Abstract: The present invention provides: semiconductor-type light sources; a fixed reflector having reflection surfaces; movable reflectors having reflection surfaces; a solenoid; and a driving force transmission mechanism. The driving force transmission mechanism is made of: a rack that is elastically deformable; and pinions. A height H1 of a respective one of gear portions at each end part of the rack is greater in comparison with a height H2 of a respective one of gear portions at an intermediate part of the rack. As a result, the present invention is capable of maintaining a load between the rack and a respective one of the pinions at its required minimum level, and is capable of maintaining positional precision in stop location of the movable reflectors at high precision.

Abstract: The present invention is provided with a first lamp unit 4 and a second lamp unit 5. The first lamp unit 4 is provided with a semiconductor-type light source 14, a reflector 15, a shade 16, and a driving mechanism 17. The reflector 15 has a first reflection surface 21 and a second reflection surface 22. The first reflection surface 21 is adapted to emit lateral light distribution patterns CPL and CPR. The second reflection surface 22 is adapted to emit a light distribution pattern HP for high beam. As a result, according to the present invention, it becomes possible to obtain an arbitrary auxiliary light distribution pattern, such as a light distortion pattern for spot or a light distribution pattern for scattering other than the lateral light distribution patterns CPL and CPR.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp is provided with: a fixed reflector having reflecting surfaces made of parabola-based free curved faces; movable reflectors having reflecting surfaces made of parabola-based free curved faces; and semiconductor-type light sources having light emitting chips shaped like a planar rectangle. When the movable reflectors are positioned in a first location, a light distribution pattern for low beam is obtained. When the movable reflectors are positioned in a second location, light distribution patterns for high beams are obtained. When the movable reflectors are positioned in a third location, light distribution patterns for daytime running light are obtained. As a result, the vehicle headlamp can achieve downsizing, weight reduction, power saving, and cost reduction.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp with improved vibration proof of a movable reflector is provided. The vehicle headlamp has: a holder; an upside movable reflector and a downside movable reflector; light sources; and a drive unit. The drive unit is made up of a motor and a drive force transmission mechanism. The drive force transmission mechanism rotates the upside and downside movable reflectors in reverse directions, respectively. As a result, the vehicle headlamp can improve the vibration proof of the upside and downside movable reflectors.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp is provided with: a main reflector having a convergent reflecting surface; a semiconductor-type light source; a projecting lens; an auxiliary reflector having a parabolic reflecting surface; a shade and a light shading member that are structured integrally with each other; and a switching device. By means of the switching device, the shade and light shading member, which are structured integrally with each other, are switched and positioned in a first location and a second location, thereby allowing light distribution patterns for high and low beams to be switched and illuminated toward a forward direction of a vehicle. As a result, the vehicle headlamp becomes capable of achieving downsizing, weight reduction, power saving, and cost reduction.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes: a lamp unit including an upper support shaft and a lower support shaft that are coaxially formed each other; a bracket adapted to support the lamp unit via a ball bearing in the upper support shaft and via a slider in a lower shaft support portion; an actuator including a mechanism portion adapted to drive the lower support shaft of the lamp unit, the actuator being movable in a forward and backward direction with respect to the bracket; and a spring portion that is fixed to the bracket, and is adapted to compress a tip end of the upper support shaft.

Abstract: An AFS-type vehicle headlamp is provided, and includes a bearing holder adapted to hold a bearing that is inserted into an upper support shaft of a lamp unit. The bearing holder is formed integrally with a fixing portion for a bracket, a bearing holding portion adapted to hold the upper support shaft, and a spring portion adapted to compress a tip end of the upper support shaft. The fixing portion includes the bearing holding portion adapted to hold the bearing on a flat plate member in such a manner that a center of the bearing is positioned in a plane that includes the flat plate member.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp is provided with: a fixed reflector having reflecting surfaces, a respective one of which is made of a parabola-based free curved face; movable reflectors having reflecting surfaces, a respective one of which is made of a parabola-based free curved face; and semiconductor-type light sources, a respective one of which has a light emitting chip shaped like a planar rectangle. When the movable reflectors are positioned in a first location, a light distribution pattern for low beam is obtained on the reflecting surfaces of the fixed reflector. When the movable reflectors are positioned in a second location, light distribution patterns for high beams are obtained on the reflecting surfaces of the fixed reflector and the movable reflector. As a result, the vehicle headlamp enables downsizing, weight reduction, power saving, and cost reduction.

Abstract: A temperature adjustment member is arranged to control temperature of a reformer independently of temperature of a fuel cell module. The reformer is structured as a three-fluid heat exchanger into which a fluid is introducible whose temperature is higher or lower than exhaust-gas temperature of the fuel cell module. Then, the temperature of the reformer is controlled independently of operation temperature of the fuel cell by introducing the higher-temperature or lower-temperature fluid into the reformer. Also, a high-temperature or low-temperature gas is mixed with the module's exhaust gas, thereby adjusting temperature of the exhaust gas itself. This also controls the temperature of the reformer independently of the operation temperature of the fuel cell.

Abstract: The present invention combines control for lighting on/off a right side semiconductor-type light source 5R, control for lighting on/off a left side semiconductor-type light source 5L, and control for moving a movable shade 7 between a first position and a second position via control for driving/stopping the movement mechanism 70 with one another so as to radiate luminous intensity of a light distribution pattern HP1 for high beam having a first function, a light distribution pattern HP2 for high beam having a second function, and a light distribution pattern HP3 for high beam having a third function toward a forward direction of a vehicle 3. As a result, since the present invention includes a set of lamp unit, in comparison with the conventional vehicle headlamp system, the present invention requires a less number of components, and thus downsizing and cost reduction can be achieved accordingly.

