Blind spot monitoring system lens, blind spot monitoring system light unit, and blind spot monitoring system light unit

Abstract

The present application provides a lens for a blind spot monitoring system, a blind spot monitoring system light-emitting unit, and a blind spot monitoring system light-emitting portion, which suppress unevenness in the light emission of an icon. The lens for a blind spot monitoring system (18) has a front plate (18a), a rear plate (18c) disposed on the back side of the front plate (18a) in a manner opposite the front plate (18a) with a gap (19) therebetween, a connecting portion (18d) that connects the front plate (18a) and the rear plate (18c) into one body around the gap, and an opening portion (18e) that communicates the gap with the space outside the gap. The front plate (18a) has a characteristic of allowing light to pass through while diffusing the edge of the light. The rear plate has a characteristic of reflecting light while diffusing the edge of the light on the front surface side of the rear plate opposite the front plate. The opening portion is configured to allow light from a light source (20) to pass through the opening portion and be projected into the gap. Light from the light source that passes through from the back side to the front surface side of the front plate is used for the light emission of an icon.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a lens for a blind spot monitoring system, a light-emitting unit for a blind spot monitoring system, and a light-emitting part for a blind spot monitoring system, which suppresses uneven illumination of icons. Background Technology

[0002] A blind spot monitoring system is a device mounted on a vehicle that detects other vehicles approaching the vehicle and illuminates icons of a predetermined shape, thereby reporting the approach of other vehicles to the driver of the vehicle. The light-emitting part of the blind spot monitoring system has a lens that emits light from a surface by allowing light from a light source to enter. The light emitting light from this surface is shaped by passing through a light-transmitting part depicting the icon, thereby obtaining a display that emits light in the shape of the icon. The lenses used in conventional blind spot monitoring systems are usually lenses obtained by cutting lenses into the surface of a light guide made of a colorless and transparent thick plate (for example, the lens described in Patent Document 1).

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: US2016 / 0209000A1 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The problem the invention aims to solve

[0007] Conventional lenses are made of a single thick plate, which makes it difficult to achieve a uniformly bright luminous surface across the entire surface due to shrinkage marks during molding, resulting in uneven illumination of icons. This invention addresses the problems of the prior art by providing a lens for a blind spot monitoring system, a light-emitting unit for a blind spot monitoring system, and a light-emitting section for a blind spot monitoring system that suppresses uneven illumination of icons.

[0008] Solution for solving the problem

[0009] The lens for a blind spot monitoring system of the present invention includes: a front plate; a rear plate disposed on the back side of the front plate opposite to the front plate with a gap; a connecting portion that connects the front plate and the rear plate integrally around the gap; and an opening that communicates the gap with an external space. The front plate is configured to allow light to diffuse and transmit simultaneously, the rear plate is configured to allow light to diffuse and reflect simultaneously on its front surface side opposite to the front plate, and the opening is configured to allow light from a predetermined light source to pass through the opening and enter the gap. The lens for the blind spot monitoring system is configured to allow light from the light source that passes through the front plate from the back side of the front plate to the front surface side of the front plate to illuminate an icon. According to this lens, when light from a light source is injected into the gap between the front plate and the rear plate, the injected light is diffused and reflected simultaneously by the rear plate and diffused and transmitted simultaneously by the front plate, thereby enabling the front surface of the front plate to illuminate. In this case, because there is a gap between the front and rear plates, the thickness of the front and rear plates can be made relatively thin. Therefore, compared to the case where the lens is made of a thick plate of the same size that integrates the front plate, the gap, and the rear plate, shrinkage marks during molding can be suppressed, thus suppressing uneven light emission of the icon.

[0010] In the lens of the present invention, the connecting portion can be configured to connect the front plate and the rear plate along the circumference of the gap (connected continuously or discontinuously, as described later), and the gap is surrounded by the connecting portion to form a bag shape. Thus, by surrounding the gap with the connecting portion to form a bag shape, leakage of light entering the gap to the surrounding area of ​​the gap can be suppressed, allowing the front surface of the front plate to emit light efficiently.

