Vehicular lighting device

Abstract

To inhibit occurrence of dark parts in a vehicular lighting device including a plurality of transparent materials.SOLUTION: A vehicular lighting device 10 includes: light sources 21, 22; elongated transparent materials 23, 24 which guide light from the light sources 21, 22; and a first housing part 25 which houses the light sources 21, 22, a first end 23A forming one end of the transparent material 23, and a second end 24A forming one end of the transparent material 24. The first transparent material 23 and the second transparent material 24 are arranged so as to extend from the first housing part 25 in different directions. The first end 23A of the first transparent material 23 and the second end 24A of the second transparent material 24 are arranged so as to overlap with each other in a longitudinal direction of the elongated shape at the first housing part 25.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present technology relates to vehicle lighting devices. [Background technology]

[0002] It is known that lighting devices are attached to the passenger compartment of a vehicle such as a car for the purpose of improving visibility and convenience at night or in a dark place, or for the purpose of improving design, and an example of such a lighting device is described in Patent Document 1. The lighting device described in Patent Document 1 includes a light-emitting member with a built-in light source, a light guide that guides light from the light source, and a housing that houses the light-emitting member and the light guide. Patent Document 1 proposes a technology for preventing air bubbles from being generated in the light guide due to peeling of a core layer and a protective layer contained in the light guide, which causes the light emitted by the light guide to become dim. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6499875 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, since light propagating through a light guide is attenuated, it is effective to combine multiple light sources and multiple light guides in order to maintain the light emission intensity while increasing the size of the lighting device. However, when multiple light guides are used, dark areas tend to occur at the joints between the light guides.

[0005] The present technology has an object to suppress the occurrence of dark areas in a vehicle lighting device including a plurality of light guides. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A vehicle lighting device related to the present technology includes a first light source, a second light source, an elongated first light guide that guides light from the first light source, an elongated second light guide that guides light from the second light source, and a first housing that houses the first light source, the second light source, a first end that is one end of the first light guide, and a second end that is one end of the second light guide, wherein the first light guide and the second light guide are arranged to extend in different directions from the first housing, and the first end of the first light guide and the second end of the second light guide are arranged to overlap in the first housing in the elongated longitudinal direction.

[0007] In this way, by arranging one end (first end) of the first light guide and one end (second end) of the second light guide to overlap in the longitudinal direction, it is possible to eliminate a portion where no light guide is present at the joint between the first light guide and the second light guide, thereby suppressing a dark portion that would otherwise occur in a portion where no light guide is present.

[0008] The first end of the first light guide may be disposed opposite a light emitting surface of the first light source, the second end of the second light guide may be disposed opposite a light emitting surface of the second light source, and the light emitting surfaces of the first light source and the second light source may be disposed so as to face each other in a staggered manner. In this way, it is easy to arrange the first end of the first light guide and the second end of the second light guide so as to overlap each other in the longitudinal direction.

[0009] The light guide may further include a second housing portion that houses a portion other than the second end of the second light guide, and a support portion that supports the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the first housing portion being provided on one end side of the support portion, and the second housing portion being provided on the other end side of the support portion. In this way, the light sources and the light guides can be stably held.

[0010] The support may constitute a connection to a vehicle, thereby facilitating connection to the vehicle.

[0011] The light guide may further include a lens member covering the first light guide and the second light guide. In this way, the lens member can diffuse the light emitted from the first light guide and the second light guide and protect the first light guide and the second light guide. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present technology, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of dark areas in a vehicle lighting device including a plurality of light guides. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle in which a vehicle lighting device according to a first embodiment is used; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle lighting device as seen from inside the vehicle. [Diagram 3] A perspective view of a vehicle lighting device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the frame portion of FIG. 3 . [Diagram 5] Enlarged top view of the corner of the upper illumination unit [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a step in a method of assembling a vehicle lighting device; [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a step of the assembly method subsequent to FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a step of the assembly method subsequent to FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a step of the assembly method subsequent to FIG. 8 . [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first lens member viewed from below; [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a step of the assembly method subsequent to FIG. 9 . [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a step of the assembly method subsequent to FIG. 11 . [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a step of the assembly method subsequent to FIG. 12 . [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a step of the assembly method subsequent to FIG. 13 . [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a step of the assembly method subsequent to FIG. 14 . [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a step of the assembly method subsequent to FIG. 15 . [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a simulation result of the brightness of a corner of a vehicle lighting device. [Figure 18] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a simulation result (occurrence of dark areas) of the brightness of a corner of a vehicle lighting device according to Comparative Example 1; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] <Embodiment 1> A vehicle lighting device 10 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 17. The symbols F, B, L, R, U, and D shown in some of the drawings respectively indicate the left and right in the width direction (left-right direction) when viewed from the front, rear, and front in the fore-and-aft direction of a vehicle 90 to which the vehicle lighting device 10 is attached, and the up and down in the vertical direction (up-down direction). Also, the direction in a horizontal plane intersecting with the up-down direction (the in-plane direction with the fore-and-aft direction and the left-and-right direction as coordinate axes) is sometimes referred to as the horizontal direction.

[0015] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the vehicle lighting device 10 is attached to a surface (ceiling surface) 4A on the passenger compartment side of a ceiling material 4 of a vehicle 1 (one example of a vehicle) such as an automobile, and is mainly used to illuminate the ceiling surface 4A. The passenger compartment is roughly surrounded by a side wall material 2, a floor material 3, and a ceiling material 4. The vehicle lighting device 10 according to this embodiment is attached to the ceiling material 4 and has a rectangular ring shape with curved corners. The vehicle lighting device 10 is designed to be compact in width and height dimensions while being long and large overall. However, the illumination target and shape of the vehicle lighting device 10 are not limited thereto, and may be used to illuminate other parts such as the side wall material 2, the floor material 3, and a vehicle seat, and may have other shapes.

