Vehicular headlamp

• US 7,261,448 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2004
• Issued: 08/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Ishida, Hiroyuki, Tatsukawa, Masashi, Sazuka, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke; Renee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee; Gunyoung T.
• Application Number:
  US10/976,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20050094411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 362/507, 362543- 5, 362/460, 362/523, 362/525, 362/228, 362/427, 362/464, 362/800, 362/539, 362/538
• US Class Current: 362/507
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0041 of several lamps in relation to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/12 due to steering position
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/054 Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/122 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/322 Road curvature
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/141 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• 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 41/17 Discharge light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/683 by moving screens
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/50 characterised by aesthetic components not otherwise provided for, e.g. decorative trim, partition walls or covers
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

Whereas a light source bulb is used as a light source of a basic lamp piece unit which needs a large amount of irradiating light, with regard to an additional lamp piece unit lighted on and off repeatedly in accordance with a situation of running a vehicle, a semiconductor light emitting element having a fast response speed in being lighted on and off and excellent in durability against repeatedly lighting on and off the semiconductor light emitting element 64 as a light source thereof. Thereby, light can be irradiated in correspondence with the situation of running the vehicle and life of the light source can sufficiently been ensured. Further, the additional lamp piece unit is made to be able to be compactly constituted to promote a degree of freedom of arranging the additional lamp piece unit.

Claims

1. A vehicular headlamp having a main lamp body, comprising:

a basic lamp piece unit configured to irradiate light to form a light intensity distribution pattern for a low beam;

an additional lamp piece unit configured to irradiate light to form an additional light intensity distribution pattern by being lighted temporarily in the main lamp body,

wherein a light source bulb is used as a light source of the basic lamp piece unit and a semiconductor light emitting element is used as a light source of the additional lamp piece unit;

and further comprising a controller which controls an amount of irradiating light of the additional lamp piece unit in accordance with a situation of running the vehicle; and

wherein the controller controls the additional lamp unit to irradiate light during only a portion of the time when the basic lamp piece unit irradiates light.

2. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the light source bulb comprises a discharge bulb.

3. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the additional lamp piece unit is directed to an outer side in a vehicle width direction by an angle relative to a rear to front direction of a vehicle.

4. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for swiveling the additional lamp piece unit in accordance with the situation of running the vehicle.

5. A vehicular headlamp, comprising:

a first lamp unit; and

a second lamp unit, wherein said first lamp unit and said second lamp unit are formed inside a chamber having a cover configured to transmit light having a substantially similar color;

wherein a semiconductor light emitting element is used as a light source for the second lamp unit;

wherein a light source other than a semiconductor light emitting element is used for the first lamp unit;

wherein the color of the light of the first lamp unit is substantially similar to an emission color of the light source of the second lamp unit;

wherein said first lamp unit comprises an aiming mechanism that aims said first lamp unit at least one of up, down, left and right with respect to an optical axis; and

wherein said first lamp unit is aimed about 0.5 to 0.6 degrees below said optical axis.

6. The vehicular headlamp of claim 5, wherein said first lamp unit is configured to switch between a low beam position and a high beam position, and said second lamp unit is configured to form a light intensity distribution pattern.

7. The vehicular headlamp of claim 5, wherein said first lamp unit is of a projector type and comprises a light source bulb that discharges light, a reflector that reflects said discharged light in a direction proximate to said optical axis, wherein said reflector is supported by a holder.

8. The vehicular headlamp of claim 5, said first light unit further comprising a movable shade having a light blocking position and a light blocking release position, and a fixed shade that fixes said movable shade in one of said light blocking position and said light blocking release position.

9. The vehicular headlamp of claim 8, wherein said movable shade is connected to an output shaft that is turned by an actuator to move said movable shade.

10. The vehicular headlamp of claim 5, wherein said second lamp unit has an optical axis that extends at an angle with respect to a rear to front direction of a vehicle of said vehicular headlamp, and includes a swiveling device that pivots said second lamp unit in a left-right direction with an angular range.

11. The vehicular headlamp of claim 10, wherein said swiveling device is controlled by a control unit coupled thereto, and said swiveling device comprises an actuator that drives a pivoting support member in accordance with a signal received from said control unit.

12. The vehicular headlamp of claim 11, wherein said control unit controls a brightness of said second lamp unit.

13. The vehicular headlamp of claim 10, wherein the semiconductor light emitting element is mounted on said swiveling device.

14. A vehicular headlamp, comprising:

a first lamp unit; and

a second lamp unit, wherein said first lamp unit and said second lamp unit are formed inside a chamber having a cover configured to transmit light having a substantially similar color;

wherein a semiconductor light emitting element is used as a light source for the second lamp unit;

wherein a light source other than a semiconductor light emitting element is used for the first lamp unit;

wherein the color of the light of the first lamp unit is substantially similar to an emission color of the light source of the second lamp unit;

wherein said second lamp unit has an optical axis that extends at an angle with respect to a rear to front direction of a vehicle of said vehicular headlamp, and includes a swiveling device that pivots said second lamp unit in a left-right direction with an angular range; and

wherein said angle is about 30 degrees, and said angular range is about 20 degrees.