Vehicle lamp

Abstract

A vehicle lamp forms an additional high-beam light distribution pattern with light emitted though a projection lens from a plurality of light emitting elements. The plurality of light emitting elements are disposed to be aligned in a transverse direction below a rear focal point of the projection lens and can be lit individually. The vehicle lamp forms an additional light distribution pattern by lighting the plurality of light emitting elements at the same time to form a high-beam light distribution pattern. In addition, the vehicle lamp forms another additional light distribution pattern where a part of the additional light distribution pattern is omitted by selectively lighting a part of the plurality of light emitting elements so as to form an intermediate light distribution pattern.

1 . A vehicle lamp configured to selectively perform low beam illumination and high beam illumination,
 wherein the vehicle lamp comprises a projection lens, and a light source which is disposed behind the projection lens and is configured to emit light forwards through the projection lens,   wherein a shade and a plurality of light emitting elements are disposed behind the projection lens, the shade being configured to cut off a part of light which is emitted from the light source to be directed towards the projection lens to form a low-beam light distribution pattern, the plurality of light emitting elements being configured to emit light which enters the projection lens to form an additional high-beam light distribution pattern to be added to the low-beam light distribution pattern, and   wherein the plurality of light emitting elements are disposed to be aligned in a transverse direction below a rear focal point of the projecting lens and are configured to be lit individually.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle lamp according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the shade is formed to extend obliquely upwards and rearwards from a vicinity of a rear focal plane of the projection lens, and   wherein the plurality of light emitting elements are disposed behind a front end edge of the shade.   
     
     
         3 . The vehicle lamp according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a first reflector configured to reflect a part of light emitted from the light emitting elements towards the projection lens is disposed behind an upper area of the projection lens.   
     
     
         4 . The vehicle lamp according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a second reflector is disposed behind a lower area of the projection lens, and a third reflector is disposed behind an upper area of the projection lens, and   wherein a part of light emitted from the light emitting elements is reflected sequentially on the second reflector and the third reflector to be incident on the projection lens.   
     
     
         5 . The vehicle lamp according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the projection lens is formed such that a rear focal point of an upper area of the projection lens is positioned below a rear focal point of a general area of the projection lens which is an area other than the upper area.   
     
     
         6 . A vehicle lamp configured to selectively perform low beam illumination and high beam illumination,
 wherein the vehicle lamp comprises a projection lens, and a light source which is disposed behind the projection lens and is configured to emit light forwards through the projection lens,   wherein a shade and a plurality of light emitting units are disposed behind the projection lens, the shade being configured to cut off a part of light which is emitted from the light source to be directed towards the projection lens to form a low-beam light distribution pattern, the plurality of light emitting units being configured to emit light which enters the projection lens to form an additional high-beam light distribution pattern to be added to the low-beam light distribution pattern, and   wherein the plurality of light emitting units are disposed to be aligned in a transverse direction below a rear focal point of the projecting lens and are configured to be lit individually.   
     
     
         7 . The vehicle lamp according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein each of the light emitting units includes a light emitting element and a reflector which reflects light emitted from the light emitting element towards the projection lens.   
     
     
         8 . The vehicle lamp according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the reflector includes a first reflecting surface which extends obliquely downwards and rearwards from a vicinity of a rear focal plane of the projection lens, and a second reflecting surface which reflects light emitted from the light emitting element towards the first reflecting surface.   
     
     
         9 . The vehicle lamp according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the first reflecting surface is formed such that a position of a front end edge of the first reflecting surface coincides with a position of a front end edge of the shade.   
     
     
         10 . The vehicle lamp according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the projection lens is formed such that a rear focal point of an upper area of the projection lens is positioned below a rear focal point of a general area of the projection lens which is an area other than the upper area.