IP Library Granted Patent US 10,400,976
Granted Patent B2
US 10,400,976 · App. 15/744,660 · Granted Sep 3, 2019

Light source for headlight and headlight for moving object

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,400,976
App. No.
15/744,660
Granted
Sep 3, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a light source for headlight, the light emitting element is arranged to be displaced from an optical axis of the projection lens part. The reflection surface part is in a shape of a concave mirror having an optical axis and one focal point on the optical axis. An optical center which is an intersection of the reflection surface part and the optical axis of the reflection surface part is arranged on the optical axis of the projection lens part and between the projection lens part and a focal point of the projection lens part. The optical axis of the reflection surface part is oriented in a direction passing a position between a central part of a light emitting surface of the light emitting element and a central part of the projection lens part.

Claims (29)

1. A light source for headlight comprising:

a light emitting element; and

a light guide member having a reflection surface part reflecting light emitted by the light emitting element, and a projection lens part projecting the light reflected by the reflection surface part onto an area ahead of a moving object, wherein

the light emitting element is arranged to be displaced from an optical axis of the projection lens part, and

the reflection surface part is in a shape of a concave mirror having an optical axis and one focal point on the optical axis, an optical center which is an intersection of the reflection surface part and the optical axis of the reflection surface part is arranged on the optical axis of the projection lens part and between the projection lens part and a focal point of the projection lens part, and the optical axis of the reflection surface part is oriented in a direction passing a position between a central part of a light emitting surface of the light emitting element and a central part of the projection lens part.

2. The light source for headlight according to claim 1 , wherein the light source for headlight is a light source for low-beam light, a light source for high-beam light, or a light source for specific direction illumination light.

3. The light source for headlight according to claim 2 , wherein the light source for headlight is the light source for low-beam light, and

wherein the light guide member has a reflection surface part for light distribution formation disposed between the light emitting element and the reflection surface part,

an edge of the reflection surface part for light distribution formation, the edge being on a side of the reflection surface part, is arranged at a combined focal point of the projection lens part and the reflection surface part, and

the optical axis of the reflection surface part is oriented toward a center of an angle which the optical axis of the projection lens part forms with either a straight line passing through the optical center of the reflection surface part and a central part of the edge of the reflection surface part for light distribution formation, the edge being on aside of the reflection surface part, or a straight line passing through the optical center of the reflection surface part and the central part of the light emitting surface of the light emitting element.

4. The light source for headlight according to claim 2 , wherein the light source for headlight is the light source for high-beam light, and

the central part of the light emitting surface of the light emitting element is arranged at a combined focal point of the projection lens part and the reflection surface part, and

the optical axis of the reflection surface part is oriented toward a center of an angle which the optical axis of the projection lens part forms with a straight line passing through the optical center of the reflection surface part and the central part of the light emitting surface of the light emitting element.

5. The light source for headlight according to claim 2 , wherein the light source for headlight is the light source for specific direction illumination light, and

the central part of the light emitting surface of the light emitting element is arranged apart from the optical axis of the projection lens part at a longer distance than a combined focal point of the projection lens part and the reflection surface part, and

the optical axis of the reflection surface part is oriented toward a center of an angle which the optical axis of the projection lens part forms with a straight line passing through the optical center of the reflection surface part and the central part of the light emitting surface of the light emitting element.

6. The light source for headlight according to claim 3 , wherein the light emitting element is arranged above the optical axis of the projection lens part, and

an edge of the light emitting surface of the light emitting element, the edge being on a front side of the moving object, is arranged either on a surface extending along the reflection surface part for light distribution formation, or closer to a rear side of the moving object with respect to the surface extending along the reflection surface part for light distribution formation.

7. The light source for headlight according to claim 3 , wherein the light emitting element is arranged below the optical axis of the projection lens part, and

an edge of the light emitting surface of the light emitting element, the edge being on a rear side of the moving object, is arranged either on a surface extending along the reflection surface part for light distribution formation, or closer to a front side of the moving object with respect to the surface extending along the reflection surface part for light distribution formation.

8. The light source for headlight according to claim 3 , wherein a normal of the light emitting surface of the light emitting element at a central part of the light emitting surface is oriented toward the central part of the edge of the reflection surface part for light distribution formation, the edge being on the side of the reflection surface part.

9. The light source for headlight according to claim 3 , wherein the edge of the reflection surface part for light distribution formation, the edge being on the side of the reflection surface part, is formed into a curved shape in such a way that both ends thereof are closer to the optical axis of the projection lens part than a center thereof.

10. The light source for headlight according to claim 3 , wherein the edge of the reflection surface part for light distribution formation, the edge being on the side of the reflection surface part, is shaped in such a way that at least a part thereof is inclined in a front-rear direction of the moving object.

11. The light source for headlight according to claim 3 , wherein the edge of the reflection surface part for light distribution formation, the edge being on the side of the reflection surface part, is formed into a curved shape in such a way that a center thereof protrudes toward a rear or front side of the moving object in comparison with both ends thereof.

12. The light source for headlight according to claim 1 , wherein the reflection surface part is configured so as to receive incident light emitted by the light emitting element incident to the reflection surface part at an angle equal to or larger than a critical angle and reflect the incident light at an internal surface portion of the light guide member, or so as to reflect incident light emitted by the light emitting element with a plating or a coating formed on an external surface portion of the light guide member.

13. The light source for headlight according to claim 1 , wherein the light emitting element is arranged outside the light guide member, and

the light source for headlight further comprises an incidence member guiding light emitted by the light emitting element into the light guide member.

14. The light source for headlight according to claim 1 , wherein the light emitting element is enclosed in the light guide member.

15. A headlight for a moving object comprising the light source for headlight according to claim 1 .

Assignments (2)
COMPANY SPLIT Recorded Sep 4, 2024
From: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
To: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC MOBILITY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 068834/0585 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2018
From: KUWATA, MUNEHARU; OHSAWA, TAKASHI
To: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 045076/0895 →