Abstract: A light source bulb 22 is inserted and fixed into a reflector 24 from a side in a position placed downward apart from an optical axis Ax. Thus, it is possible to effectively utilize an optical-axis side region in a reflecting plane 24a for a light distribution control. Moreover, an almost prism-shaped light transmitting member 30 is provided in the vicinity of the upper end of the outer peripheral edge portion of a projection lens 28 between the projection lens 28 and the reflector 24, and a direct light from a light source 22a toward the upper space of the projection lens 28 is emitted forward to be deflected downward. Consequently, it is possible to increase the amount of a light to be irradiated on the forward part of a vehicle, and furthermore, to carry out a deflection control for the direct light emitted from the light source 22a with high precision.

Abstract: A light source bulb 22 is inserted and fixed into a reflector 24 from a side in a position placed downward apart from an optical axis Ax. Thus; it is possible to effectively utilize an optical-axis side region in a reflecting plane 24a for a light distribution control. Moreover, an almost prism-shaped light transmitting member 30 is provided in the vicinity of the upper end of the outer peripheral edge portion of a projection lens 28 between the projection lens 28 and the reflector 24, and a direct light from a light source 22a toward the upper space of the projection lens 28 is emitted forward to be deflected downward. Consequently, it is possible to increase the amount of a light to be irradiated on the forward part of a vehicle, and furthermore, to carry out a deflection control for the direct light emitted from the light source 22a with high precision.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp having a projector-type lamp unit that enhances a luminous intensity of a hot zone at the time of high beam irradiation is described. A first additional reflector is provided obliquely left-upward of an optical axis Ax, and a second additional reflector is provided obliquely right-downward of the optical axis Ax, between a reflector and a projection lens. An additional light distribution pattern is formed in a center area of a high beam distribution pattern by reflecting direct light, which has entered the first additional reflector from a light source, obliquely right-downward and then forward by the second additional reflector, at the time of high beam irradiation. A reflective surface of the first additional reflector is formed like an ellipsoid spherical surface having the second focus on the right side with respect to the optical axis A (the second reflector side).

Abstract: A headlamp and method for illumination of the headlamp in which during low beam irradiation, a light distribution pattern P(L) for a low beam is formed by turning on a lighting unit for a low beam and during high beam irradiation, a lighting unit for a high beam is also turned on at the same time to superpose an additional light distribution pattern P(H1) for a high beam thereon, thereby forming a light distribution pattern P(H) for a high beam. During the high beam irradiation, furthermore, a tilting unit of the headlamp is tilted upward by approximately 1.5 degrees and a hot zone HZ(L) of the light distribution pattern P(L) for a low beam is moved to a long distance region in a road placed ahead of a vehicle, thereby enhancing a distance visibility.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a moveable shade. The front end of the shade body of the movable shade is formed into a substantially semispherical shape. The maximum radius of the pivotal locus of the shade body is smaller than conventional shades that have a front end portion formed into a cylindrical shape. Further, a slot is found in the front end portion that extends along the pivotal face of the movable shade. Therefore, the shade body and the discharge bulb do not interfere with each other even when the movable shade is caused to pivot, and the maximum radius of the pivotal locus of the shade body is further reduced. Thus, the shade body of a fixed shade can be smaller in size so that a greater space can be secured for use in disposing the fixed shade within an allowable range that refrains from unnecessarily shading the light reflected from a reflector.

Abstract: A first auxiliary reflector 36 is provided above the optical axis Ax between a reflector of a lamp unit 20 and projection lens 28, and under the optical axis Ax, a second auxiliary reflector 44 is formed. An auxiliary luminous distribution pattern is formed at center area of a high-beam luminous distribution pattern additionally by reflecting forward at the second auxiliary reflector 44 after direct light directing to forward and obliquely upward from a light source 22a is reflected downward at the first auxiliary reflector 36 at the time of high-beam emission. Because of that, at the low-beam emission, an area close cut-off line at opposite lane side of the low-beam luminous distribution pattern does not brighten more than necessity, further, luminous intensity of a part of the area at the hot zone of the high-beam luminous distribution pattern is obtained enough.