[0011] In the lens of the present invention, the opening can be formed between the front plate and the rear plate. Therefore, when the lens is manufactured by injection molding, the opening can be formed by drawing a mold used to form the gap.

[0012] The rear plate can be configured to be inclined relative to the front plate toward the opening. This allows light entering the gap to be efficiently reflected by the rear plate and directed toward the front plate, thus enabling the front surface of the front plate to emit light efficiently.

[0013] In the lens of the present invention, the lens can be made from a single molded part of a cloudy plastic material having the property of allowing light to diffuse while transmitting light. Therefore, a lens that achieves the effects of the present invention can be easily and cost-effectively manufactured.

[0014] The blind spot monitoring system of the present invention includes a light source and a lens, wherein light from the light source enters and passes through the lens and exits from a predetermined light-emitting surface. The lens has a front plate having the light-emitting surface; a rear plate disposed on the back side of the front plate with a gap between it and the front plate; and an opening communicating the gap with an external space. The front plate is configured to allow light to diffuse and transmit simultaneously, and the rear plate is configured to allow light to diffuse and reflect simultaneously on its front surface opposite the front plate. The blind spot monitoring system light-emitting unit is configured to allow light from the light source to enter the gap through the opening. This suppresses uneven illumination of icons.

[0015] The blind spot monitoring system of the present invention includes a light-emitting unit comprising: a light source; a lens through which light from the light source enters and passes through to exit a predetermined light-emitting surface; and a light-transmitting portion disposed in front of the light-emitting surface, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the light emitted from the light-emitting surface in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis is shaped into a predetermined icon shape. The lens comprises: a front plate having the light-emitting surface; a rear plate disposed opposite to the front plate on the back side of the front plate with a gap between them; and an opening communicating the gap with an external space. The front plate is configured to have the characteristic of allowing light to diffuse and transmit simultaneously, and the rear plate is configured to have the characteristic of allowing light to diffuse and reflect simultaneously on the front surface side of the rear plate opposite to the front plate. The light-emitting unit of the blind spot monitoring system is configured to allow light from the light source to enter the gap through the opening. The light source is disposed at a position not visible through the light-transmitting portion when the light-emitting surface is viewed from the front. Therefore, since the light source is not directly visible or is difficult to see through the luminous surface, it can suppress uneven illumination of icons caused by point emission (the light source appears to be brightly emitting in a point-like manner). Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional side view showing an embodiment of the lens, BSM light-emitting unit, and BSM light-emitting part of the blind spot monitoring system (hereinafter referred to as "BSM") of the present invention. It shows the state in which the BSM light-emitting unit is installed on the back (rear surface, inside) of the rearview mirror panel of the vehicle's exterior rearview mirror, and also shows the path of the light emitted from the lit light source.

[0017] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of the BSM light-emitting unit and the rearview mirror panel (for the right-side exterior rearview mirror of the vehicle), showing the state viewed from the obliquely above the front surface (surface) of the rearview mirror panel.

[0018] Figure 3A From Figure 1 , Figure 2Observe from the upper left and right sides of the back of the lens. Figure 1 , Figure 2 A three-dimensional view of the lens.

[0019] Figure 3B This is a diagram of the lens viewed from above and to the left of the lens's back side.

[0020] Figure 3C This is the front view (or frontal view, a diagram of the light-emitting surface viewed from the front) of the lens.

[0021] Figure 3D This is the rear view (back view, inside view) of the lens.

[0022] Figure 3E This is a top view (or top view) of the lens.

[0023] Figure 3F This is the bottom view (or top view) of the lens.

[0024] Figure 3G This is the left view of the lens.

[0025] Figure 4 It is a diagram that projects the display position of the icon onto the luminous surface of the lens and shows it with dashed lines, and is derived from... Figure 3C Images viewed from the same direction.

[0026] Figure 5 Viewed from the front (light-emitting side) Figure 1 A diagram of a BSM light-emitting unit.

