# US 10,309,606 B2 · Vehicle lamp > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,606 B2 - Document ID: US10309606B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/606,900 - Filed: 2017-05-26 - Published: 2017-11-30 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-27 - Assignees: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Kenichi Takada; Tatsuma Kitazawa; Teruaki Yamamoto; Hiroki Kawai; Akira Hanada - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309606B2 ## CPC - F21S 41/338: {the reflector having surface portions added to its general concavity} - F21S 41/00: Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps (reversing lights F21S43/00) - F21S 41/147: the main emission direction of the LED being angled to the optical axis of the illuminating device - F21S 41/148: the main emission direction of the LED being perpendicular to the optical axis - F21S 41/151: arranged in one or more lines - F21S 41/153: arranged in a matrix - F21S 41/192: {Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors} - F21S 41/255: Lenses with a front view of circular or truncated circular outline - F21S 41/265: Composite lenses; Lenses with a patch-like shape - F21S 41/321: {the reflector being a surface of revolution or a planar surface, e.g. truncated} - F21S 41/43: characterised by the shape thereof - F21S 41/663: by switching light sources (by switching incandescent light sources F21S41/162) - F21S 45/435: circulating the gas within a closed system - F21S 45/47: Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings - F21S 41/10: characterised by the light source - F21S 41/143: the main emission direction of the LED being parallel to the optical axis of the illuminating device - F21S 41/20: characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters - F21S 41/25: Projection lenses - F21S 41/27: Thick lenses - F21S 41/285: {Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S41/24 - F21S41/2805} - F21S 41/30: characterised by reflectors - F21S 41/332: {with continuity at the junction between adjacent areas} - F21S 41/365: successively reflecting the light - F21W 2102/13: for high-beam region or low-beam region - F21W 2102/145: wherein the light is emitted between two parallel vertical cutoff lines, e.g. selectively emitted rectangular-shaped high beam - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS ## Abstract There is provided a vehicle lamp including a projection lens, a first light source arranged at a rear of the projection lens and configured to emit light for forming a predetermined light distribution pattern, a reflector configured to reflect the light emitted from the first light source towards the projection lens, a first array light source arranged at the rear of the projection lens and including a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements aligned in at least one row, and a second array light source arranged at the rear of the projection lens and including a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements aligned in at least one row. The first array light source and the second array light source are arranged in an upper-lower direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle lamp comprising: a projection lens; a first light source arranged at a rear of the projection lens and configured to emit light for forming a predetermined light distribution pattern; a reflector configured to reflect the light emitted from the first light source towards the projection lens; a first array light source arranged at the rear of the projection lens and including a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements aligned in at least one row extending in a left-right direction of the vehicle lamp; and a second array light source arranged at the rear of the projection lens and including a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements aligned in at least one row extending in the left-right direction of the vehicle lamp, wherein the first array light source and the second array light source are arranged in an upper-lower direction of the vehicle lamp. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the projection lens has a first back focal point and a second back focal point, wherein the first array light source is arranged at a position corresponding to the first back focal point, and wherein the second array light source is arranged at a position corresponding to the second back focal point. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements of the first array light source are configured to be individually lit on and off, wherein the plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements of the second array light source are configured to be individually lit on and off, and wherein in light distribution patterns to be projected on a vertical virtual screen ahead of the lamp, a light distribution pattern which is to be formed by the respective semiconductor light emitting elements of the first array light source and a light distribution pattern which is to be formed by the respective semiconductor light emitting elements of the second array light source are offset in the left-right direction of the vehicle lamp. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the second array light source is configured to emit light for forming at least a part of a light distribution pattern for high beam. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the first array light source is arranged between the first back focal point of the projection lens and the first light source in a front-rear direction of the vehicle lamp. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the first light source is configured to emit light for forming a light distribution pattern for low beam, the vehicle lamp further comprising: a base member, on which the first light source, the first array light source and the second array light source are mounted; and an optical member which is a component separate from the base member and is configured to function as a shade for forming a cutoff line of the light distribution pattern for low beam at a state where the optical member is mounted to the base member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle lamp according to claim 6, wherein the optical member includes: a first reflective surface configured to reflect the light emitted from the first array light source towards an incident surface of the projection lens; and a second reflective surface configured to reflect the light emitted from the second array light source towards the incident surface of the projection lens. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The vehicle lamp according to claim 6, wherein the base member includes a first surface on which the first light source is arranged and a second surface on which the first array light source and the second array light source are arranged, and wherein the second surface is an inclined surface which is inclined relative to an optical axis of the projection lens such that a light output part of the first array light source arranged on the second surface faces obliquely in a front and upper direction and a light output part of the first array light source is located below the first back focal point. