Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

According to one embodiment, both high beam and low beam may be realized using a first light source, a second light source, and a reflector. As a result, a lighting apparatus can have a small size and a high degree of design freedom through simplification of a structure thereof.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lighting apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the lighting apparatus taken along line A1-A1′ of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, a lighting apparatus 10 includes a reflector 100, a light source unit 200, and a support 300.

The light source unit 200 emits light towards the reflector 100. The light emitted from the light source unit 200 may be reflected from the reflector 100 to be discharged from the lighting apparatus.

The reflector 100 reflects the light emitted from the light source unit 200 to be discharged from the lighting apparatus 10. Accordingly, the reflector 100 is separated from the light source unit 200 and may have a curved surface which reflects the light emitted from the light source unit 200 to be discharged from the lighting apparatus. Specifically, the reflector 100 may have a curved surface that makes light travel towards a predetermined region according to an illumination pattern for high beam and low beam.

The reflector 100 may include a reflective layer and a reflector matrix. The reflector matrix may have a curved surface facing the light source unit 200 and may have mechanical strength to resist deformation due to external impact. For example, the reflector matrix may include at least one selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) resin, methacrylate resin, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyacetyl, polyethylene terephthalate, modified polyphenylene oxide (modified PPO), polybutylene terephthalate, polyurethane, phenolic resin, urea resin, melamine resin, and combinations thereof.

In the reflector 100, the reflective layer may be formed on the reflector matrix and may reflect light without loss. For example, the reflective layer may reflect light in the visible spectrum without loss among light emitted from the light source unit 200. To this end, the reflective layer may include a metal, such as silver (Ag), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), platinum (Pt), chromium (Cr), gold (Au), and the like, and may further include a thin film coated thereon to improve reliability and heat resistance of the reflective layer while preventing the reflective layer from being peeled off.

The reflector 100 may include multiple reflective plates 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d continuously arranged. In the reflector 100, the reflective plates 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d may have reflective surfaces with different shapes such that the light emitted from the light source unit 200 can travel towards different regions outside the lighting apparatus 10. For example, the reflective plates 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d may have an aspherical shape and may be divided from each other at points where the aspherical shapes of the reflective plates 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d are changed. Details of the reflective plates 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d will be described below.

The light source unit 200 emits light towards the reflector 100 and includes a first light source 210 and a second light source 220 to emit light in the visible spectrum.

In the light source unit 200, the first light source 210 and the second light source 220 are separated from each other. Further, the first light source 210 and the second light source 220 may be independently controlled. For example, the first light source 210 may be operated to provide low beam and at least the second light source 220 may be operated to provide high beam.

The first light source 210 and the second light source 220 may be separated from each other on the same surface of the support 300. Since the first light source 210 and the second light source 220 are separated from each other, different regions may be illuminated with light emitted from the first light source 210 and light emitted from the second light source 220, respectively.

As the first light source 210 and the second light source 220 are placed at different locations, the first light source 210 and the second light source 220 may provide different optical paths along which light enters the reflector 100 and is reflected therefrom, and different illumination regions illuminated with light reflected from the reflector 100. Light emitted from the first light source 210 may be reflected from the reflector 100 to reach an illumination region for realizing low beam, and light emitted from the second light source 220 may be reflected from the reflector 100 to reach an illumination region for realizing high beam.

Both high beam and low beam may be realized using the first light source 210, the second light source 220, and the reflector 100 separated from the light source unit 200. Accordingly, separate implementation of a lighting apparatus for realizing high beam and a lighting apparatus for realizing low beam may not be needed. As a result, the lighting apparatus according to the embodiment can have a very simple structure and a compact size.

Each of the first light source 210 and the second light source 220 may be a light emitting diode. For example, the first light source 210 and the second light source 220 may be flip-chip type light emitting diodes. In this case, each of the first light source 210 and the second light source 220 may include a plurality of conductivity type semiconductor layers, an active layer, and a contact layer. In each of the first light source 210 and the second light source 220, the active layer may have a single-quantum well structure or a multi-quantum well structure, and the composition of nitride semiconductors in the active layer may be adjusted to emit light in a predetermined wavelength band.

The first light source 210 and the second light source 220 may emit light in the visible spectrum, as described above. For example, light emitted from the first light source 210 and the second light source 220 may have a wavelength in the range of about 380 nm to about 770 nm. As the first light source 210 and the second light source 220 emit light in this wavelength band, a driver can recognize light emitted from the first light source 210 and the second light source 220 with the naked eye.

The first light source 210 and the second light source 220 are disposed on the support 300. The support 300 may have a plate shape and may support the light source unit 200 on one surface thereof, as shown in FIG. 2. The shape of the support 300 may be changed depending on the shape of the lighting apparatus. For example, the support 300 may have a trapezoidal shape, a rectangular shape, a square shape, an elliptical shape, or a circular shape in plan view.

The support 300 may be disposed to face the reflector 100. For example, at least one end of the reflector 100 having a curved surface may disposed to face the support 300. The other end of the reflector 100 may be supported by the support 300.

The support 300 may include a circuit board for mounting the first light source 210 and the second light source 220. In some embodiments, the support 300 does not include the circuit board and the light source unit 200 may include a separate circuit board.

