(57) A vehicle lighting unit capable of achieving a plurality of functions of lamps such
as a low-beam headlamp and a daytime running lamp at the same time is provided. The
vehicle lighting unit (10) can include: a projection lens (11) disposed on an optical
axis (AX) extending along a front-to-rear direction of a vehicle and having a rear
focal point (F11); a first lamp constituent member (12, 13, 14) to constitute a first lamp together
with the projection lens (11); and a second lamp constituent member (15, 16) to constitute
a second lamp together with the projection lens (11). The first lamp constituent member
(12, 13, 14) can include: a first semiconductor light emitting device (12) disposed
on or near the optical axis (AX) and behind the rear focal point (F11) of the projection lens (11) so as to emit light substantially upward; a first reflecting
surface (13) of a revolved ellipsoid having a first focal point (F113) set at or near the first semiconductor light emitting device (12) and a second focal
point (F213) at or near the rear focal point (F11) of the projection lens (11), the first reflecting surface (13) being disposed above
the first semiconductor light emitting device (12) so that light emitted from the
first semiconductor light emitting device (12) can be incident thereon; and a first
light-shielding member (14) disposed in between the projection lens (11) and the first
semiconductor light emitting device (12) so as to shield part of light emitted from
the first semiconductor light emitting device (12). The second lamp constituent member
(15, 16) can include: a second semiconductor light emitting device (15) disposed in
a space (S) between the first light-shielding member (14) and a light path of light
from the first semiconductor light emitting device (12) to pass through the projection
lens (11), so as not to shield light passing through the projection lens (11), the
second semiconductor light emitting device (15) being disposed so as to emit light
substantially upward; and a second reflecting surface (16) disposed in the space (S)
and above the second semiconductor light emitting device (15) so as to receive the
light emitted from the second semiconductor light emitting device (15) and reflect
the light toward the projection lens (11) to allow the light to pass through the projection
lens (11) forward.
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