Vehicle lamp

• US 7,993,043 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Sazuka, Kiyoshi, Tsukamoto, Michio, Watanabe, Shigeyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong; Bao Q
• Application Number:
  US12/362,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20090196060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 362/509, 362/543, 362/544, 362/545, 362/516, 362/514, 362/517, 362/518, 362/230, 362/231, 362/800
• US Class Current: 362/509
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/14 having dimming means
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/13 Ultraviolet light; Infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/147 the main emission direction of the LED being angled to the optical axis of the illuminating device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/148 the main emission direction of the LED being perpendicular to the optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/155 Surface emitters, e.g. organic light emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/18 Combination of light sources of different types or shapes
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/25 Projection lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/43 characterised by the shape thereof

Abstract

A vehicle lamp, which is configured to irradiate infrared light in a vehicle forward direction, includes: a projection lens disposed along an optical axis extending in a lamp backward and forward direction; and first and second light source units disposed in the rear of the projection lens. The first light source unit includes: a first light emitting element which is disposed in the rear of a rear focal point of the projection lens and emits the infrared light; and a first reflector which reflects the infrared light toward the optical axis in a lamp forward direction. An infrared light distribution pattern is formed by the infrared light which is reflected by the first reflector to pass through the projection lens. The second light source unit includes: a second light emitting element which is disposed in the rear of the rear focal point of the projection lens and emits visible light; and a second reflector which reflects the visible light toward the optical axis in a lamp forward direction. A visible light distribution pattern is formed by the visible light which is reflected by the second reflector to pass through the projection lens. The visible light distribution pattern overlaps with the infrared light distribution pattern. When the first light source unit is turned on, the second light source unit is turned on simultaneously with the first light source.

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp configured to irradiate infrared light in a vehicle forward direction, the vehicle lamp comprising:

a projection lens disposed along an optical axis extending in a lamp backward and forward direction; and

first and second light source units disposed in the rear of the projection lens,

wherein the first light source unit includes;

a first light emitting element which is disposed in the rear of a rear focal point of the projection lens and emits the infrared light; and

a first reflector which reflects the infrared light toward the optical axis in a lamp forward direction,

wherein an infrared light distribution pattern is formed by the infrared light which is reflected by the first reflector to pass through the projection lens,

wherein the second light source unit includes;

a second light emitting element which is disposed in the rear of the rear focal point of the projection lens and emits visible light; and

a second reflector which reflects the visible light toward the optical axis in a lamp forward direction,

wherein a visible light distribution pattern is formed by the visible light which is reflected by the second reflector to pass through the projection lens,

wherein the visible light distribution pattern overlaps with the infrared light distribution pattern, and

wherein when the first light source unit is turned on, the second light source unit is turned on simultaneously with the first light source,

wherein when the first light source unit and the second light source unit are simultaneously turned on, the second light source unit is turned on so as to be dimmer than a normal lamp-on state.

2. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the visible light distribution pattern is extended up to a position above the infrared light distribution pattern.

3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the visible light distribution pattern is extended up to a position above the infrared light distribution pattern.

4. The vehicle lamp according to claim 2, wherein the first reflector is disposed above the optical axis and the second reflector is disposed below the optical axis.

5. The vehicle lamp according to claim 3, wherein the first reflector is disposed above the optical axis and the second reflector is disposed below the optical axis.

6. The vehicle lamp according to claim 4, further comprising:

a mirror member disposed between the first reflector and the second reflector, the mirror member being formed with;

an upward reflection surface substantially extending backward along the optical axis from the vicinity of a position in the rear of the rear focal point of the projection lens; and

a downward reflection surface obliquely extending downward from a front edge of the upward reflection surface toward a lamp backward direction, and

wherein the upward reflection surface reflects upward at least a part of the infrared light reflected by the first reflector such that said part of the infrared light is incident to the projection lens, and

wherein the downward reflection surface reflects downward at least a part of the visible light reflected by the second reflector such that said part of the visible light is incident to the projection lens.

7. The vehicle lamp according to claim 5, further comprising:

a mirror member disposed between the first reflector and the second reflector, the mirror member being formed with;

an upward reflection surface substantially extending backward along the optical axis from the vicinity of a position in the rear of the rear focal point of the projection lens; and

a downward reflection surface obliquely extending downward from a front edge of the upward reflection surface toward a lamp backward direction, and

wherein the upward reflection surface reflects upward at least a part of the infrared light reflected by the first reflector such that said part of the infrared light is incident to the projection lens, and

wherein the downward reflection surface reflects downward at least a part of the visible light reflected by the second reflector such that said part of the visible light is incident to the projection lens.