The support 300 supports the light source unit 200. The support 300 may also support the reflector 100. The light source unit 200 and the reflector 100 may be disposed on the same surface of the support 300 and be supported thereby.

The support 300 may further include a heat dissipation member. The heat dissipation member may be realized in various forms and may remove heat from the light source unit 200. For example, the heat dissipation member may be a thermally conductive member that connects the light source unit 200 to an external component or may be provided in the form of a pipe or a duct that exposes some region of the light source unit 200.

The lighting apparatus 10 may further include a housing 1000. The housing 1000 may cover the reflector 100, the light source unit 200, and the support 300. The housing 1000 may have a shape and material that delivers light, which is emitted from the light source unit 200 and reflected from the reflector 100, to the outside without light loss while absorbing external impact. For example, the housing 1000 may have a light exit surface, which may be optically transparent.

The lighting apparatus 10 according to the embodiment includes the first light source 210 and the second light source 220, which are separated from each other and placed on the same surface, and the reflector 100, thereby enabling implementation of high beam and low beam using a single lighting apparatus 10. Accordingly, the lighting apparatus 10 enables reduction in size thereof while improving the degree of design freedom.

In the above, the fundamental structure of the lighting apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure has been described. According to this embodiment, the reflector 100 may be designed to deliver light emitted from the first light source 210 and light emitted from the second light source 220 to a region for realizing high beam and a region for realizing low beam, respectively. Hereinafter, the shape of the reflector 100 for this function will be described above.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a reflector of the lighting apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure and FIG. 3B is a plan view of the reflector shown in FIG. 3A. In this embodiment, the multiple reflective plates are arranged in a 9×4 matrix, where the multiple reflective plates are arranged along rows in the sequence of a, b, c and d and along columns in the sequence of 101, 102, . . . , and 109. For example, 102b means a reflector plate placed at the second row in the second column and 105d means a reflector plate placed at the fifth row in the fourth column.

In FIG. 3A, a first direction D1 and a second direction D2 may be determined on a plan view (FIG. 3B) of the reflector. For example, the first direction D1 may be a longitudinal direction of the reflector and the second direction D2 may be a transverse direction of the reflector in the plan view of the reflector. The first direction D1 and the second direction D2 shown in FIG. 3B may also be applied to FIG. 3A.

The reflective plates may be continuously arranged in a matrix including columns extending in the first direction D1 and rows extending in the second direction D2 perpendicular to the first direction D1. Here, the reflective plates may have different shapes depending in the columns and the rows. Specifically, the reflective plates may have different shapes and include reflective surfaces with different shapes. As a result, light reflected from the reflective plates may be delivered to different regions.

For convenience of description, the following description will focus on reflective plates 101a to 109a in the first column, reflective plates 105a to 105d in the fifth row, and reflective plates 109a to 109d in the ninth row.

The reflective plates 105a to 105d in the fifth row may be referred to as central reflective plates 105a to 105d. The central reflective plates 105a to 105d may be placed on an imaginary line extending from the first light source in the second direction D2. The central reflective plates 105a to 105d may have a larger size than other reflective plates disposed in the same column. For example, in the first column, a first central reflective plate 105a may have a greater width w1 than other reflective plates 101a to 104a and 106a to 109a in the first direction.

As the central reflective plates 105a to 105d has a relatively great width w1 in the first direction, light reflected from the central reflective plates 105a to 105d may travel while spreading in a horizontal direction. Furthermore, since the central reflective plates 105a to 105d are closer to the first light source and the second light source than other reflective plates, the lighting apparatus allows a relatively large quantity of light to enter and be reflected from the central reflective plates 105a to 105d. Accordingly, the lighting apparatus can illuminate a broad region with a large quantity of light through the central reflective plates 105a to 105d.

The reflective plates 101a to 109a arranged in the first column in the first direction D1 may have a symmetrical shape with reference to the first central reflective plate 105a disposed in the same column. Here, the symmetrical shape includes the size of the reflective plates 101a to 104a and 106a to 109a and the shape of the reflective surfaces thereof. In particular, the reflective surfaces of the reflective plates may be linearly symmetrical with respect to a straight line passing through the center of the first central reflective plate 105a or a straight line extending from the first light source in the second direction D2. It should be noted that these features may also be applied to the reflective plates in other columns.

With the structure of the reflective plates 101a to 109a disposed in the first column, light emitted from the first light source or the second light source and reflected from the reflector 100 may travel in a symmetrical shape in the first direction D1. Accordingly, even when the multiple reflective plates 101a to 109a disposed in the same column have different reflective surfaces, the reflected light may travel in the symmetrical shape in the first direction D1.

The reflective plates disposed in the same row may have different shapes. For example, the reflective plates 109a to 109d disposed in the ninth row may have different shapes. Specifically, the reflective plates 109a to 109d in the same row may have a size gradually decreasing from the first light source. For example, a width h1 of the reflective plate 109a disposed in the ninth row and the first column may be greater than a width h2 of the reflective plate 109d disposed in the ninth row and the fourth column in the second direction. Since the reflective plates 109a to 109d disposed in the same row have different shapes as described above, the reflective plates 109a to 109d may emit different quantities of light towards different regions. For example, since the reflective plate 109a disposed in the ninth row and the first column has a relatively great width h1 in the second direction and is placed relatively close to the first light source and the second light source, the reflective plate 109a disposed in the ninth row and the first column can reflect a greater quantity of light towards a broader region than the reflective plate 109d disposed in the ninth row and the fourth column.

