Light-emitting unit for vehicle door mirror

Abstract

Provided is a light-emitting unit for a vehicle door mirror, which can improve the stability of the position of an LED and the connectivity with a connector and can reduce the possibility of damage to the LED caused by heat generated by a control unit. The light-emitting unit (1) for a vehicle door mirror is provided on the back side of the mirror surface of the vehicle door mirror and emits light according to a signal from the vehicle side, and includes: a rigid first substrate portion (B1) having a connector portion (12) for receiving a signal from the vehicle side and carrying a control unit for causing an LED (11) to emit light based on a signal from the vehicle side; a rigid second substrate portion (B2) provided independently of the first substrate portion (B1) and carrying the LED (11); and a connection portion (CP) connecting the first substrate portion (B1) and the second substrate portion (B2) and having a circuit for allowing a current signal transmitted from the first substrate portion (B1) side to reach the LED (11), the connection portion (CP) having a thermal conductivity lower than that of the second substrate portion (B2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lighting unit for a vehicle door mirror. Background Art

[0002] There is known a lighting unit for a vehicle door mirror that performs BSW (Blind Spot Warning) to notify when there is another vehicle or the like at a position that is a blind spot of the vehicle door mirror and the interior rearview mirror of the vehicle (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-116992 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] Here, in the lighting unit for a vehicle door mirror described in Patent Document 1, for example, a lighting unit is provided at a position on the back side of the mirror surface of the side mirror that is on the outside of the vehicle. By making this lighting unit emit light, it is notified that there is another vehicle or the like at the blind spot position. And, in such a lighting unit for a vehicle door mirror, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) and a control unit for lighting the LED are mounted on the same rigid substrate.

[0008] However, in the lighting unit for a vehicle door mirror, the control unit is likely to generate heat. Due to the relationship that the LED and the control unit are mounted on the same rigid substrate, the heat of the control unit is easily transferred to the LED through the rigid substrate. Moreover, due to this heat transfer, it can cause damage to the LED.

[0009] Therefore, it is considered to use a flexible printed circuit board that has a smaller cross-sectional area and is less thermally conductive than a rigid substrate. However, in the case of using a flexible printed circuit board, the position of the LED is likely to become unstable, and it is also not suitable for connector connection.

[0010] The present invention has been completed to solve such existing problems, and an object thereof is to provide a lighting unit for a vehicle door mirror that can improve the stability of the LED position and the connectivity with a connector, and can reduce the possibility of damage to the LED caused by heat generated by the control unit.

[0011] Means for Solving the Problems

[0012] The present invention relates to a light-emitting unit for a vehicle door mirror, which is provided on the back side of the mirror surface of the vehicle door mirror and emits light according to a signal from the vehicle side. The light-emitting unit includes: a rigid first substrate portion having a connector portion for receiving a signal from the vehicle side and carrying a control portion that causes an LED to emit light based on the signal from the vehicle side; a rigid second substrate portion provided independently of the first substrate portion and carrying the LED; and a connecting portion that connects the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion and has a circuit for allowing a current signal transmitted from the first substrate portion side to reach the LED side. The connecting portion has a thermal conductivity lower than that of the second substrate portion.

[0013] The effects of the invention are as follows.

[0014] According to the present invention, since the connecting portion connecting the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion has a thermal conductivity lower than that of the second substrate portion, even if the heat generated by the control portion is transferred to the LED side, the excellent heat dissipation performance can reduce the possibility of damage to the LED caused by the heat from the control portion. And since both the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion are rigid, the position of the LED is not likely to be unstable, and it is also easy to perform connector connection. Therefore, the stability of the LED position and the connectivity with the connector can be improved, and the possibility of damage to the LED caused by the heat generated by the control portion can be reduced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle door mirror including the light-emitting unit for a vehicle door mirror according to the present embodiment.

[0016] Figure 2 is Figure 1 an exploded perspective view of the vehicle door mirror shown.

[0017] Figure 3 is Figure 2 an enlarged exploded perspective view of the light-emitting unit for a vehicle door mirror shown.

[0018] Figure 4 is Figure 3 an unfolded plan view of the LED assembly shown.

[0019] Figure 5 is Figure 3 a structural view of the open box shown, (a) shows a top view, and (b) shows a front view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described according to preferred embodiments. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown below, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. And, in the embodiments shown below, there are parts where some structures are omitted in the drawings and descriptions. However, for the detailed content of the omitted technology, of course, it can be applied within the range that does not conflict with the content described below, using publicly known or well-known technologies.

