the first guiding lens has a shape in which an external shape becomes larger as the first guiding lens extends from the first light entering surface towards the first light exiting surface.

14. The vehicle lamp according to claim 11 ,
wherein a first light entering surface which part of light emitted from the light emitting element enters and a first light exiting surface which emits light which enters from the first light entering surface are formed on the first light guiding lens, and
wherein the first guiding lens has a shape in which an external shape becomes larger as the first guiding lens extends from the first

Assignees

• Koito Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Takahashi Haruhito
• Kazaoka Shigehiko

Classifications

• F21S43/19

  Attachment of light sources or lamp holders · CPC title

• F21S43/241

  of complex shape · CPC title

• F21S43/26

  Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255 · CPC title

• B60Q2400/40

  Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle · CPC title

• F21V23/02

  the elements being transformers, impedances {or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier} · CPC title