According to the embodiment, in the reflector 100, the multiple reflective plates have different shapes and are continuously arranged. With the aforementioned structure, both high beam and low beam can be realized by one reflector 100. With this structure, the lighting apparatus can achieve size reduction while improving the degree of design freedom.

In the above description, the shapes of the reflective plates have been described. Next, a reflection pattern of light reflected from the reflective plates will be described in more detail.

FIG. 4A to FIG. 4I are views of the reflective plates in the reflector shown in FIG. 3A and graphs depicting illumination patterns of light reflected from the reflective plates.

Referring to FIG. 4A to FIG. 4I, in the graphs depicting illumination patterns of light, the first direction of FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B may correspond to the X axis and the second direction may correspond to the Y axis. The illumination patterns of light may be obtained by calculating illumination coordinates having a first direction angle and a second direction angle on the coordinate plane including the X axis and the Y axis. The first direction angle and the second direction angle are measured with respect to a target separated a distance of 25 m from the first light source. Specifically, with respect to a foot of a vertical line on the target separated a distance of 25 m from the first light source, an angle of a line extending between a light illumination point and the first light source and an angle of a vertical line extending from the first light source may be measured and denoted by the first direction angle and the second direction, respectively. Here, the foot of the vertical line on the target separated a distance of 25 m from the first light source may be set as the origin of the coordinate plane. In addition, when the light illumination point is placed at the right of the origin, the first direction angle may be expressed as a positive value, and when the light illumination point is placed at the left of the origin, the first direction angle may be expressed as a negative value. Further, when the light illumination point is placed above the origin, the second direction angle may be expressed as a positive value, and when the light illumination point is placed below the origin, the second direction angle may be expressed as a negative value.

Further, in the graphs of FIG. 4A to FIG. 4I, a region indicated by a red color means a region on which light is focused, and a lesser quantity of light is indicated by a blue color or a dark blue color.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the shape of the first central reflective plate 105a in the first column of the reflector and an illumination pattern of light reflected from the first central reflective plate 105a can be confirmed. The first central reflective plate 105a has a greater width than other reflective plates in the first direction. Accordingly, the first central reflective plate 105a may reflect light to a broader region than other reflective plates.

On the coordinate plane consisting of the first direction (X axis direction) and the second direction (Y axis direction), a region in the range of about −25 degrees to about +25 degrees in the first direction may be illuminated with light reflected from the first central reflective plate 105a. In the second direction, a region of about 0 degree or less may be illuminated with the light reflected from the first central reflective plate 105a. For example, a region in the range of about 0 degree to about −5 degrees in the second direction may be illuminated with the light reflected from the first central reflective plate 105a.

Since the first central reflective plate 105a is placed relatively close to the light source unit, the first central reflective plate 105a may receive a greater quantity of light than other reflective plates 101a to 104a, 106a to 109a in the same column as the first central reflective plate 105a. As the first central reflective plate 105a receiving a greater quantity of light reflects the light towards a broad region as described above, it is possible to illuminate the broad region with a large quantity of light. Accordingly, the lighting apparatus according to the present disclosure may efficiently use light emitted from the light source unit.

Next, referring to FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C, the shape of a fourth reflective plate 104a and a sixth reflective plate 106a in the first column of the reflector and an illumination pattern of light reflected from the fourth reflective plate 104a and the sixth reflective plate 106a will be described.

The fourth reflective plate 104a and the sixth reflective plate 106a are disposed near the first central reflective plate 105a in the first direction. The fourth reflective plate 104a and the sixth reflective plate 106a may have a smaller width than the first central reflective plate 105a in the first direction. Accordingly, light reflected from the fourth reflective plate 104a and the sixth reflective plate 106a may reach a narrower region than light reflected from the first central reflective plate 105a in the first direction. For example, a region in the range of about −20 degrees to about 20 degrees in the first direction may be illuminated with the light reflected from the fourth reflective plate 104a and the sixth reflective plate 106a.

The fourth reflective plate 104a and the sixth reflective plate 106a may have a symmetrical shape with reference to the first central reflective plate 105a. Specifically, the sizes of the fourth reflective plate 104a and the sixth reflective plate 106a and the shapes of the reflective surfaces thereof may be linearly symmetric with respect to the first central reflective plate 105a. Accordingly, a region illuminated with the light reflected from the fourth reflective plate 104a and the sixth reflective plate 106a may have a linearly symmetrical shape with reference to the second direction axis. Here, it should be noted that a region at the left of the second direction axis may be illuminated with a relatively large quantity of light reflected from the fourth reflective plate 104a disposed at the left of the first central reflective plate 105a and a region at the right of the second direction axis may be illuminated with a relatively large quantity of light reflected from the sixth reflective plate 106a disposed at the right of the first central reflective plate 105a.

Since the fourth reflective plate 104a and the sixth reflective plate 106a have a symmetrical shape with reference to the first central reflective plate 105a, a central region in which the first direction axis intersects with the second direction axis may be illuminated with a relatively large quantity of light when the light reflected from the fourth reflective plate 104a combines with the light reflected from the sixth reflective plate 106a.