[0021] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a door mirror including the light-emitting unit for a door mirror according to the present embodiment. Figure 2 is Figure 1 an exploded perspective view of the door mirror shown. In addition, in the following embodiments, the right door mirror is taken as an example for explanation, and the explanation of the left door mirror is omitted. Of course, the structure of the left door mirror is basically the same except for being symmetrical left and right.

[0022] Figure 1 The door mirror DM shown is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, and provides a rear view of the vehicle to the driver and the like. Such a door mirror DM includes a housing DM1 and a mirror M, and further includes a base member DM2 and a light-emitting unit 1 for a door mirror inside.

[0023] The light-emitting unit 1 for a door mirror is provided inside the housing DM1, that is, on the back side (the back side of the mirror surface) of the mirror M of the door mirror DM, and emits light according to a signal from the vehicle side. When there is another vehicle or the like in a position that is a blind spot for both the interior rearview mirror and the door mirror DM, it emits light according to an instruction from the vehicle. A light-transmitting portion M1 having, for example, a triangular shape is formed in the mirror M. When the light-emitting unit 1 for a door mirror emits light, the light-transmitting portion M1 emits light in a triangular shape to warn that there is another vehicle or the like in the blind spot.

[0024] In particular, the light-emitting unit 1 for a door mirror and the light-transmitting portion M1 are provided at a position on the vehicle outer side of the door mirror DM, and warnings can be given at positions where they are less likely to be obstructive when using the light-transmitting portion M1 for warning. In addition, such a light-emitting unit 1 for a door mirror is mounted on Figure 2 the base member DM2 shown.

[0025] Figure 3 is Figure 2 an enlarged exploded perspective view of the light-emitting unit 1 for a door mirror shown. As Figure 3 shown, the light-emitting unit 1 for a door mirror includes an LED module 10, an open housing 20, a diffuser plate 30, and a light-shielding plate 40.

[0026] The LED module 10 is equipped with an LED 11 that emits light according to an instruction from the vehicle side. Figure 4 isFigure 3 An exploded plan view of the LED module 10 shown. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The LED module 10 shown includes a rigid first substrate portion B1, a rigid second substrate portion B2, and a flexible connecting portion CP.

[0027] The first substrate portion B1 is a substantially rectangular substrate on which a connector portion 12 for receiving signals from the vehicle side and a control portion 13 for causing the LED 11 to emit light based on signals from the vehicle side are mounted. The second substrate portion B2 is provided independently of the first substrate portion B1 and is a substantially rectangular substrate on which the LED 11 is mounted. The connecting portion CP is formed of, for example, a flexible printed circuit board and connects the first substrate portion B1 and the second substrate portion B2. The connecting portion CP has a circuit for causing a current signal transmitted from the first substrate portion B1 side to reach the LED 11 side. In addition, the connecting portion CP is not limited to a flexible printed circuit board and may be formed of other components such as conductive metal wires.

[0028] In addition, the second substrate portion B2 includes an aluminum plate B21 formed of aluminum and an insulating substrate B22 provided on the aluminum plate B21. In particular, since the second substrate portion B2 includes the aluminum plate B21, the heat dissipation performance is improved. In addition, since the aluminum plate B21 has rigidity, the insulating substrate B22 is not limited to a rigid substrate and may be formed of a flexible printed circuit board. In particular, when the insulating substrate B22 is formed of a flexible printed circuit board, the insulating substrate B22 may be integrally formed with the connecting portion CP.

[0029] In addition, in the present embodiment, the connecting portion CP is formed of a component having a lower thermal conductivity than the heat dissipation performance of the second substrate portion B2 (for example, the heat dissipation at room temperature of about 23°C). Thereby, the possibility of damage to the LED 11 caused by heat generated by the control portion 13 can be reduced. That is, the heat generated by the control portion 13 and transmitted to the second substrate portion B2 side via the connecting portion CP does not exceed the heat dissipation amount of the second substrate portion B2, so heat is difficult to accumulate on the second substrate portion B2 side, and the possibility of damage to the LED 11 is reduced.

[0030] Figure 3 The open box 20 shown includes a first setting portion 21 for setting the first substrate portion B1 and a second setting portion 22 for setting the second substrate portion B2. Figure 5 is Figure 3 A structural diagram of the open box 20 shown, (a) shows a top view, and (b) shows a front view. In addition, Figure 5 (b) shows a state in which the LED module 10 is assembled to the open box 20.