[0027] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0028] 10. Rearview mirror panel; 12. BSM (Blind Spot Monitoring System) light-emitting unit; 12a. Light-emitting surface (front surface of the front panel); 13. BSM (Blind Spot Monitoring System) light-emitting part; 14. Housing; 14a. Front opening; 14b. Internal space; 14c. Connector insertion port; 14d. Positioning hole; 14f. Claw receiving part; 16. PCB (Printed Circuit Board); 18. Lens; 18a. Front panel; 18a1. Front surface of the front panel (light-emitting surface); 18a2. Back side of the front panel; 18c. Rear panel; 18c 1. Front surface of the rear panel; 18c2. Back side of the rear panel; 18c'. Area on the left and right sides of the rear panel; 18d. Connecting part; 18e. Opening; 18f. Rib; 18g. Protrusion; 18h. Cutting part; 18i. Claw; 19. Gap; 20. LED (light source); 20a. Optical axis; 22. Connector; 24. Light-transmitting part; 26. Reflective film; 28. Double-sided adhesive tape; 28a. Window; 30. Approximate position corresponding to the position shown in the icon; 34. Light emitted from the LED; 36. Driver's viewpoint. Detailed Implementation

[0029] Embodiments of the present invention will be described. Furthermore, the directions of the exterior rearview mirror, BSM lens, BSM light-emitting unit, and BSM light-emitting part (up, down, left, right, front, and rear) refer to the directions when the exterior rearview mirror equipped with the BSM light-emitting unit is mounted on a vehicle and positioned in the unfolded position (not the folded position, i.e., the usage position) and viewed from the front. Figure 2 The BSM light-emitting unit 12 and BSM light-emitting part 13, which are installed on the rearview mirror panel 10 of the right-side rearview mirror of the vehicle, are shown disassembled and as constituent components. The rearview mirror housing of the exterior rearview mirror is omitted from the illustration. The BSM light-emitting unit 12 is housed within the rearview mirror housing on the back side of the rearview mirror panel 10. This BSM light-emitting unit 12 is used for the right-side rearview mirror of the vehicle. The BSM light-emitting unit for the left-side rearview mirror (not shown) has a structure that is symmetrical to the BSM light-emitting unit 12 for the right-side rearview mirror. The BSM light-emitting unit 12 is constructed by assembling a housing 14, a PCB (printed substrate) 16, and a lens 18 into a single unit. The housing 14 is, for example, made of black opaque resin. The PCB 16, in addition to mounting the LED 20 constituting the light source, also mounts a connector 22 and other circuit components on its lower surface. The lens 18 is the BSM lens of the present invention. The PCB 16 is horizontally inserted into the upper part of the internal space 14b from the front opening 14a of the housing 14, and the lens 18 is installed in the front opening 14a, thereby assembling the BSM light-emitting unit 12 into a single unit. A connector insertion port 14c is formed at the rear end of the housing 14. This connector insertion port 14c is used to insert the connector (not shown) of the external wiring into the internal space 14b and detachably connect it to the connector 22 of the PCB 16. A light-transmitting portion 24 with a predetermined icon shape (triangular in this case) is formed on the back side of the right side of the periphery of the rearview mirror panel 10. The light-transmitting portion 24 can be formed, for example, by etching or removing the predetermined icon shape from the reflective film 26 at the position where the icon is formed on the back side of the rearview mirror panel 10. The assembled BSM light-emitting unit 12 is adhesively mounted to the back side of the rearview mirror panel 10 using double-sided adhesive tape 28. A window 28a with a predetermined icon shape is formed in the surface of the double-sided adhesive tape 28. By attaching one side of the double-sided adhesive tape 28 to the back of the rearview mirror panel 10 with the window 28a and the light-transmitting part 24 aligned, and attaching the light-emitting surface 12a (front surface 18a1 of the front panel 18a) of the BSM light-emitting unit 12 to the other side of the double-sided adhesive tape 28, the BSM light-emitting unit 12 is installed on the back of the rearview mirror panel 10. This constitutes the BSM light-emitting part 13.