Next, referring to FIG. 4D and FIG. 4E, the shape of a third reflective plate 103a and a seventh reflective plate 107a in the first column of the reflector and an illumination pattern of light reflected from the third reflective plate 103a and the seventh reflective plate 107a will be described.

The third reflective plate 103a and the seventh reflective plate 107a are placed near the fourth reflective plate 104a and the sixth reflective plate 106a in the first direction, respectively. The third reflective plate 103a and the seventh reflective plate 107a may have smaller widths than the fourth reflective plate 104a and the sixth reflective plate 106a in the first direction, respectively. Accordingly, light reflected from the third reflective plate 103a and the seventh reflective plate 107a may reach a narrower region than light reflected from the fourth reflective plate 104a and the sixth reflective plate 106a in the first direction. For example, a region in the range of about −5 degrees to about 15 degrees in the first direction may be illuminated with the light reflected from the third reflective plate 103a and a region in the range of about −15 degrees to about 5 degrees in the first direction may be illuminated with the light reflected from the seventh reflective plate 107a.

The third reflective plate 103a and the seventh reflective plate 107a may have a linearly symmetrical shape with reference to the first central reflective plate 105a. Specifically, the sizes of the third reflective plate 103a and the seventh reflective plate 107a and the shapes of the reflective surfaces thereof may be linearly symmetric with respect to the first central reflective plate 105a. Accordingly, a region illuminated with the light reflected from the third reflective plate 103a and the seventh reflective plate 107a may have a linearly symmetrical shape with reference to the second direction axis. Here, it should be noted that a region at the left of the second direction axis may be illuminated with a relatively large quantity of light reflected from the third reflective plate 103a disposed at the left of the first central reflective plate 105a and a region at the right of the second direction axis may be illuminated with a relatively large quantity of light reflected from the seventh reflective plate 107a disposed at the right of the first central reflective plate 105a.

The light reflected from the third reflective plate 103a and the seventh reflective plate 107a may focus on a central region in which the first direction axis intersects with the second direction axis. For example, the third reflective plate 103a and the seventh reflective plate 107a may have a parabolic shape having a focal point in a central region thereof to deliver light as described above. Although the third reflective plate 103a and the seventh reflective plate 107a have relatively small sizes and are relatively farther away from the light source unit, the third reflective plate 103a and the seventh reflective plate 107a serve to focus light on the central region, thereby improving illumination efficiency of the lighting apparatus.

Next, referring to FIG. 4F and FIG. 4G, the shape of a second reflective plate 102a and an eighth reflective plate 108a in the first column of the reflector and an illumination pattern of light reflected from the second reflective plate 102a and the eighth reflective plate 108a will be described.

The second reflective plate 102a and the eighth reflective plate 108a are placed near the third reflective plate 103a and the seventh reflective plate 107a in the first direction, respectively. The second reflective plate 102a and the eighth reflective plate 108a may have smaller widths than the third reflective plate 103a and the seventh reflective plate 107a in the first direction, respectively. Accordingly, light reflected from the second reflective plate 102a and the eighth reflective plate 108a may reach a narrower region than light reflected from the third reflective plate 103a and the seventh reflective plate 107a in the first direction. For example, a region in the range of about −3 degrees to about 3 degrees in the first direction may be illuminated with the light reflected from the second reflective plate 102a and the eighth reflective plate 108a.

The second reflective plate 102a and the eighth reflective plate 108a may have a linearly symmetrical shape with reference to the first central reflective plate 105a. Specifically, the sizes of the second reflective plate 102a and the eighth reflective plate 108a and the shapes of the reflective surfaces thereof may be linearly symmetric with respect to the first central reflective plate 105a. Accordingly, a region illuminated with the light reflected from the second reflective plate 102a and the eighth reflective plate 108a may have a linearly symmetrical shape with reference to the second direction axis. Here, it should be noted that a region at the left of the second direction axis may be illuminated with a relatively large quantity of light reflected from the second reflective plate 102a disposed at the left of the first central reflective plate 105a and a region at the right of the second direction axis may be illuminated with a relatively large quantity of light reflected from the eighth reflective plate 108a disposed at the right of the first central reflective plate 105a.

The light reflected from the second reflective plate 102a and the eighth reflective plate 108a may focus on the central region in which the first direction axis intersects with the second direction axis. For example, the second reflective plate 102a and the eighth reflective plate 108a may have a parabolic shape having a focal point in a central region thereof to deliver light as described above. Although the second reflective plate 102a and the eighth reflective plate 108a have relatively small sizes and are relatively farther away from the light source unit, the second reflective plate 102a and the eighth reflective plate 108a serve to focus light on the central region, thereby improving illumination efficiency of the lighting apparatus.

Next, referring to FIG. 4H and FIG. 4I, the shape of a first reflective plate 101a and a ninth reflective plate 109a in the first column of the reflector and an illumination pattern of light reflected from the first reflective plate 101a and the ninth reflective plate 109a will be described.

