IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,378,716
Granted Patent B2
US 10,378,716 · App. 15/740,970 · Granted Aug 13, 2019

Vehicle lamp

Inventor: Noriko Sato (Shizuoka, JP)
Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
F21S41/36F21S41/00F21S41/147F21S41/148F21S41/151F21S41/663F21S41/143F21S41/255F21S41/321F21Y2103/10F21Y2103/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,378,716
App. No.
15/740,970
Granted
Aug 13, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A first lamp unit includes a plurality of first light-emitting elements arranged in a vehicle width direction. A second lamp unit includes a plurality of second light-emitting elements arranged in the vehicle width direction. A wiring channel of a first type lights at least one of the first light-emitting elements by supplying power thereto, thereby forming a light distribution pattern of a first type. A wiring channel of a second type connects at least one of the first light-emitting elements in series with at least one of the second light-emitting elements, and lights these by supplying power thereto, thereby forming a light distribution pattern of a second type. The position of a light-dark boundary that extends vertically in the light distribution pattern of the first type is different from the position of a light-dark boundary that extends vertically in the light distribution pattern of the second type.

Claims (43)

1. A vehicle lamp comprising:

a first lamp unit having a first light-emitting element group comprising at least first and second light-emitting elements arranged in a vehicle width direction;

a second lamp unit having a second light-emitting element group comprising at least third and fourth light-emitting elements arranged in the vehicle width direction;

a first-type wiring channel configured to turn on the first light-emitting element without turning on the second light-emitting element by supply of power and to form a first-type light distribution pattern, and

a second-type wiring channel connecting the second light-emitting element in series with the third light-emitting element, to turn on the second and third light-emitting elements without turning on the first light-emitting element by supply of power and to form a second-type light distribution pattern,

wherein a position of a light-dark boundary extending in an upper and lower direction in the first-type light distribution pattern is different from a position of a light-dark boundary extending in the upper and lower direction in the second-type light distribution pattern.

2. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 , wherein a shape of the first-type light distribution pattern is different from a shape of the second-type light distribution pattern.

3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 , wherein brightness of the first-type light distribution pattern is different from brightness of the second-type light distribution pattern.

4. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 , wherein a distance in the vehicle width direction between an optical axis of the first lamp unit and an arrangement center of the first light-emitting element group is different from a distance in the vehicle width direction between an optical axis of the second lamp unit and an arrangement center of the second light-emitting element group.

5. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 , wherein an arrangement interval of the first light-emitting element group is different from an arrangement interval of the second light-emitting element group.

6. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 , wherein a number of light emitting elements in the first light-emitting element group is different from that of the second light-emitting element group.

7. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a third lamp unit having a third light-emitting element group comprising at least fifth and sixth light-emitting elements arranged in the vehicle width direction, and

a third-type wiring channel connecting the fourth light-emitting element in series with the fifth light-emitting element, to turn on the fourth and fifth light-emitting elements without turning on the first, second, third, and sixth light-emitting elements by supply of power to form a third-type light distribution pattern.

8. The vehicle lamp according to claim 7 , wherein the third-type wiring channel further connects the fourth light-emitting in series with an additional light-emitting element of the first light-emitting element group to turn on the additional light-emitting element to contribute to forming the third-type light distribution pattern.

9. The vehicle lamp according to claim 7 , further comprising:

a fourth-type wiring channel that turns on the sixth light-emitting element without turning on the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth light-emitting elements by supply of power to form a fourth-type light distribution pattern.

10. A vehicle lamp comprising:

a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged in a vehicle width direction, and

a reflector having a parabolic reflective surface configured to reflect forward light emitted from the plurality of light-emitting elements,

wherein the reflective surface is arranged above or below the plurality of light-emitting elements,

wherein when the reflective surface is arranged below the plurality of light-emitting elements, the plurality of light-emitting elements is arranged so that a light-emitting element located at a more distant position from a focus of the reflective surface in the vehicle width direction is located at a more forward position,

wherein when the reflective surface is arranged above the plurality of light-emitting elements, the plurality of light-emitting elements is arranged so that a light-emitting element located at a more distant position from the focus of the reflective surface in the vehicle width direction is located at a more backward position, and

wherein a distance in the vehicle width direction between a light-emitting center of a light-emitting element, which is located at the most distant position from the focus in the vehicle width direction, of the plurality of light-emitting elements and the focus is one-fifth or longer of a focal distance of the reflective surface.

11. The vehicle lamp according to claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of light-emitting elements can be selectively turned on and off.

12. A vehicle lamp comprising:

a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged in a vehicle width direction, and

a reflector having a parabolic reflective surface configured to reflect forward light emitted from the plurality of light-emitting elements,

wherein the reflective surface is arranged above or below the plurality of light-emitting elements,

wherein when the reflective surface is arranged below the plurality of light-emitting elements, the plurality of light-emitting elements is arranged so that a light-emitting element located at a more distant position from a focus of the reflective surface in the vehicle width direction is located at a more forward position,

wherein when the reflective surface is arranged above the plurality of light-emitting elements, the plurality of light-emitting elements is arranged so that a light-emitting element located at a more distant position from the focus of the reflective surface in the vehicle width direction is located at a more backward position, and

wherein a distance in a front and back direction of a vehicle between a light-emitting center of a light-emitting element, which is located at the most distant position from the focus in the vehicle width direction, of the plurality of light-emitting elements and the focus is one-tenth or longer of a distance in the vehicle width direction between the light-emitting center and the focus.

13. A vehicle lamp comprising:

a first lamp unit having a plurality of first light-emitting elements arranged in a vehicle width direction;

a second lamp unit having a plurality of second light-emitting elements arranged in the vehicle width direction;

a first-type wiring channel configured to turn on a part of the plurality of first light-emitting elements by supply of power and to form a first-type light distribution pattern, and

a second-type wiring channel configured to connect a part of the plurality of first light-emitting elements in series with at least one of the plurality of second light-emitting elements, to turn on the light-emitting elements by supply of power and to form a second-type light distribution pattern,

wherein a position of a light-dark boundary extending in an upper and lower direction in the first-type light distribution pattern is different from a position of a light-dark boundary extending in the upper and lower direction in the second-type light distribution pattern.

14. The vehicle lamp according to claim 13 , wherein a shape of the first-type light distribution pattern is different from a shape of the second-type light distribution pattern.

15. The vehicle lamp according to claim 13 , wherein brightness of the first-type light distribution pattern is different from brightness of the second-type light distribution pattern.

16. The vehicle lamp according to claim 13 , wherein a distance in the vehicle width direction between an optical axis of the first lamp unit and an arrangement center of the plurality of first light-emitting elements is different from a distance in the vehicle width direction between an optical axis of the second lamp unit and an arrangement center of the plurality of second light-emitting elements.

17. The vehicle lamp according to claim 13 , wherein an arrangement interval of the plurality of first light-emitting elements is different from an arrangement interval of the plurality of second light-emitting elements.

18. The vehicle lamp according to claim 13 , wherein a number of the plurality of first light-emitting elements is different from a number of the plurality of second light-emitting elements.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 2, 2018
From: SATO, NORIKO
To: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 044517/0139 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2015-129567 · Jun 29, 2015 · national
JP 2015-129826 · Jun 29, 2015 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180187854A1 · Jul 5, 2018