Abstract: A temperature adjustment member is arranged to control temperature of a reformer independently of temperature of a fuel cell module. The reformer is structured as a three-fluid heat exchanger into which a fluid is introducible whose temperature is higher or lower than exhaust-gas temperature of the fuel cell module. Then, the temperature of the reformer is controlled independently of operation temperature of the fuel cell by introducing the higher-temperature or lower-temperature fluid into the reformer. Also, a high-temperature or low-temperature gas is mixed with the module's exhaust gas, thereby adjusting temperature of the exhaust gas itself. This also controls the temperature of the reformer independently of the operation temperature of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp is provided with semiconductor-type light sources, lenses, a reflector, light shading members, prism members, and a switching device. When the light shading members are positioned in a first location by means of the switching device, a light distribution pattern LP for low beam, having one or more cutoff lines, is illuminated. In addition, when the prism members are positioned in the first location by means of the switching device, a light distribution pattern HP for high beam is illuminated. As a result, the vehicle headlamp can achieve downsizing, weight reduction, power saving, and cost reduction.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrically conductive member for electrically connecting a plurality of solid oxide fuel cells in series and/or parallel to assemble a fuel-cell stack. The electrically conductive member according to the present invention comprises a metal sheet having a three-dimensional porous structure of a continuous skeleton. The electrically conductive member according to the present invention is three-dimensionally strong and is highly elastic and resilient. Therefore, the thickness of the electrically conductive member can be easily re-regulated in the regulation of spacing between the fuel cells. Further, even after baking or power generation, the electrically conductive member is not sintered, and separation easily takes place in the folded interface, and, thus, excellent maintainability can be realized.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp is provided with: a fixed reflector having reflecting surfaces made of parabola-based free curved faces; movable reflectors having reflecting surfaces made of parabola-based free curved faces; and semiconductor-type light sources having light emitting chips shaped like a planar rectangle. When the movable reflectors are positioned in a first location, a light distribution pattern for low beam is obtained. When the movable reflectors are positioned in a second location, light distribution patterns for high beams are obtained. When the movable reflectors are positioned in a third location, light distribution patterns for daytime running light are obtained. As a result, the vehicle headlamp can achieve downsizing, weight reduction, power saving, and cost reduction.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp is provided with: a main reflector having a convergent reflecting surface; a semiconductor-type light source; a projecting lens; an auxiliary reflector having a parabolic reflecting surface; a shade and a light shading member that are structured integrally with each other; and a switching device. By means of the switching device, the shade and light shading member, which are structured integrally with each other, are switched and positioned in a first location and a second location, thereby allowing light distribution patterns for high and low beams to be switched and illuminated toward a forward direction of a vehicle. As a result, the vehicle headlamp becomes capable of achieving downsizing, weight reduction, power saving, and cost reduction.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp is provided with semiconductor-type light sources, lenses, a reflector, light shading members, prism members, and a switching device. When the light shading members are positioned in a first location by means of the switching device, a light distribution pattern LP for low beam, having one or more cutoff lines, is illuminated. In addition, when the prism members are positioned in the first location by means of the switching device, a light distribution pattern HP for high beam is illuminated. As a result, the vehicle headlamp can achieve downsizing, weight reduction, power saving, and cost reduction.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp with improved vibration proof of a movable reflector is provided. The vehicle headlamp has: a holder; an upside movable reflector and a downside movable reflector; light sources; and a drive unit. The drive unit is made up of a motor and a drive force transmission mechanism. The drive force transmission mechanism rotates the upside and downside movable reflectors in reverse directions, respectively. As a result, the vehicle headlamp can improve the vibration proof of the upside and downside movable reflectors.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp is provided with: a fixed reflector having reflecting surfaces, a respective one of which is made of a parabola-based free curved face; movable reflectors having reflecting surfaces, a respective one of which is made of a parabola-based free curved face; and semiconductor-type light sources, a respective one of which has a light emitting chip shaped like a planar rectangle. When the movable reflectors are positioned in a first location, a light distribution pattern for low beam is obtained on the reflecting surfaces of the fixed reflector. When the movable reflectors are positioned in a second location, light distribution patterns for high beams are obtained on the reflecting surfaces of the fixed reflector and the movable reflector. As a result, the vehicle headlamp enables downsizing, weight reduction, power saving, and cost reduction.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrically conductive member for electrically connecting a plurality of solid oxide fuel cells in series and/or parallel to assemble a fuel-cell stack. The electrically conductive member according to the present invention comprises a metal sheet having a three-dimensional porous structure of a continuous skeleton. The electrically conductive member according to the present invention is three-dimensionally strong and is highly elastic and resilient. Therefore, the thickness of the electrically conductive member can be easily re-regulated in the regulation of spacing between the fuel cells. Further, even after baking or power generation, the electrically conductive member is not sintered, and separation easily takes place in the folded interface, and, thus, excellent maintainability can be realized.

Abstract: A temperature adjustment member is arranged to control temperature of a reformer independently of temperature of a fuel cell module. The reformer is structured as a three-fluid heat exchanger into which a fluid is introducible whose temperature is higher or lower than exhaust-gas temperature of the fuel cell module. Then, the temperature of the reformer is controlled independently of operation temperature of the fuel cell by introducing the higher-temperature or lower-temperature fluid into the reformer. Also, a high-temperature or low-temperature gas is mixed with the module's exhaust gas, thereby adjusting temperature of the exhaust gas itself. This also controls the temperature of the reformer independently of the operation temperature of the fuel cell.