The first reflective plate 101a and the ninth reflective plate 109a are disposed near the second reflective plate 102a and the eighth reflective plate 108a in the first direction, respectively. The first reflective plate 101a and the ninth reflective plate 109a may have smaller widths than the second reflective plate 102a and the eighth reflective plate 108a in the first direction, respectively. Accordingly, light reflected from the first reflective plate 101a and the ninth reflective plate 109a may reach a narrower region than light reflected from the second reflective plate 102a and the eighth reflective plate 108a in the first direction. For example, a region in the range of about −2 degrees to about 2 degrees in the first direction may be illuminated with the light reflected from the first reflective plate 101a and the ninth reflective plate 109a.

The first reflective plate 101a and the ninth reflective plate 109a may have a linearly symmetrical shape with reference to the first central reflective plate 105a. Specifically, the sizes of the first reflective plate 101a and the ninth reflective plate 109a and the shapes of the reflective surfaces thereof may be linearly symmetric with respect to the first central reflective plate 105a. Accordingly, a region illuminated with the light reflected from the first reflective plate 101a and the ninth reflective plate 109a may have a linearly symmetrical shape with reference to the second direction axis. Here, it should be noted that a region at the left of the second direction axis may be illuminated with a relatively large quantity of light reflected from the first reflective plate 101a disposed at the left of the first central reflective plate 105a and a region at the right of the second direction axis may be illuminated with a relatively large quantity of light reflected from the ninth reflective plate 109a disposed at the right of the first central reflective plate 105a.

The light reflected from the first reflective plate 101a and the ninth reflective plate 109a may focus on the central region in which the first direction axis intersects with the second direction axis. For example, the first reflective plate 101a and the ninth reflective plate 109a may have a parabolic shape having a focal point in a central region thereof to deliver light as described above. Although the first reflective plate 101a and the ninth reflective plate 109a have relatively small sizes and are relatively farther away from the light source unit, the first reflective plate 101a and the ninth reflective plate 109a serve to focus light on the central region, thereby improving illumination efficiency of the lighting apparatus.

In the above description, the first to fourth reflective plates 101a to 104a, the first central reflective plate 105a, and the sixth to ninth reflective plates 106a to 109a disposed in the first column have been described. In some forms, the shapes and arrangement of the reflective plates in the same column may also be applied to the reflective plates in other columns in the substantially same way or in a similar manner.

According to one embodiment, among the reflective plates disposed in the same column, some reflective plates may spread light in the first direction and some reflective plates may focus light on the central region, thereby enabling efficient redistribution of light emitted from the light source unit. As a result, the lighting apparatus adopting the reflective plates has very high illumination efficiency.

In the above description, the shapes and reflection pattern of the reflective plates disposed in the same column have been described. Next, the shapes and reflection pattern of the reflective plates disposed in the same row will be described.

FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D are views of central reflective plates in the reflector shown in FIG. 3A and graphs depicting illumination patterns of light reflected from the reflective plates.

Specifically, FIG. 5A shows the shape and the reflection pattern of the first central reflective plate 105a disposed in the first column and FIG. 5B shows the shape and the reflection pattern of a second central reflective plate 105b disposed in the second column. FIG. 5C shows the shape and the reflection pattern of a third central reflective plate 105c disposed in the third column and FIG. 5D shows the shape and the reflection pattern of a fourth central reflective plate 105d disposed in the fourth column. The first to fourth central reflective plates 105a to 105d are disposed in the same row.

The first to fourth central reflective plates 105a to 105d are disposed in the same row and may have reflective surfaces with different shapes. As a result, the first to fourth central reflective plates 105a to 105d may reflect light in different ways, as shown in FIG. 5A through 5D.

The first to fourth central reflective plates 105a to 105d may have greater widths than other reflective plates disposed in the same column in the first direction. In addition, as the first to fourth central reflective plates 105a to 105d are placed relatively close to the light source unit, the first to fourth central reflective plates 105a to 105d may reflect a large quantity of light towards a broad region.

The first to fourth central reflective plates 105a to 105d may have different widths in the first direction. For example, the first central reflective plate 105a closest to the light source unit may have a greater width than the second to fourth central reflective plates 105b to 105d in the first direction. Further, the fourth central reflective plate 105d disposed farthest from the light source unit may have a smaller width than the first to third central reflective plates 105a to 105c in the first direction.

The first to fourth central reflective plates 105a to 105d may have different widths in the second direction. For example, the first central reflective plate 105a may have a greater width than the second to fourth central reflective plates 105b to 105d in the second direction. In addition, the fourth reflective plate 105d may have a smaller width than the first to third central reflective plates 105a to 105c in the second direction.

As the first to third central reflective plates 105a to 105d have different widths in the first direction and in the second direction and are placed at different locations, the first to third central reflective plates 105a to 105d may reflect light emitted from the light source unit in different reflection patterns. For example, the first central reflective plate 105a may relatively evenly reflect the light to the broadest region, whereas the second and third central reflective plates 105b, 105c may reflect the light so as to focus on the central region in which the first direction axis meets the second direction axis.

The fourth central reflective plate 105d may reflect light towards a region of 0 degree or more in the second direction unlike the first to third central reflective plates 105a to 105c. Accordingly, upon driving on a road, a vehicle adopting the lighting apparatus according to the present disclosure can illuminate a road sign placed above the vehicle with the light reflected from the fourth central reflective plate 105d. In addition, the reflective plates disposed in the same column as the fourth central reflective plate 105d may also have a reflective surface parallel to the support in at least some region. Accordingly, at least some of light reflected from the reflective plates disposed in a column farthest from the light source unit may reach a region of about 0 degree or more in the second direction.

