US 7,118,258 B2Granted

Vehicular headlamp

AssigneeKoito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

InventorsSatoshi Yamamura, Kenichi Takada, Masao Kinoshita, Masahito Naganawa, Motohiro Komatsu, Mitsuyuki Mochizuki

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Abstract

A projection-type vehicular headlamp structure that is capable of forming at least two types of light distribution in at least two modes, and is also capable of controlling the radiated light thereof with high precision in addition to keeping to a minimum any noticeable difference when switching between modes. A portion of a reflector is structured as a mobile reflection portion which may separate from a remaining reflective portion. An additional reflector is disposed generally behind the mobile reflective portion. The additional reflector is incident to light from a light source when the mobile reflective portion is separated from the remaining reflective portion. Light incident from the mobile reflective portion, the remaining reflective portion, and the additional reflector is reflected forward to a projection lens of the vehicular headlamp, providing illumination in the area preceding a vehicle's traveling path.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A vehicular headlamp comprising a projection lens, a light source, and a reflector;

wherein
said projection lens is disposed on an optical axis that extends in a vehicular longitudinal direction;
said light source is disposed to a rear side of a rear side focal point of said projection lens;
and
said reflector reflects light from the light source in a forward direction which is substantially toward the optical axis, characterized in that:
a portion of the reflector is structured as a mobile reflective portion so as to allow separation from a remaining general reflective portion through movement of the mobile reflective portion in a predetermined direction;
and
an additional reflector is provided in a rear vicinity of the mobile reflective portion, to which some light that is incident from the light source passes the mobile reflective portion when the mobile reflective portion separates from the general reflective portion and moves in the predetermined direction, wherein said incident light is reflected forward and substantially toward the optical axis.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.