[0031] As Figure 3 and Figure 5As shown, the first setting portion 21 is a portion that houses the first substrate portion B1 in such a manner that the longitudinal direction of the first substrate portion B1 becomes the left - right direction of the vehicle and the substrate surface becomes substantially horizontal. The first setting portion 21 is provided at the lower side portion of the vehicle of the open box 20. A through - hole TH is formed at the left - hand end portion of the first setting portion 21. When the first substrate portion B1 is set in the first setting portion 21, the connector portion 12 faces the through - hole TH. Thus, the object - side connector is fitted to the connector portion 12 from the front side of the vehicle via the through - hole TH.

[0032] The second setting portion 22 is a portion that houses the second substrate portion B2 in such a manner that the longitudinal direction of the second substrate portion B2 becomes the up - down direction of the vehicle and the substrate surface is along the front - rear and up - down direction of the vehicle. The second setting portion 22 is provided outside the vehicle of the open box 20. The second substrate portion B2 is arranged such that the optical axis of the LED11 faces the lateral direction (left direction) of the vehicle.

[0033] In addition, the open box 20 includes a partition 23 and a reflector 24. The partition 23 is a plate material that separates the first substrate portion B1 and the second substrate portion B2. More specifically, the partition 23 separates the mounting portion of the control portion 13 of the first substrate portion B1 from the mounting portion of the LED11 of the second substrate portion B2. Therefore, the heat from the control portion 13 is cut off by the partition 23 and is difficult to be transmitted to the LED11.

[0034] And, the reflector 24 has a reflecting surface based on a paraboloid of revolution formed by performing an aluminum evaporation treatment or the like, and reflects the light from the LED11. In the present embodiment, the optical axis of the LED11 faces the left direction of the vehicle, and the reflector 24 reflects the light from the LED11 emitted in the left direction of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle (toward the side of the mirror M) or the driver.

[0035] Refer to again Figure 3 The diffuser plate 30 is installed in the open box 20 in which the LED module 10 is assembled, guides the light emitted from the LED11 and reflected by the reflector 24 to make it diffuse, and then emits it.

[0036] The light - shielding plate 40 shields light in portions other than the opening 41 formed by hollowing out. The opening 41 is substantially triangular in shape, the same as the light - transmitting portion M1 of the mirror M.

[0037] Next, the operation of the door mirror light - emitting unit 1 of the present embodiment will be described. First, when assembling the door mirror light - emitting unit 1 of the present embodiment, the LED module 10 is prepared and housed in the open box 20. At this time, the second substrate portion B2 is housed in the second setting portion 22. Here, since the second substrate portion B2 has rigidity, the position of the LED11 mounted on the second substrate portion B2 is also stable.

[0038] In addition, a diffuser plate 30 and a light-shielding plate 40 are installed in the open box body 20 on which the LED module 10 is mounted, and a mating-side connector is connected to the connector portion 12. In this case, since the connector portion 12 is also mounted on the rigid first substrate portion B1, connector connection is easier than in the case where the connector portion 12 is mounted only on a flexible printed circuit board.

[0039] Moreover, when the vehicle is running, other vehicles, etc. are detected at positions that are blind spots for this vehicle. In this case, a current signal is supplied from the vehicle side. The control unit 13 receives the current signal via the connector portion 12 and causes the LED 11 to emit light. At this time, the control unit 13 may also execute processing such as causing the LEDs 11 of the left and right door mirrors DM to emit light identically based on, for example, the current signal from the vehicle side.

[0040] When performing such processing, heat is generated in the control unit 13. This heat reaches the LED 11 from the first substrate portion B1 via the connection portion CP and the second substrate portion B2. However, in the present embodiment, the thermal conductivity of the connection portion CP is lower than the heat dissipation performance of the second substrate portion B2. Therefore, even if the heat generated by the control unit 13 reaches the second substrate portion B2 from the first substrate portion B1 via the connection portion CP, this heat dissipates in the second substrate portion B2. Moreover, since the heat dissipation performance is higher than the thermal conductivity, it is also advantageous from the viewpoint of heat balance. In addition, the heat generated by the control unit 13 and released into the air is blocked by the partition wall 23, making it difficult to transfer to the LED 11. Thus, the possibility of damage to the LED 11 can be reduced.