In the above description, the first to fourth central reflective plates 105a to 105d disposed in the same row are described. In some forms, the shapes and arrangement of the reflective plates disposed in the same row may also be applied to the reflective plates disposed in other rows in the substantially same way.

According to the embodiment, among the reflective plates disposed in the same row, some reflective plates may reflect light to a region of 0 degree or less in the second direction and some reflective plates may reflect light to a region of 0 degree or more in the second direction. Accordingly, upon driving on a road, the vehicle adopting the lighting apparatus according to the present disclosure can illuminate not only the road but also a road sign placed above the vehicle.

In the above description, the reflection pattern of each of the reflective plates in the reflector has been described. Next, an illumination pattern of combined light reflected from the reflective plates will be described.

FIG. 6 is a graph depicting an illumination pattern of light reflected from the reflector shown in FIG. 3A.

The reflective plates may have the reflective surfaces with different shapes depending in the columns and the rows, thereby reflecting light towards different regions. As the multiple reflective plates reflect light towards different regions, high beam or low beam may be realized through combination of light reflected from the multiple reflective plates.

Further, light reflected from the central reflective plates spreads broadly in the first direction, thereby enabling illumination without a blind spot, and light reflected from the reflective plates disposed at the right and the left of the central reflective plate is focused on the central region, thereby enabling illumination of a region in front of the vehicle adopting the lighting apparatus.

Further, the reflective plates may reflect light so as to satisfy the domestic or foreign regulations for realizing high beam and low beam.

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are plan views of reflectors of the lighting apparatus according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 7A, a reflector 100′ may have a square shape in plan view. The reflector 100′ may include multiple reflective plates. Among the multiple reflective plates in the reflector 100′, a reflective plate disposed closest to the light source unit may have a larger size than other reflective plates. That is, the structures of the reflective plates shown in FIG. 3A to FIG. 6 may also be applied to the reflector 100′ shown in FIG. 7A.

Referring to FIG. 7B, a reflector 100″ may have a rectangular shape and may include reflective plates 100_(1,1)to 100_(m,n)arranged in a matrix in the first direction D1 and in the second direction D2. Here, the multiple reflective plates 100_(1,1)to 100_(m,n)may be arranged in each of the first direction D1 and the second direction D2.

There is no limitation as to the number of reflective plates 100_(1,1)to 100_(m,n). For example, assuming that the column extending in the first direction D1 may be provided with n reflective plates 100_(1,1)to 100_(1,n), and the rows extending in the second direction D2 may be provided with m reflective plates 100_(1,n)to 100_(m,n), where each of n and m may be a certain natural number.

The reflective plates 100_(1,n)to 100_(m,n)may the same relationship therebetween as the relationship described with reference to FIG. 3A to FIG. 6. For example, the first central reflective plate 100_(1,a)in the first column may have a greater width than other reflective plates 100_(1,1)to 100_(m,n)in the first direction. In addition, the reflective plates 100_(1,1)to 100_(1,n)in the first column may have a symmetrical shape with reference to the first central reflective plate 100_(1,a). Here, the symmetrical shape include the shapes of the reflective plates 100_(1,1)to 100_(1,n)in the first column and the shapes of reflective surfaces thereof. The reflective plates disposed in the same row in the second direction may have different shapes. For example, the reflective plates 100_(1,n)to 100_(m,n)in the nth row may have different shapes. In addition, among the reflective plates 100_(1,n)to 100_(m,n)in the nth row, the reflective plate 100_(m,n)in the last column may have a relatively small width in the second direction and a reflective surface parallel to the support.

Various shapes of the reflector have been described above. According to the embodiment, the reflector may be provided in various shapes. The shape of the reflector may be changed to be suitable for design of the lighting apparatus. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the degree of design freedom while improving efficiency of the lighting apparatus.

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of a reflector of a lighting apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, as taken in the first direction of the reflector. FIG. 8B is an enlarged view of Region P1 of FIG. 8A.

Referring to FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, the multiple reflective plates 101a to 109a may be arranged in a step shape in which distal ends of the multiple reflective plates 101a to 109a have different heights. Specifically, the multiple reflective plates 101a to 104a, 106a to 109a in the same column may be arranged in a downward step shape with reference to the first central reflective plate 105a.

For example, a reflective plate gap 100g, shown in FIG. 8B, may be disposed between the first central reflective plate 105a and the sixth reflective plate 106a at the right of the first central reflective plate 105a. The reflective plate gap 100g may be formed in a shape extending downwards from the reflective surface of the first central reflective plate 105a. It should be understood that a bevel surface of the reflective plate gap 100g is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 8B. For example, the bevel surface of the reflective plate gap 100g may have a straight shape or a parabolic shape in cross-sectional view, as shown in FIG. 8B.

With the aforementioned structure of the reflective plate gap 100g, it is possible to prevent light emitted from the light source unit from traveling to an undesired region through reflection between the first central reflective plate 105a and the sixth reflective plate 106a.

The reflective plate gap 100g may be disposed not only between the first central reflective plate 105a and the sixth reflective plate 106a but also between two adjacent reflective plates. Here, the bevel surface of the reflective plate gap 100g may have a different shape or size.

