An illumination device has a coherent light source, an optical device that diffuses the plurality of coherent light beams and illuminates a predetermined illumination area, and a timing control unit that individually controls incident timing of the plurality of coherent light beams to the optical device or illumination timing of the illumination area, wherein the optical device has a plurality of diffusion regions, the diffusion regions being provided corresponding to the plurality of coherent light beams, the plurality of diffusion regions illuminate the illumination range by diffusion of incident coherent light beams, the plurality of diffusion regions have a plurality of element diffusion regions, the plurality of element diffusion regions illuminate partial regions in the illumination area by diffusion of incident coherent light beams, and at least parts of the partial regions illuminated by the plurality of element diffusion regions are different from one another.

An optical element includes a light entry surface configured to receive light, a light emission surface having a first light emission sub-surface and a second light emission sub-surface connected to each other, and a reflecting surface having a first reflecting sub-surface and a second reflecting sub-surface connected between the first reflecting sub-surface and the second light emission sub-surface. A first portion of the light is transmitted to the light entry surface and the first light emission sub-surface in sequence. A second portion of the light is transmitted to the light entry surface, the second reflecting sub-surface, and the second light exit sub-surface in sequence. A third portion of the light is transmitted to the light entry surface, the first reflecting sub-surface, the second reflecting sub-surface, and the second light emission sub-surface in sequence.

The present invention relates to a vehicle lighting device including a first light guide and a second light guide each adapted to emit at least a part of a lighting function. The first light guide has a main light guide part, a fixing part fixing the main part to the second light guide and extending between the main part and the second guide so that one of the guides supports the other one in said lighting device.

The present invention relates to a vehicle lighting device including a first light guide and a second light guide each adapted to emit at least a part of a lighting function. The first light guide has a main light guide part, a fixing part fixing the main part to the second light guide and extending between the main part and the second guide so that one of the guides supports the other one in said lighting device.

A vehicular lighting apparatus is relatively small, low cost, superior in mountability, and offers a superior design. The vehicular lighting apparatus attachable to a front end of a vehicle includes: a composite lens element that is a light guide element constructed by molding a translucent resin substantially into a plate-like shape; a planar light-emitting unit that emits illumination light; an optical system that transforms planar light from the light-emitting unit into linear light and that causes the linear transformed light to be incident on a rear side face of the light guide element; and a diffraction lens formed on the rear side face of the light guide element on which the linear transformed light is incident, and condensing the linear transformed light. The light condensed by the lens means is emitted from a front side face of the light guide element onto a road surface in front of the vehicle.

A vehicular lighting apparatus is relatively small, low cost, superior in mountability, and offers a superior design. The vehicular lighting apparatus attachable to a front end of a vehicle includes: a composite lens element that is a light guide element constructed by molding a translucent resin substantially into a plate-like shape; a planar light-emitting unit that emits illumination light; an optical system that transforms planar light from the light-emitting unit into linear light and that causes the linear transformed light to be incident on a rear side face of the light guide element; and a diffraction lens formed on the rear side face of the light guide element on which the linear transformed light is incident, and condensing the linear transformed light. The light condensed by the lens means is emitted from a front side face of the light guide element onto a road surface in front of the vehicle.

There is provided a vehicle lamp including a projection lens, a first light source arranged at a rear of the projection lens and configured to emit light for forming a predetermined light distribution pattern, a reflector configured to reflect the light emitted from the first light source towards the projection lens, a first array light source arranged at the rear of the projection lens and including a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements aligned in at least one row, and a second array light source arranged at the rear of the projection lens and including a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements aligned in at least one row. The first array light source and the second array light source are arranged in an upper-lower direction.

There is provided a vehicle lamp including a projection lens, a first light source arranged at a rear of the projection lens and configured to emit light for forming a predetermined light distribution pattern, a reflector configured to reflect the light emitted from the first light source towards the projection lens, a first array light source arranged at the rear of the projection lens and including a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements aligned in at least one row, and a second array light source arranged at the rear of the projection lens and including a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements aligned in at least one row. The first array light source and the second array light source are arranged in an upper-lower direction.

A light emitting device includes a light emitting element, a light-transmissive member, a covering member, and a base member. The light-transmissive member has a flange on a lateral surface thereof in such a manner as to continue from a periphery of an upper surface to a periphery of a lower surface of the light-transmissive member and to be positioned outside the upper surface of the light-transmissive member and an upper surface of the light emitting element in plan view. The flange has a thin portion at an inner side than the outer edge side of the flange. The thin portion has a thickness smaller than a thickness of the outer edge side of the flange.

The invention is directed to methods and devices to improve light patterns used to inform or assist an observer or a driver. The invention is related to an illuminating device and to a method for projecting a pre-definable light pattern using the illuminating device of the vehicle into an area surrounding the vehicle. According to the invention, a projection surface is determined in the area surrounding the vehicle, a position of a predefined observer has been determined or provided, and a light unit of the illuminating device is controlled pixel-wise according to the determined projection surface and the determined position of the predefined observer in order to produce the pre-definable light pattern.