Projection-type vehicular headlamp having improved lateral illumination

A vehicular headlamp for radiating a light beam forward in a predetermined low-beam light distribution pattern, comprising:

• a projection-type lamp unit comprising a light source disposed on an optical axis extending generally in a vehicle lengthwise direction, a reflector for converging and reflecting light from the light source forward towards said optical axis, a projection lens disposed in front of said reflector, and a shade disposed between said projection lens and said reflector for partially blocking reflected light from said reflector;
• a first additional reflector for reflecting light from said light source forward disposed below said light source, a reflecting surface of said first additional being shaped as a paraboloid of revolution having an axis inclined to a first side of said headlamp at a predetermined angle and having a focal point positioned at a first focal point of said reflector;
• and
• a second additional reflector for reflecting reflected light from said first additional reflector sideward to form an additional light distribution pattern partially overlapping a lateral portion of said low-beam light distribution pattern, said second additional reflector being provided in front of said first additional reflector, a reflecting surface of said second additional reflector being divided into a plurality of vertical stripes to provide a plurality of diffusing reflective elements inclinded downward with respect to a vertical plane such that light from said first additional reflector is diffused downward in a horizontal direction.

A vehicular headlamp for radiating a light beam forward in a predetermined low-beam light distribution pattern, comprising:

• a projection-type lamp unit comprising a light source disposed on an optical axis extending generally in a vehicle lengthwise direction, a reflector for converging and reflecting light from the light source forward towards said optical axis, a projection lens disposed in front of said reflector, and a shade disposed between said projection lens and said reflector for partially blocking reflected light from said reflector;
• a first additional reflector for reflecting light from said light source forward disposed below said light source, a reflecting surface of said first additional being shaped as a paraboloid of revolution having a focal point positioned at a first focal point of said reflector and having an optical axis of said projection lens as a central axis;
• and
• a second additional reflector for reflecting reflected light from said first additional reflector sideward to form an additional light distribution pattern partially overlapping a lateral portion of said low-beam light distribution pattern, said second additional reflector being provided in front of said first additional reflector, a reflecting surface of said second additional reflector being substantially V-shaped straddling said optical axis of said projection lens.