[0030] Refer to Figure 3 ( Figures 3A-3GThe structure of lens 18 is described below. Lens 18 is, for example, a monolithic part made of a semi-transparent, milky-white, or other opaque plastic material that has the property of diffusing light while allowing it to pass through. As such a plastic material, materials made by mixing white colorants such as titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, and antimony oxide into light-transmitting plastic materials such as PMMA and PC can be used. Lens 18 can be manufactured by injection molding such a semi-transparent, milky-white, or other opaque plastic material. Lens 18 has a front plate 18a and a rear plate 18c, with the rear plate 18c positioned opposite the front plate 18a on the back side of the front plate 18a through a gap 19. The front plate 18a has a predetermined thickness and is generally formed into a longitudinally elongated quadrilateral shape. To easily distinguish it from the lens for the left rearview mirror (not shown), one corner of the upper left or right side of the longitudinally elongated quadrilateral of the front plate 18a is obliquely cut to form a cut portion 18h. Figure 3C , Figure 3D The rear plate 18c has approximately the same thickness as the front plate 18a, and is generally formed into a roughly elongated quadrilateral shape smaller than the front plate 18a. Because a gap 19 is provided between the front plate 18a and the rear plate 18c, the thicknesses of both the front plate 18a and the rear plate 18c can be made relatively thin. Therefore, compared to constructing a lens using a solid, thick plate lens of the same size that integrates the front plate 18a, the gap 19, and the rear plate 18c, shrinkage marks during molding can be suppressed, thus suppressing uneven light emission from the icon. Figure 3D As shown, the area of ​​the rear plate 18c is smaller than that of the front plate 18a, and it is disposed within the surface of the front plate 18a. The rear plate 18c is disposed obliquely upward relative to the front plate 18a. As a result, the gap 19 is formed into a wedge shape that narrows downward and expands upward. The left, right, and lower sides of the gap 19 are closed by the connecting portion 18d that connects the front plate 18a and the rear plate 18c into one unit. An opening 18e is formed above the gap 19, which communicates the gap 19 with the external space of the gap 19. As a result, the entire periphery of the gap 19 is closed by the connecting portion 18d except for the opening 18e at the top, and the gap 19 is configured as a bag shape. The size of the area of ​​the gap 19 is set such that when viewed from the front of the front plate 18a, the icon is displayed entirely within the area falling into the gap 19 (the area surrounded by the connecting portion 18d and the opening 18e). Figure 4 The double-dotted line 30 indicates the position of the front surface 18a1 (light-emitting surface 12a) of the front panel 18a that faces the light-transmitting part 24 of the rearview mirror panel 10, that is, the position corresponding to the icon display position. Furthermore, the shape of the icon is determined by the light-transmitting part 24 of the rearview mirror panel 10 located on the front side of the front panel 18a. Figure 1 , Figure 2The front surface 18a1 of the front plate 18a is entirely illuminated. At least one location (part) for an icon on both the front surface 18a1 and the back surface 18a2 of the front plate 18a is formed as a smooth surface without significant bumps or depressions to prevent uneven illumination of the icon. Two ribs 18f protrude from the upper part of the back surface 18a2 of the front plate 18a (the location where the icon is not touched when viewed from the front) to support the lower surface of the PCB 16. Two protrusions 18g protrude from the lower left and right sides of the back surface 18a2 of the front plate 18a. These protrusions 18g are inserted into the positioning holes 14d of the housing 14. Figure 2 The lens 18 is positioned on the housing 14. Claws 18i are formed on the left and right sides of the central portion of the back surface 18a2 of the front plate 18a in the vertical direction. These claws 18i correspond to claw receiving portions 14f formed at the corresponding positions of the front opening 14a of the housing 14. Figure 2 The lens 18 is fitted into the front opening 14a. Figure 5 This indicates that the lens 18 is fitted into the front opening 14a and mounted on the housing 14. The area 18c' on the left and right sides of the rear plate 18c ( Figure 3B The inclined surface (etc.) is formed to be inclinedly connected to the connecting part 18d. This inclined surface is formed by increasing the thickness of the male mold by overlay welding to improve the strength of the front end of the mold (male mold) that forms the gap 19. Therefore, as a function of the rear plate 18c, it is not particularly important that the region 18c' of the rear plate 18c is formed as an inclined surface, and the inclined surface can also be removed (for example, the rear plate 18c can be formed as a flat surface or a continuous surface).