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle lamp according to claim 8, further comprising: a flexible circuit board, on which the first array light source and the second array light source are arranged, wherein at least a part of the flexible circuit board is fixed to the inclined surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The vehicle lamp according to claim 8, further comprising: a rigid circuit board, on which the first array light source and the second array light source are arranged, wherein at least a part of the rigid circuit board is fixed to the inclined surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein a center position of the first array light source is arranged at a position different from a center position of the second array light source in the left-right direction of the vehicle lamp. ### Claim 12 A vehicle lamp comprising: a projection lens including an output surface having a convex shape based on only one circular arc; a first light source arranged at a rear of the projection lens; and a second light source arranged at the rear of the projection lens, wherein the projection lens has a first back focal point and a second back focal point, wherein the first light source is arranged at a position corresponding to the first back focal point, and wherein the second light source is arranged at a position corresponding to the second back focal point. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle lamp according to claim 12, wherein the first light source and the second light source are arranged in an upper-lower direction of the vehicle lamp. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicle lamp according to claim 13, wherein the projection lens includes a first lens part configured to form the first back focal point and a second lens part configured to form the second back focal point, wherein the first lens part is formed below the second lens part, wherein the first back focal point is located above the second back focal point, wherein the first light source is configured to emit light towards an incident surface of the first lens part, and wherein the second light source is configured to emit light towards an incident surface of the second lens part. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The vehicle lamp according to claim 12, wherein the first light source and the second light source are arranged in a left-right direction of the vehicle lamp. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vehicle lamp according to claim 15, wherein the projection lens includes a first lens part configured to form the first back focal point and a second lens part configured to form the second back focal point, wherein the first lens part is formed at a left side relative to the second lens part, wherein the first back focal point is located at a right side relative to the second back focal point, wherein the first light source is configured to emit light towards an incident surface of the first lens part, and wherein the second light source is configured to emit light towards an incident surface of the second lens part. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The vehicle lamp according to claim 12, wherein the projection lens includes a first lens part configured to form the first back focal point and a second lens part configured to form the second back focal point, the vehicle lamp further comprising: a first reflection part configured to reflect the light emitted from the first light source towards an incident surface of the first lens part; and a second reflection part configured to reflect the light emitted from the second light source towards an incident surface of the second lens part. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The vehicle lamp according to claim 12, wherein the first light source is a first array light source including a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements aligned in at least one row, wherein the second light source is a second array light source including a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements aligned in at least one row, and wherein a center position of the first array light source is arranged at a position different from a center position of the second array light source in a left-right direction of the vehicle lamp. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The vehicle lamp according to claim 18, further comprising: a base member; and a rigid circuit board, on which the first array light source and the second array light source are mounted, wherein the rigid circuit board is mounted to the base member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The vehicle lamp according to claim 18, further comprising: a base member, and a flexible circuit board, on which the first array light source and the second array light source are arranged, wherein at least a part of the flexible circuit board is fixed to the base member. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The vehicle lamp according to claim 12, wherein the projection lens includes a first lens part configured to form the first back focal point and a second lens part configured to form the second back focal point, and an output surface of the first lens part and an output surface of the second lens part form the convex shape based on the only one circular arc. ### Claim 22 A vehicle lamp comprising: a first light source configured to emit light for forming a light distribution pattern for low beam; a first array light source including a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements aligned in at least one row extending in a left-right direction of the vehicle lamp; and a second array light source including a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements aligned in at least one row extending in the left-right direction of the vehicle lamp, wherein the first array light source is configured to emit light for forming at least a part of an additional light distribution pattern for high beam, and wherein the second array light source is configured to emit light for forming an additional light distribution pattern that is to overlap with both the light distribution pattern for low beam and the additional light distribution pattern for high beam on a vertical virtual screen ahead of the lamp. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The vehicle lamp according to claim 22, wherein a center position of the first array light source is arranged at a position different from a center position of the second array light source in the left-right direction of the vehicle lamp. