Vehicle lamp

• US 20070082577A1
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Tajima, Keiichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,315,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 445/66
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/076 by electrical means including means to transmit the movements, e.g. shafts or joints

Abstract

A vehicle lamp 10 is provided with a lamp unit 30 which applies beams of the desired patterns ahead, and a double axis actuator 50 having a first drive mode in which the lamp unit is rotated in one of two planes that are orthogonal to each other and a second drive mode in which the lamp unit is rotated in the other of the two planes. The double axis actuator is provided with a single output part 540 which rotates the lamp unit in the two planes, and a drive part (including a drive source 550 and a movable part 561) which drives the output part. The double axis actuator can rotate the lamp unit in the each plane regardless of the rotational positions along the above two planes.

Claims

1. A drive unit for actuating a lamp unit, the drive unit comprising:

a single output part for coupling to the lamp unit; and

a drive for driving the single output part,

wherein the single output part is adapted to move such that the lamp unit is rotatable independently in two orthogonal planes.

2. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the single output part is adapted to rotate about its axis and move linearly in a direction substantially perpendicular to said axis.

3. The drive unit according to claim 2, further comprising:

a slide base which is linearly movable, the single output part being supported by the slide base and rotatable with respect to the slide base.

4. The drive unit according to claim 2, wherein the drive includes two drive sources and two movable transmission elements independently associated respectively therewith, the single output part being driven by movement of the transmission elements.

5. The drive unit according to claim 4, wherein the transmission elements are arranged such that when the transmission elements are moved in opposing phase the single output part rotates, and when the transmission elements are moved in the same phase the single output part moves linearly.

6. The drive unit according to claim 4, wherein the single output part is connected to the two transmission elements via respective arms.

7. The drive unit according to claim 6, wherein the arms respectively include coupling holes that are elongated radially about the axis of the single output part.

8. The drive unit according to claim 4, wherein the two drive sources are respectively supported rotatably in the right and left direction.

9. The drive unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a control circuit for controlling the drive, based on a signal from a sensor, such that the lamp unit is selectively rotatable in one of the two orthogonal planes.

10. The drive unit according to claim 9, further comprising:

a connector that receives a control signal from a sensor, wherein the single output part, the drive, the control circuit and the connector are accommodated in a housing.

11. A drive assembly for actuating the lamp unit, the drive assembly comprising:

the drive unit according to claim 1;

and

a support for supporting the lamp unit movably about a reference position.

12. The drive assembly according to claim 11, wherein the support includes a gimbal.

13. A lamp assembly comprising:

the drive assembly according to claim 11;

and

a lamp unit,

wherein the lamp unit is supported by the support and the single output part of the drive unit is coupled with the lamp unit on an opposite side of the lamp unit to the support.

14. The lamp assembly according to claim 13, wherein the support includes a support shaft, the lamp unit being adapted to be rotated in the first plane around the support shaft, and rotated in the second plane together with the support shaft.

15. A lamp assembly comprising:

the drive unit according to claim 1;

and

a lamp unit coupled with the single output part of the drive unit.

16. A lamp assembly according to claim 13, wherein the axis of the single output part intersects an optical axis of the lamp unit.

17. A vehicle lamp assembly comprising:

the drive unit according to claim 1;

an abnormality sensor that detects an abnormality of the drive unit;

an irradiation position sensor that detects an irradiation position in a vertical direction of the lamp unit; and

an abnormal time position controller that positions the lamp unit below a predetermined irradiation position in the vertical direction in case that the abnormality sensor detects abnormality of the drive unit.