VEHICULAR LAMP

• US 20140071706A1
• Filed: 09/05/2013
• Published: 03/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Yagi, Takayuki, Yamamura, Satoshi
• Granted Patent: US 10,323,814 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/520
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/135 Polarised
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/143 the main emission direction of the LED being parallel to the optical axis of the illuminating device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/25 Projection lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/285 Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S41/24-F21S41/28
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/365 successively reflecting the light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/43 characterised by the shape thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/645 by electro-optic means, e.g. liquid crystal or electrochromic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/675 by moving reflectors

Abstract

A vehicular lamp includes a projection lens, a two-dimensional image forming device located on or in the vicinity of a rear focal point of the projection lens, and including a plurality optical elements which are arranged in a matrix shape and individually driven and a projection plane that is formed by the plurality optical elements, a light source configured to irradiate the projection plane of the two-dimensional image forming device with light, and a dimming part provided between the optical elements and the projection lens and configured to reduce light directed to the projection lens from the optical elements arranged on an end portion of the projection plane.

Claims

1. A vehicular lamp comprising:

a projection lens;

a two-dimensional image forming device located on or in the vicinity of a rear focal point of the projection lens, and including a plurality optical elements which are arranged in a matrix shape and individually driven and a projection plane that is formed by the plurality optical elements;

a light source configured to irradiate the projection plane of the two-dimensional image forming device with light; and

a dimming part provided between the optical elements and the projection lens and configured to reduce light directed to the projection lens from the optical elements arranged on an end portion of the projection plane.

2. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, further comprising:

a transparent cover provided between the optical elements and the projection lens,

wherein the dimming part is provided in an end portion of the transparent cover.

3. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the dimming part gradually reduces the light directed to the projection lens over the optical elements arranged from the central side to the end portion side of the projection plane.

4. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the dimming part reduces light directed to the projection lens by blocking a portion of light -directed to the projection lens from the optical elements.

5. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the dimming part reduces light directed to the projection lens by diffusing a portion of light directed to the projection lens from the optical elements.