IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,528,676
Granted Patent B2
US 9,528,676 · App. 14/484,569 · Granted Dec 27, 2016

Vehicular lamp

Inventors: Hiroki Shibata (Shizuoka, JP); Kazutami Oishi (Shizuoka, JP)
Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
F21S48/1721B60Q1/0683B60Q1/076F21S48/125F21S48/1216F21S48/1159F21S48/1794F21S48/328
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,528,676
App. No.
14/484,569
Granted
Dec 27, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An occupation space of a lamp including a mechanism for adjusting a reference position of an optical axis is reduced. The optical axis adjustment mechanism 17 adjusts a reference position of an optical axis of a projection lens through which at least some of the light emitted from the light source 21 passes. The optical axis adjustment mechanism 17 includes an actuator 71 , an aiming screw 72 and a slider 73 . The actuator 71 includes an electrically driven output shaft 71 b which pivots the optical axis in a horizontal direction about a rotation axis B extending in a vertical direction. The slider 73 is disposed to be slidable along the rotation axis B. The aiming screw 72 slides the slider 73 according to its rotation so as to translate the optical axis in the vertical direction.

Claims (70)

1. A lamp mounted in a vehicle, comprising:

a light source,

a projection lens through which at least some of light emitted from the light source passes, and

an optical axis adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a reference position of an optical axis of the projection lens,

wherein the optical axis adjustment mechanism includes

an actuator having an electrically driven output shaft which pivots the optical axis in a second direction intersecting with a first direction about a pivot axis extending in the first direction,

a slider disposed to be slidable along the pivot axis, and

an aiming screw configured to slide the slider according to rotation of the aiming screw so as to translate the optical axis in the first direction, and

wherein the pivot axis on which the actuator acts is used in common as a sliding movement axis on which the aiming screw acts.

2. The lamp of claim 1 , further comprising:

a support configured to support the light source, and

a lens holder configured to hold the projection lens, and disposed to be displaceable independently of the support,

wherein the actuator and the slider are coupled with the lens holder.

3. The lamp of claim 2 , wherein the pivot axis extends to intersect with a focus of the projection lens.

4. The lamp of claim 2 , further comprising:

a frame including a bearing extending in the first direction,

wherein the lens holder includes a first portion and a second portion extending in the first direction, and

the first portion is coupled with the bearing to be rotatable and slidable,

the second portion is coupled with the slider to be rotatable and non-slidable, and is coupled with the output shaft to be non-rotatable and slidable, and

the slider is supported by the frame so as to be non-rotatable and slidable with respect to the output shaft.

5. The lamp of claim 3 , further comprising:

a frame including a bearing extending in the first direction,

wherein the lens holder includes a first portion and a second portion extending in the first direction, and

the first portion is coupled with the bearing to be rotatable and slidable,

the second portion is coupled with the slider to be rotatable and non-slidable, and is coupled with the output shaft to be non-rotatable and slidable, and

the slider is supported by the frame so as to be non-rotatable and slidable with respect to the output shaft.

6. The lamp of claim 4 , further comprising:

a reflector configured to reflect at least some of the light emitted from the light source toward the projection lens,

wherein a non-through hole configured to receive a part of the first portion is formed at a position facing the bearing in the reflector.

7. The lamp of claim 5 , further comprising:

a reflector configured to reflect at least some of the light emitted from the light source toward the projection lens,

wherein a non-through hole configured to receive a part of the first portion is formed at a position facing the bearing in the reflector.

8. The lamp of claim 1 , further comprising

a support configured to support the light source, and

wherein the aiming screw extends through the support.

9. The lamp of claim 2 , further comprising

a support configured to support the light source, and

wherein the aiming screw extends through the support.

10. The lamp of claim 3 , further comprising

a support configured to support the light source, and

wherein the aiming screw extends through the support.

11. The lamp of claim 4 , further comprising

a support configured to support the light source, and

wherein the aiming screw extends through the support.

12. The lamp of claim 5 , further comprising

a support configured to support the light source, and

wherein the aiming screw extends through the support.

13. The lamp of claim 6 , further comprising

a support configured to support the light source, and

wherein the aiming screw extends through the support.

14. The lamp of claim 7 , further comprising

a support configured to support the light source, and

wherein the aiming screw extends through the support.

15. The lamp of claim 1 , wherein the first direction corresponds to a vertical direction of the vehicle.

16. A lamp mounted in a vehicle, comprising:

a light source,

a projection lens through which at least some of light emitted from the light source passes,

an optical axis adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a reference position of an optical axis of the projection lens,

a support configured to support the light source,

a lens holder configured to hold the projection lens, and disposed to be displaceable independently of the support, and

a frame including a bearing extending in the first direction,

wherein the optical axis adjustment mechanism includes

an actuator having an electrically driven output shaft which pivots the optical axis in a second direction intersecting with a first direction about a pivot axis extending in the first direction,

a slider disposed to be slidable along the pivot axis, and

an aiming screw configured to slide the slider according to rotation of the aiming screw so as to translate the optical axis in the first direction,

wherein the actuator and the slider are coupled with the lens holder, and

wherein the lens holder includes a first portion and a second portion extending in the first direction,

the first portion is coupled with the bearing to be rotatable and slidable,

the second portion is coupled with the slider to be rotatable and non-slidable, and is coupled with the output shaft to be non-rotatable and slidable, and

the slider is supported by the frame so as to be non-rotatable and slidable with respect to the output shaft.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 12, 2014
From: SHIBATA, HIROKI; OISHI, KAZUTAMI
To: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 033729/0048 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2013-199912 · Sep 26, 2013 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150085511A1 · Mar 26, 2015