US Patent 7993043 Vehicle lamp

A vehicle lamp, which is configured to irradiate infrared light in a vehicle forward direction, includes: a projection lens disposed along an optical axis extending in a lamp backward and forward direction; and first and second light source units disposed in the rear of the projection lens. The first light source unit includes: a first light emitting element which is disposed in the rear of a rear focal point of the projection lens and emits the infrared light; and a first reflector which reflects the infrared light toward the optical axis in a lamp forward direction. An infrared light distribution pattern is formed by the infrared light which is reflected by the first reflector to pass through the projection lens. The second light source unit includes: a second light emitting element which is disposed in the rear of the rear focal point of the projection lens and emits visible light; and a second reflector which reflects the visible light toward the optical axis in a lamp forward direction. A visible light distribution pattern is formed by the visible light which is reflected by the second reflector to pass through the projection lens. The visible light distribution pattern overlaps with the infrared light distribution pattern. When the first light source unit is turned on, the second light source unit is turned on simultaneously with the first light source.