Projection-type vehicular headlamp

• US 5,158,350 A
• Filed: 01/23/1992
• Issued: 10/27/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Sato, Masakazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole, Richard R.
• Application Number:
  US07/824,561
• Time in Patent Office: 278 Days
• Field of Search: 362/61, 362/227, 362/240, 362/244, 362/309, 362/332
• US Class Current: 362/538
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/28 Cover glass

Abstract

A projection-type vehicular headlamp having a uniform appearance when viewed from the front. The inventive headlamp includes a lamp body, a front lens covering the lamp body and defining therebetween a lamp chamber, and a light projecting unit and a second lamp body provided in the lamp unit. In accordance with the invention, light distribution controlling steps are formed in a first pattern in a region of the front lens which confronts the second lamp body, and fine grooves which do not strong affect the light distribution of the light beam are formed in a second pattern in the region of the front lens which confronts the light projecting unit, with the first and second patterns being substantially equal to one another.

Claims

1. A projection-type vehicular headlamp comprising:

a first lamp body;

a front lens covering a front opening of said first lamp body and defining therebetween a lamp chamber;

a light projecting unit comprising a headlamp light source, a substantially ellipsoidal mirror for reflecting an output light beam of said headlamp light source forwardly, and a projecting lens arranged in front of said headlamp light source to convert said output light beam reflected from said mirror into a substantially parallel light beam which projects forwardly; and

a second lamp body having a light source, said light projecting unit and said second lamp body being mounted in said lamp chamber defined by said first lamp body and said front lens, wherein;

light distribution controlling steps are formed in a first pattern in a region of said front lens which confronts said second lamp body, and fine grooves which do not strongly affect light distribution of said parallel light beam are formed in a second pattern in a region of said front lens which confronts said light projecting unit, said first and second patterns appearing substantially equal to one another when viewed from in front of said headlamp.

2. The projection-type vehicular headlamp of claim 1, wherein said fine grooves are triangular in section.

3. The projection-type vehicular headlamp of claim 1, wherein said steps of said first pattern and said fine grooves of said second pattern are arranged as parallel lines at equal intervals within said first and second patterns.

4. The projection-type vehicular headlamp of claim 3, wherein bordering lines of said first and second patterns are in alignment with one another to form a continuation between said first and second patterns.

5. The projection-type vehicular headlamp of claim 3, wherein said lines are substantially straight and extend in a vertical direction.

6. The projection-type vehicular headlamp of claim 1, wherein said steps are formed over substantially an of said front lens except for a circular region confronting said light projecting unit.

7. The projection-type vehicular headlamp of claim 1, wherein said steps are formed side by side on a rear surface of one of right and left half regions of said front lens, and said fine grooves are formed side by side on a rear surface of the other of said right and left half regions of said front lens.

8. The projection-type vehicular headlamp of claim 1, wherein said second lamp body comprises a clearance lamp body.

9. The projection-type vehicular headlamp of claim 1, wherein said second lamp body comprises a main-beam-forming reflection-type headlamp body.

10. The projection-type vehicular headlamp of claim 1, wherein said second lamp body comprises a turn signal lamp body.