[0031] exist Figure 1 The image shows the use of double-sided adhesive tape 28 to... Figure 2 The BSM light-emitting unit 12 is adhesively mounted on the back of the rearview mirror panel 10, and the LED 20 is lit to illuminate the icon (arrow 34 indicates the light emitted from the LED 20). The PCB 16 is configured at approximately a right angle to the surface of the rearview mirror panel 10. The optical axis 20a of the LED 20 is configured approximately parallel to the surface of the rearview mirror panel 10. The LED 20 is positioned downwards facing the gap 19. The reflective film 26 on the back of the rearview mirror panel 10 (in...) Figure 1 The portion of the display icon (which is exaggerated in its depiction of the reflective film thickness) is stripped of its icon shape (triangular when viewed from the front) to form a light-transmitting portion 24. A window 28a is formed on the double-sided adhesive tape 28 in a manner that does not block the light-transmitting portion 24. The LED 20 is positioned in a location that is not visible through the light-transmitting portion 24 when the light-emitting surface 12a is viewed from the front (the location where the LED 20 is blocked by the non-transparent portion surrounding the light-transmitting portion 24).

[0032] The path of the light 34 emitted from LED 20 is explained. The light 34 emitted from LED 20 enters the gap 19 through the opening 18e. A portion of the light 34 entering the gap 19 illuminates the rear panel 18c. A portion of this illuminated light is reflected by the front surface 18c1 of the rear panel 18c and illuminates the front panel 18a. Another portion of this illuminated light enters the interior of the rear panel 18c from the front surface 18c1, is reflected by the colorant inside, and exits from the front surface 18c1, illuminating the back surface 18a2 of the front panel 18a. A portion of the light 34 entering the interior of the rear panel 18c passes through the rear panel 18c and leaks out from the back surface 18c2 of the rear panel 18c. However, since this leaked light is blocked by the housing 14, the light does not leak to the outside of the BSM light-emitting unit 12. In addition, another portion of the light 34 entering the gap 19 directly illuminates the back surface 18a2 of the front panel 18a. Light 34 (reflected by the rear panel 18c, light directly from the LED 20, etc.) that illuminates the back surface 18a2 of the front panel 18a diffuses and passes through the front panel 18a. This transmitted light is shaped into an icon shape by the light-transmitting portion 24 and radiates outward through the rearview mirror panel 10. As a result, the illuminated icon can be seen from the driver's viewpoint 36. In this case, since the front panel 18a and the rear panel 18c can be made relatively thin, compared to the case where a lens is formed by a thick plate of the same size that integrates the front panel 18a, the gap 19, and the rear panel 18c, shrinkage marks during molding can be suppressed, thus suppressing uneven illumination of the icon. In particular, triangular icons have a large luminous area, making uneven illumination more noticeable, thus the effect of suppressing uneven illumination is greater. In addition, the gap 19 is configured as a bag-like structure with the left, right, and bottom sides blocked, thus suppressing the amount of light leaking from the gap 19 and using it efficiently for icon illumination.