[0041] In this way, according to the light-emitting unit 1 for a door mirror of the present embodiment, the connection portion CP connecting the first substrate portion B1 and the second substrate portion B2 has a thermal conductivity lower than the heat dissipation performance of the second substrate portion B2. Therefore, even if the heat generated by the control unit 13 is transferred to the LED 11 side, since the heat dissipation performance is excellent, the possibility of damage to the LED 11 caused by the heat from the control unit 13 can be reduced. And since both the first substrate portion B1 and the second substrate portion B2 have rigidity, the position of the LED 11 is unlikely to be unstable, and connector connection is also easy. Therefore, the stability of the LED position and the connectivity with the connector portion 12 can be improved, and the possibility of damage to the LED 11 caused by the heat generated by the control unit 13 can be reduced.

[0042] In addition, since the second substrate portion B2 is arranged such that the optical axis of the LED 11 faces the vehicle width direction and the reflector 24 reflects the light from the LED 11 toward the mirror M side, in the case where the first substrate portion B1 and the second substrate portion B2 are integrated (for example, a single substrate), a relatively large space is required in the vehicle longitudinal direction when the substrate portion is provided. However, in the case where the first substrate portion B1 and the second substrate portion B2 are independent, the space in the vehicle longitudinal direction is reduced when the second substrate portion B2 is provided. Therefore, it is possible to contribute to reducing the installation space.

[0043] In particular, the light-emitting unit 1 for a door mirror is provided at a position on the vehicle outer side of the door mirror DM. Due to the shape of the door mirror DM, the space in the vehicle longitudinal direction is not very large, and thus it is possible to more efficiently reduce the installation space.

[0044] Moreover, since the partition wall 23 that separates the first substrate portion B1 and the second substrate portion B2 is provided, the heat from the first substrate portion B1 can be easily cut off by the partition wall 23. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the possibility of damage to the LED 11 caused by the heat generated by the control unit 13.

[0045] Furthermore, since the second substrate portion B2 includes the aluminum plate B21, heat can be efficiently dissipated from the aluminum plate B21, and thus it is possible to further reduce the possibility of damage to the LED 11 caused by the heat generated by the control unit 13.

[0046] As described above, the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention, and the techniques of the embodiments, well-known techniques, or publicly known techniques can be combined with each other.

[0047] For example, in the above embodiment, the light-emitting unit 1 for a door mirror has the diffuser plate 30, but it is not particularly limited thereto, and the diffuser plate 30 may not be provided. In addition, the LED module 10 of the present embodiment is configured to have two substrates, the first substrate portion B1 and the second substrate portion B2, but it is not limited thereto, and it may have three or more substrates.

[0048] Moreover, in the present embodiment, the light-emitting unit 1 for a door mirror has the reflector 24, but it is not limited thereto, and it may be configured not to have the reflector 24.

[0049] Description of Reference Numerals

[0050] 1—Light-emitting unit for door mirror, 11—LED, 12—Connector portion, 13—Control unit, 23—Partition wall, 24—Reflector, B1—First substrate portion, B2—Second substrate portion, B21—Aluminum plate, CP—Connection portion, DM—Door mirror, M—Mirror.

Claims

1. A light-emitting unit for a vehicle door mirror, which is provided on the back side of the mirror surface of the vehicle door mirror and emits light according to a signal from the vehicle side, characterized in that, Comprising: A first substrate portion, which is composed of a first rigid substrate, has a connector portion for receiving signals from the vehicle side, and is mounted with a control portion that causes an LED to emit light based on signals from the vehicle side; A second substrate portion, which is composed of a second rigid substrate, is provided independently of the first substrate portion, includes an aluminum plate made of aluminum and an insulating substrate provided on the aluminum plate and mounted with the LED; and A connection portion, which connects the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion and has a circuit that allows a current signal transmitted from the first substrate portion side to reach the LED side, The connection portion is configured such that the heat generated by the control portion mounted on the first substrate portion and reaching the second substrate portion side via the connection portion is equal to or less than the heat released from the second substrate portion.

2. The light-emitting unit for a vehicle door mirror according to claim 1, wherein: It further includes a reflector that reflects light from the LED, The second substrate portion arranges the substrate surface in the vehicle front-rear direction with the optical axis of the LED facing the vehicle lateral direction, The reflector reflects the light from the LED toward the mirror surface side of the vehicle door mirror.

3. The light-emitting unit for a vehicle door mirror according to claim 1, wherein: It further includes a partition wall that separates the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion.

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