Furthermore, the reflective plate gap 100g may be disposed between the reflective plates in the same row. In this embodiment, adjacent reflective plates may be provided in a downward step shape with reference to the reflective plates 101a to 109a disposed in the first column.

According to the embodiment, with the structure of the multiple reflective plates 101a to 109a including the reflective plate gap 100g, the lighting apparatus can prevent the light emitted from the light source unit from traveling in an undesired direction through reflection. Accordingly, the lighting apparatus can illuminate a desired region with a high ratio of light emitted from the light source unit, thereby improving illumination efficacy.

In the above description, the reflector of the lighting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure has been described in detail. Next, arrangement of the light source unit for emitting light towards the reflector will be described in detail.

FIG. 9A is a plan view of the lighting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure and FIG. 9B is a graph depicting an illumination pattern of the lighting apparatus shown in FIG. 9A.

Referring to FIG. 9A, arrangement of the light source unit 200 will be described. FIG. 9A schematically shows a positional relationship between the light source unit 200 and the reflector 100, which may have different shapes from the support 300 and the reflector 100 of the lighting apparatus shown in FIG. 1. However, the features described with reference to FIG. 9A may be applied to the lighting apparatus shown in FIG. 1 or vice versa.

In the light source unit 200, the first light source 210 and the second light source 220 may be disposed parallel to each other on the same plane of the support 300.

The first light source 210 is separated from the second light source 220. For example, the first light source 210 may be separated from the second light source 220 by a light distribution distance w2. The light distribution distance w2 may mean a distance from the center of the first light source 210 to the center of the second light source 220, as shown in FIG. 9B. An illumination pattern may be changed depending on the light distribution distance w2 between the first light source 210 and the second light source 220.

The light distribution distance w2 may range from about 0.8 mm to about 1.2 mm. As can be seen below, when the light distribution distance w2 deviates from the above range, it is difficult to realize high beam or low beam.

Tables 1 to 5 were obtained by measuring the intensity of light on a target separated a distance of 25 m from the lighting apparatus in operation of the first light source and the second light source. For measurement, each of the first light source and the second light source emits 340 lm of light, and the reflector has a size of 60 mm (in the first direction (longitudinal direction) and 30 mm (in the second direction (transverse direction). In the following tables, the minimum intensity regulation for high beam and the maximum intensity regulation for high beam are regulation values for emission of high beam from a vehicular lighting apparatus. When the lighting apparatus fails to satisfy the minimum intensity regulation for high beam or the maximum intensity regulation for high beam, it is evaluated that high beam is not regularly operated.

