Headlamp and vehicle infrared night vision apparatus employing the headlamp as light source

A vehicle infrared night vision apparatus comprising:

• a headlamp;
• and
• a near infrared camera;
• wherein the headlamp includes:
• a wavelength converting member;
• and
• a single excitation light source emitting excitation light in a blue wavelength range or a blue-violet wavelength range;
• wherein the wavelength converting member includes a visible light fluorescent material which is excited by the excitation light emitted from the single excitation light source to emit visible light, and, in addition to the visible light fluorescent material, a near infrared fluorescent material which is excited by the excitation light emitted from the single excitation light source to emit invisible near infrared light having a peak wavelength falling substantially within a range of 850 nm to 1000 nm;
• the visible light and the excitation light emitted from the single excitation light source are mixed together to generate white light;
• the excitation light source is a semiconductor solid-state element;
• and
• wherein the near infrared camera includes:
• a light receiving element having a silicon PIN diode and receiving the invisible near infrared light emitted from the near infrared fluorescent material.