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US 7,156,544 B2Granted
Vehicle headlamp
AssigneeKoito Maunufacturing Co., Inc
InventorHiroyuki Ishida
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle headlamp includes a projector-type lamp unit that performs two types of light distribution. The lamp unit is configured with a projection lens disposed on an optical axis Ax extending in an longitudinal direction of a vehicle, and a first light-source unit and a second light-source unit, both disposed to the rear of the projection lens. A low-beam light distribution pattern having sharp cut-off lines at an upper end portion is formed upon illumination of the first light-source unit. An additional high-beam light distribution pattern spreading upward from the cut-off lines is additionally formed upon illumination of the second light-source unit. Accordingly, a high-beam light distribution pattern is formed.
Claims17
A vehicle headlamp configured to form a light distribution pattern by light radiation from at least one lamp unit comprising:
- at least one semiconductor light-emitting element as a light-source;
- a projection lens disposed on an optical axis extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle;
- and
- a first light-source unit and a second light-source unit each disposed rearward of the projection lens, wherein,
- the first light-source unit comprises:
- a first semiconductor light-emitting element facing substantially upward on a first reference axis extending substantially in the longitudinal direction;
- a first reflector configured to reflect light from the first semiconductor light-emitting element forward and substantially near the first reference axis to substantially converge the reflected light substantially near a rear focal point of the projection lens;
- and
- a forward travel blocking member extending rearward from substantially near the rear focal point to prevent the light reflected by the first reflector from traveling forward,
- the second light-source unit comprises:
- a second semiconductor light-emitting element facing substantially downward on a second reference axis extending substantially in the longitudinal directions;
- and
- a second reflector configured to reflect light from the second semiconductor light-emitting element forward and substantially near the second reference axis to substantially converge the reflected light substantially near the rear focal point, and
- when the first light-source unit is illuminated a low-beam light distribution pattern having cut-off lines at an upper end portion as reverse projection images of a front edge of the forward travel blocking member is formed, and a high-beam light distribution pattern spreading upward from the cut-off line is formed upon illumination of the second light-source unit.
11 more elements
A vehicle headlamp that forms a light distribution pattern by light radiation from at least one lamp unit that comprises:
- at least one semiconductor light-emitting element as a light-source;
- a projection lens disposed on an optical axis extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle;
- a first light-source unit comprising:
- a first semiconductor light-emitting element facing substantially upward on a first reference axis extending substantially in the longitudinal direction;
- and
- a first reflector configured to reflect light from the first semiconductor light-emitting element forward and substantially near the first reference axis to substantially converge the reflected light substantially near a rear focal point of the projection lens;
- a second light-source unit comprising:
- a second semiconductor light-emitting element facing substantially downward on a second reference axis extending substantially in the longitudinal direction;
- and
- a second reflector configured to reflect light from the second semiconductor light-emitting element forward and substantially near the second reference axis to substantially converge the reflected light substantially near the rear focal point;
- and
- means for preventing light reflected by said first reflector from traveling forward;
- wherein the first light-source unit and the second light-source unit are disposed rearward of the projection lens, and when the first light-source unit is illuminated a low-beam light distribution pattern having cut-off lines at an upper end portion as reverse projection images of a front edge of the means for preventing is formed, and a high-beam light distribution pattern spreading upward from the cut-off line is formed upon illumination of the second light-source unit.
10 more elements
A vehicle headlamp comprising:
- a projection lens disposed on an optical axis extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle;
- and
- a first light-source unit and a second light-source unit each disposed rearward of the projection lens;
- wherein the first light-source unit comprises:
- a first semiconductor light-emitting element facing substantially upward on a first reference axis extending substantially in the longitudinal direction;
- a first reflector configured to reflect light from the first semiconductor light-emitting element forward and substantially near the first reference axis to substantially converge the reflected light substantially near a rear focal point of the projection lens;
- and
- a forward travel blocking member to prevent the light reflected by the first reflector from traveling forward,
- wherein the second light-source unit comprises:
- a second semiconductor light-emitting element facing substantially downward on a second reference axis extending substantially in the longitudinal direction;
- and
- a second reflector configured to reflect light from the second semiconductor light-emitting element forward and substantially near the second reference axis to substantially converge the reflected light substantially near the rear focal point;
- wherein when the first light-source unit is illuminated a low-beam light distribution pattern having cut-off lines at an upper end portion as reverse projection images of a front edge of the forward travel blocking member is formed;
- and
- wherein when the second light-source unit is illuminated a high-beam light distribution pattern spreading upward from the cut-off line is formed.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.