TABLE 1

0.7 mm

Light

Minimum
Maximum

distribution

intensity
intensity

distance w2
Measured
regulation for
regulation

Measurement
value
high beam
for high beam

point
(unit: 1x)
(unit: 1x)
(unit: 1x)
Allowable

L1
51.49
42.00
240.0
O

L2
39.50
41.19
—
X

L3
33.90
17.00
—
O

L4
32.81
17.00
—
O

L5
21.99
5.50
—
O

L6
22.07
5.50
—
O

L7
21.95
3.40
—
O

L8
21.71
3.40
—
O

L9
19.13
1.00
—
O

L10
18.29
1.00
—
O

L11
1.85
1.70
—
O

L12
0.05
—
15.45
O

TABLE 2

0.8 mm

Light

Minimum
Maximum

distribution

intensity
intensity

distance w2
Measured
regulation for
regulation

Measurement
value
high beam
for high beam

point
(unit: 1x)
(unit: 1x)
(unit: 1x)
Allowable

L1
49.90
42.00
240.0
O

L2
43.45
41.19
—
O

L3
37.15
17.00
—
O

L4
37.00
17.00
—
O

L5
23.66
5.50
—
O

L6
23.46
5.50
—
O

L7
22.54
3.40
—
O

L8
22.68
3.40
—
O

L9
19.08
1.00
—
O

L10
18.34
1.00
—
O

L11
4.16
1.70
—
O

L12
0.00
—
15.45
O

TABLE 3

1.0 mm

Light

Minimum
Maximum

distribution

intensity
intensity

distance w2
Measured
regulation for
regulation

Measurement
value
high beam
for high beam

point
(unit: 1x)
(unit: 1x)
(unit: 1x)
Allowable

L1
47.56
42.00
240.0
O

L2
43.84
41.19
—
O

L3
39.23
17.00
—
O

L4
38.83
17.00
—
O

L5
23.22
5.50
—
O

L6
23.49
5.50
—
O

L7
21.36
3.40
—
O

L8
22.41
3.40
—
O

L9
17.01
1.00
—
O

L10
17.25
1.00
—
O

L11
5.92
1.70
—
O

L12
0.00
—
15.45
O

TABLE 4

1.2 mm

Light

Minimum
Maximum

distribution

intensity
intensity

distance w2
Measured
regulation for
regulation

Measurement
value
high beam
for high beam

point
(unit: 1x)
(unit: 1x)
(unit: 1x)
Allowable

L1
42.69
42.00
240.0
O

L2
40.73
41.19
—
O

L3
38.19
17.00
—
O

L4
36.22
17.00
—
O

L5
23.04
5.50
—
O

L6
20.82
5.50
—
O

L7
19.76
3.40
—
O

L8
17.40
3.40
—
O

L9
14.16
1.00
—
O

L10
12.86
1.00
—
O

L11
10.91
1.70
—
O

L12
0.00
—
15.45
O

TABLE 5

1.3 mm

Light

Minimum
Maximum

distribution

intensity
intensity

distance w2
Measured
regulation for
regulation

Measurement
value
high beam
for high beam

point
(unit: 1x)
(unit: 1x)
(unit: 1x)
Allowable

L1
38.98
42.00
240.0
X

L2
35.64
41.19
—
O

L3
34.61
17.00
—
O

L4
32.80
17.00
—
O

L5
20.78
5.50
—
O

L6
18.18
5.50
—
O

L7
16.2
3.40
—
O

L8
14.18
3.40
—
O

L9
10.99
1.00
—
O

L10
10.68
1.00
—
O

L11
12.86
1.70
—
O

L12
0.00
—
15.45
O

As can be seen from Tables 1 to 5, when the light distribution distance w2 ranges from about 0.8 mm to about 1.2 mm, the lighting apparatus satisfies the minimum intensity regulation for high beam and the maximum intensity regulation for high beam at all measurement points. Accordingly, in order to realize both high beam and low beam using one reflector, the first light source, and the second light source, the lighting apparatus may have a light distribution distance w2 of about 0.8 mm to about 1.2 mm.

As described above, in order to realize both high beam and low beam, the first light source 210 and the second light source 220 may be disposed in consideration of the light distribution distance w2. Here, the second light source 220 may be disposed in consideration of the light distribution distance w2 after positioning the first light source 210. Accordingly, the first light source 210 may be positioned before placement of the second light source 220.

The first light source 210 may be placed at a focal point of a curved line approaching a parabolic line corresponding to the reflector 100. For example, the first light source 210 may be separated from one end of the reflector 100, specifically from a region in which the reflector 100 meets the support 300, by a focal distance w3. The focal distance w3 may be a distance from the center of the parabolic line corresponding to the reflector 100 to the first light source 210. Here, the focal distance w3 may range from about 8 mm to about 9 mm. With the aforementioned structure of the first light source 210, the reflector 100 approaching the shape of the parabolic line has a more compact shape. As a result, the lighting apparatus including the reflector 100 can have a reduced size.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a lighting apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 10, the light source unit 200 includes multiple first light sources 211, 212 and multiple second light sources 221, 222. In addition, the light source unit 200 further includes a substrate 230 and a socket 240.

The multiple first light sources 211, 212 and the multiple second light sources 221, 222 may be parallel to each other and may be disposed on the same plane. Further, according to utility of the lighting apparatus, the number of first light sources 211, 212 may be different from the number of second light sources 221, 222.

The first light sources 211, 212 and the second light sources 221, 222 may be disposed on the substrate 230. The substrate 230 is coupled at one surface thereof to the support 300 and supports the first light sources 211, 212 and the second light sources 221, 222 on the other surface thereof. The substrate 230 may include an electric interconnect and an electric pad for connection of the first light sources 211, 212 and the second light sources 221, 222 to other components.

The substrate 230 may be provided at one side thereof with the socket 240. The socket 240 connects the first light sources 211, 212 and the second light sources 221, 222 to an external power source. The external power source may mean a power source outside the lighting apparatus. For example, the external power source may be a power source for a vehicle adopting the lighting apparatus.

As described above, with the multiple first light sources 211, 212 and the multiple second light sources 221, 222, the lighting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to an apparatus requiring higher intensity of light.

FIG. 11A is an enlarged perspective view of the light source unit of the lighting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure and FIG. 11B is a sectional view of the light source unit taken along line A2-A2′ of FIG. 11A.

Referring to FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B, the first light source 210 is shown. The first light source 210 may include a first light emitting diode 211c and a second light emitting diode 212c. The first light emitting diode 211c and the second light emitting diode 212c may be surrounded by a first light source case 215.

The first light emitting diode 211c may be formed on one surface thereof with a phosphor layer 211p and on the other surface thereof with a reflective layer 211r. The phosphor layer 211p may include phosphors. The phosphors contained in the phosphor layer 211p may convert light emitted from the first light emitting diode 211c into light having a specific wavelength. The phosphors may include, for example, a garnet phosphor, an aluminate phosphor, a sulfide phosphor, an oxynitride phosphor, a nitride phosphor, a fluoride phosphor, a silicate phosphor, a quantum dot phosphor, and the like. In some embodiments, the phosphor layer 211p may be provided in the form of PIG (Phosphor-in-Glass) and bonded to the first light emitting diode 211c.

The reflective layer 211r may be formed on the other surface of the first light emitting diode 211c and may reflect light such that a first light component travels towards the phosphor layer 211p. The reflective layer 211r may be, for example, white silicone.

Like the first light emitting diode 211c, the second light emitting diode 212c may be formed on one surface thereof with a phosphor layer 211p and on the other surface thereof with a reflective layer.

Various types of light sources may be realized by the first light emitting diode 211c and the second light emitting diode 212c. Although not shown in the drawings, the first light emitting diode 211c and the second light emitting diode 212c may be provided in the form of high intensity flip-chip type or vertical type LEDs and may be electrically connected to a lower substrate.