[0033] In the lens of the above embodiment, the gap is formed into a bag shape by continuously surrounding the entire circumference of the gap with connecting portions, except for the opening where light from the light source enters. However, this is not a limitation. That is, the gap can also be formed into a bag shape by partially surrounding the entire circumference of the gap with connecting portions (for example, by providing connecting portions discontinuously (i.e., dividing the connecting portion into multiple parts) in the circumferential direction of the gap, except for the opening where light from the light source enters. Furthermore, the gap does not necessarily have to be formed into a bag shape. Also, the location where the opening is formed is not limited to the upper part of the gap's circumference. That is, the opening can also be formed on the side or lower part of the gap's circumference. Additionally, lens cutting or the formation of a reflective film or coating on the lens can be performed. Furthermore, the lens color does not necessarily have to be white; it can also be colored yellow, etc.

[0034] In the lens of the above embodiment, a structure is provided in which the front plate and the rear plate are connected into one piece by a connecting part, but it is not limited to this. That is, the front plate and the rear plate can also be made of separate parts and assembled into the BSM light-emitting unit.

[0035] In the above embodiment, no other light-transmitting member is disposed between the front surface of the front panel and the light-transmitting portion that shapes the light into the icon shape, but other light-transmitting members (such as other light diffusers) can also be sandwiched between them. Furthermore, the icon shape is not limited to a triangle. Also, displaying the icon on the rearview mirror is not limited to...

Claims

1. A lens for a blind spot monitoring system, wherein, The lens used in this blind spot monitoring system has the following characteristics: front panel; The rear panel is disposed on the back side of the front panel, facing the front panel with a gap between them; A connecting portion that connects the front plate and the rear plate together around the gap; and An opening that connects the gap to the external space of the gap. The front panel is configured to allow light to diffuse while simultaneously allowing it to pass through. The rear plate is configured to have the property of scattering and reflecting light on the front surface side of the rear plate opposite to the front plate. The opening is configured to allow light from a predetermined light source to pass through and enter the gap. The blind spot monitoring system uses lenses configured to allow light from the light source that passes through the front panel from the back side to the front surface side of the front panel to illuminate the icon.

2. The lens for the blind spot monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein, The connecting portion is configured to connect the front plate and the rear plate along the circumference of the gap, and the gap is surrounded by the connecting portion to form a bag shape.

3. The lens for the blind spot monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein, The opening is formed between the front plate and the rear plate.

4. The lens for the blind spot monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein, The rear plate is arranged at an angle relative to the front plate toward the opening.

5. The lens for the blind spot monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein, The lens used in this blind spot monitoring system is made from a single piece of opaque plastic material that allows light to diffuse while also transmitting through.

6. A light-emitting unit for a blind spot monitoring system, wherein, The light-emitting unit of this blind spot monitoring system has the following features: Light source; and A lens through which light from the light source enters and passes through, exiting from a designated light-emitting surface. The lens has: Front panel, having the light-emitting surface; A rear panel, disposed on the rear side of the front panel with a gap between it and the front panel; and An opening that connects the gap to the external space of the gap. The front panel is configured to allow light to diffuse while simultaneously allowing it to pass through. The rear plate is configured to have the property of scattering and reflecting light on the front surface side of the rear plate opposite to the front plate. The light-emitting unit of the blind spot monitoring system is configured to allow light from the light source to pass through the opening and enter the gap.

7. A light-emitting unit for a blind spot monitoring system, wherein, The light-emitting part of this blind spot monitoring system has: light source; A lens through which light from the light source enters and passes through to exit a predetermined light-emitting surface; as well as The light-transmitting portion, positioned in front of the light-emitting surface, shapes the cross-sectional shape of the light emitted from the light-emitting surface in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis into a predetermined icon shape. The lens has: Front panel, having the light-emitting surface; A rear panel, disposed on the rear side of the front panel with a gap between it and the front panel; and An opening that connects the gap to the external space of the gap. The front panel is configured to allow light to diffuse while simultaneously allowing it to pass through. The rear plate is configured to have the property of scattering and reflecting light on the front surface side of the rear plate opposite to the front plate. The light-emitting unit of the blind spot monitoring system is configured such that light from the light source passes through the opening and enters the gap. The light source is positioned in a location that is not visible through the light-transmitting portion when the light-emitting surface is viewed from the front.

Images