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The vehicle lamp according to claim 22, further comprising: a projection lens, wherein the first array light source is arranged at a rear of the projection lens, and wherein respective arrangement pitches of the plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements of the first array light source in the left-right direction of the vehicle lamp are smaller towards a back focal point of the projection lens. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The vehicle lamp according to claim 22, wherein the plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements of the first array light source are configured to be individually lit on and off, wherein the plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements of the second array light source is configured to be individually lit on and off, and wherein in light distribution patterns to be projected on a vertical virtual screen ahead of the lamp, a light distribution pattern which is to be formed by the respective semiconductor light emitting elements of the first array light source and a light distribution pattern which is to be formed by the respective semiconductor light emitting elements of the second array light source are offset in the left-right direction of the vehicle lamp. ### Claim 26 A vehicle lamp comprising: a projection lens having a plurality of focal points; a first array light source arranged at a rear of the projection lens and including a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements aligned in at least one row; and a second array light source arranged at the rear of the projection lens and including a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements aligned in at least one row, wherein the first array light source and the second array light source are arranged in an upper-lower direction of the vehicle lamp, wherein the plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements of the first array light source are configured to be individually lit on and off, wherein the plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements of the second array light source are configured to be individually lit on and off, and wherein in light distribution patterns to be projected on a vertical virtual screen ahead of the lamp, a light distribution pattern which is to be formed by the respective semiconductor light emitting elements of the first array light source and a light distribution pattern which is to be formed by the respective semiconductor light emitting elements of the second array light source are offset in a left-right direction of the vehicle lamp. ### Claim 27 (depends on 13) The vehicle lamp according to claim 13, wherein the projection lens has a first back focal point and a second back focal point, wherein the first array light source is arranged at a position corresponding to the first back focal point, and wherein the second array light source is arranged at a position corresponding to the second back focal point. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The vehicle lamp according to claim 27, wherein the projection lens includes a first lens part configured to form the first back focal point and a second lens part configured to form the second back focal point, the vehicle lamp further comprising: a first reflection part configured to reflect the light emitted from the first array light source towards an incident surface of the first lens part; and a second reflection part configured to reflect the light emitted from the second array light source towards an incident surface of the second lens part. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The vehicle lamp according to claim 28, further comprising: a base member, on which the first array light source and the second array light source mounted; and an optical member which is a component separate from the base member and is formed with a first opening through which the first array light source is to be exposed ahead of the lamp and a second opening through which the second array light source is to be exposed ahead of the lamp at a state where the optical member is mounted to the base member, wherein the optical member includes the first reflection part and the second reflection part. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The vehicle lamp according to claim 27, wherein the projection lens includes a first lens part configured to form the first back focal point and a second lens part configured to form the second back focal point, and wherein a convex portion protruding towards a rear of the lamp is formed at a boundary part between an incident surface of the first lens part and an incident surface of the second lens part. ### Claim 31 (depends on 27) The vehicle lamp according to claim 27, wherein the projection lens includes a first lens part configured to form the first back focal point and a second lens part configured to form the second back focal point, wherein the first lens part is formed below the second lens part, wherein the first array light source is arranged above the second array light source, wherein the first array light source is configured to emit light towards an incident surface of the first lens part, and wherein the second array light source is configured to emit light towards an incident surface of the second lens part. ### Claim 32 (depends on 26) The vehicle lamp according to claim 26, wherein a light output part of each semiconductor light emitting element of the first array light source is configured to face towards a direction different from a light output part of each semiconductor light emitting element of the second array light source in an upper-lower direction of the vehicle lamp. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The vehicle lamp according to claim 32, further comprising: a base member; and a flexible circuit board, on which the first array light source and the second array light source are mounted, wherein a light output surface of each semiconductor light emitting element of the first array light source faces towards a direction different from a light output surface of each semiconductor light emitting element of the second array light source in an upper-lower direction of the vehicle lamp at a state where the flexible circuit board is mounted to the base member. ### Claim 34 (depends on 26) The vehicle lamp according to claim 26, wherein a center position of the first array light source is arranged at a position different from a center position of the second array light source in the left-right direction of the vehicle lamp. ### Claim 35 (depends on 26) The vehicle lamp according to claim 26, further comprising: a base member; and a rigid circuit board, on which the first array light source and the second array light source mounted, wherein the rigid circuit board is mounted to the base member.