Abstract: A first auxiliary reflector 36 is provided above the optical axis Ax between a reflector of a lamp unit 20 and projection lens 28, and under the optical axis Ax, a second auxiliary reflector 44 is formed. An auxiliary luminous distribution pattern is formed at center area of a high-beam luminous distribution pattern additionally by reflecting forward at the second auxiliary reflector 44 after direct light directing to forward and obliquely upward from a light source 22a is reflected downward at the first auxiliary reflector 36 at the time of high-beam emission. Because of that, at the low-beam emission, an area close cut-off line at opposite lane side of the low-beam luminous distribution pattern does not brighten more than necessity, further, luminous intensity of a part of the area at the hot zone of the high-beam luminous distribution pattern is obtained enough.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp having a projector-type lamp unit that enhances a luminous intensity of a hot zone at the time of high beam irradiation is described. A first additional reflector is provided obliquely left-upward of an optical axis Ax, and a second additional reflector is provided obliquely right-downward of the optical axis Ax, between a reflector and a projection lens. An additional light distribution pattern is formed in a center area of a high beam distribution pattern by reflecting direct light, which has entered the first additional reflector from a light source, obliquely right-downward and then forward by the second additional reflector, at the time of high beam irradiation. A reflective surface of the first additional reflector is formed like an ellipsoid spherical surface having the second focus on the right side with respect to the optical axis A (the second reflector side).

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a moveable shade. The front end of the shade body of the movable shade is formed into a substantially semispherical shape. The maximum radius of the pivotal locus of the shade body is smaller than conventional shades that have a front end portion formed into a cylindrical shape. Further, a slot is found in the front end portion that extends along the pivotal face of the movable shade. Therefore, the shade body and the discharge bulb do not interfere with each other even when the movable shade is caused to pivot, and the maximum radius of the pivotal locus of the shade body is further reduced. Thus, the shade body of a fixed shade can be smaller in size so that a greater space can be secured for use in disposing the fixed shade within an allowable range that refrains from unnecessarily shading the light reflected from a reflector.

Abstract: A headlamp and method for illumination of the headlamp in which during low beam irradiation, a light distribution pattern P(L) for a low beam is formed by turning on a lighting unit for a low beam and during high beam irradiation, a lighting unit for a high beam is also turned on at the same time to superpose an additional light distribution pattern P(H1) for a high beam thereon, thereby forming a light distribution pattern P(H) for a high beam. During the high beam irradiation, furthermore, a tilting unit of the headlamp is tilted upward by approximately 1.5 degrees and a hot zone HZ(L) of the light distribution pattern P(L) for a low beam is moved to a long distance region in a road placed ahead of a vehicle, thereby enhancing a distance visibility.

Abstract: A movable shade 22 capable of shading part of light incident on a reflector 20 from a discharge bulb 18 is pivoted longitudinally by a shade driving unit 24 to switch beams. A shade body portion 22A surrounding the discharge bulb 18 is colored blue. Thus, the blue color of the shade body portion 22A appears to be reflected on the reflector 20 when a lamp is viewed from the front while the movable shade 22 stays in a low-beam position. When a reflective area C reflecting the blue color varies in shape and size as the movable shade 22 moves to a high-beam position, beam switching can be visually confirmed easily.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp comprising a light source bulb, a reflector, a shade, a beam switching device, and a displacement regulating member. The reflector includes a reflective surface for emitting a predetermined beam forward by reflecting light from said light source bulb. The shade is for shading part of light incident on the reflective surface from said light source bulb. The beam switching device selectively switches beams between low and high beams by moving said shade between two positions where the amount of shielding said shade relative to light incident on said reflective surface has different values. The displacement regulating member regulating the displacement of said shade from one of low- and high-beam forming positions by making contact with said shade while said shade is located in the one of the low- and high-beam forming positions.

Abstract: A variable light distribution type headlamp which provides an optimum irradiated beam pattern under all driving conditions. The headlamp includes a projector lamp, a fixed lens, and a movable lens disposed on the optical axis of said projector lamp forward of said projector lamp. The movable lens is a condensing lens, and the fixed lens being a cylindrical concave lens. The focal length and a range of movement of the movable lens are such that front focal points of the movable and fixed lenses coincide when both lenses are close to each other. A lens drive mechanism controls the position of the movable lens in both X and Y directions so as to respectively control the amount of beam diffusion and beam direction in accordance with the vehicle speed and steering direction.

Abstract: A variable distribution type automotive headlamp employing a bulb of a single-filament type positioned on the optical axis of a reflector. The reflector is constituted by a main reflecting surface having a focal point substantially at the position of the bulb and a pair of subsidiary reflecting sources provided on the main reflecting surface so as to be left-and-right symmetrical with respect to the optical axis. Both the subsidiary reflecting mirror surfaces are opposed to each other so that the optical axis of each of the subsidiary reflecting mirror surfaces is inclined relative to the optical axis of the main reflecting surface within a horizontal plane and within a range of from 45 to 80 degrees. The distance between the optical axis of the main reflecting surface and each of the subsidiary reflecting surfaces is made longer than that between the center of the main reflecting surface and the focal point thereof.