[0016] 2 and 3, the vehicle lighting device 10 mainly includes a support portion 11, and an upper tier lighting portion 20 and a lower tier lighting portion 30 arranged at a slight interval in the vertical direction. The upper tier lighting portion 20 and the lower tier lighting portion 30 are rectangular annular portions having curved corners in a plan view. The upper tier lighting portion 20 and the lower tier lighting portion 30 have substantially the same shape and size, but may be different.

[0017] The support portion 11 constitutes a connection portion with the ceiling material 4, and a total of four support portions 11 are provided at each of the corners 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D of the vehicle lighting device 10. The support portion 11 has an elongated curved shape in a plan view. The support portion 11 is attached so that its upper surface contacts the ceiling surface 4A. The support portion 11 covers a first storage portion 25 and a second storage portion 26 of the upper lighting unit 20 from above, which will be described later. The support portion 11 also has openings through which light source boards 41 and 42, which will be described later, are inserted in the vertical direction. The support portion 11 may be provided on the vehicle 1 side as a part of the ceiling material 4, for example.

[0018] 4 and 5, the upper illumination section 20 includes a first light source 21, a second light source 22, a first light guide 23, a second light guide 24, a first housing portion 25, a second housing portion 26, a first lens member 27, a first light shielding plate 28, and an auxiliary member 29. Each part will be described in detail below.

[0019] The first light source 21 and the second light source 22 are provided at each of the corners 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D of the curved vehicle lighting device 10. The first light source 21 and the second light source 22 according to this embodiment are configured with LEDs, which are point light sources. As shown in FIG. 4, the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 are mounted on a first light source board (LED board) 41 and a second light source board 42, respectively, so that the light emitting surfaces 21A and 22A are aligned in the up-down direction.

[0020] Each of the light source boards 41 and 42 has a long and narrow plate shape in the vertical direction and extends from the support 11 through the upper illumination section 20 to the lower illumination section 30. The light source boards 41 and 42 are arranged so that their mounting surfaces face each other. The first light source 21 and the second light source 22 are mounted on the upper part of each of the light source boards 41 and 42, and the third light source 31 and the fourth light source 32 of the lower illumination section 30, which will be described later, are mounted on the lower part of each of the light source boards 41 and 42. The first light source board 41 and the first light source 21 and the third light source 31 mounted thereon are arranged on the outer periphery of the rectangular ring of the upper illumination section 20, as shown in FIG. 5. The second light source board 42 and the second light source 22 and the fourth light source 32 mounted thereon are arranged on the inner periphery of the rectangular ring. As a result, the light emitting surface 21A of the first light source 21 and the light emitting surface 22A of the second light source 22 face each other in a staggered manner, and the light emitting surface of the third light source 31 and the light emitting surface of the fourth light source 32 face each other in a staggered manner. Wiring 43, 44 for supplying power is arranged from the vehicle 1 to each of the light source boards 41, 42.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 4, the first light guide 23 and the second light guide 24 are elongated light guides (light guide rods). The first light guide 23 and the second light guide 24 are provided in pairs so as to be alternately connected along the annular direction of the upper illumination section 20 (the longitudinal direction of the first light guide 23 and the second light guide 24). The first light guide 23 is disposed on the outer periphery of the rectangular ring, and the second light guide 24 is disposed on the inner periphery of the rectangular ring. The light guides 23 and 24 are attached by being inserted into and engaged with grooves 27C and 27D (Fig. 10) of the first lens member 27, which will be described later.

[0022] The first light guide 23 has a first end 23A which is one end thereof, disposed opposite to the light emitting surface 21A of the first light source 21. The first light guide 23 guides the light from the first light source 21, which is incident from the first end 23A, along the longitudinal direction. The first light guide 23 shown in Fig. 4 extends from the first light source 21 disposed in one corner 10A of the vehicle lighting device 10 (upper stage lighting section 20) to the first light source 21 disposed in the adjacent other corner 10B.

[0023] The second light guide 24 has a second end 24A which is one end thereof, disposed opposite to the light emitting surface 22A of the second light source 22. The second light guide 24 guides the light from the second light source 22 incident from the second end 24A along the longitudinal direction. The second light guide 24 extends in a direction opposite to that of the first light guide 23 in the annular direction. The second light guide 24 shown in FIG. 4 extends from the second light source 22 disposed in one corner 10A of the vehicle lighting device 10 (upper stage lighting section 20) to the second light source 22 disposed in the adjacent other corner 10D.

[0024] The first light guide 23 extends clockwise when viewed from above in Fig. 5, while the second light guide 24 extends counterclockwise when viewed from above. That is, the two extend in opposite directions from the first housing portion 25. A portion of the second light guide 24 on the second end 24A side is arranged to overlap a portion of the first light guide 23 on the first end 23A side in the longitudinal direction. The overlapping portion of the light guides 23, 24 is indicated by reference numeral 90 in Fig. 5.

[0025] The first storage section 25 is provided at each corner of the upper illumination section 20, for a total of four. The first storage section 25 has a planar shape following the support section 11 described above, and overlaps the support section 11 in the up-down direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the first storage section 25 has a base section 25A that is curved in plan view, a protruding section 25B that extends upward from one end of the base section 25A in a columnar shape, and an insertion hole 25C formed in the other end of the base section 25A. The lower part of the columnar second storage section 26 is inserted into the insertion hole 25C of the first storage section 25. This allows the second storage section 26 to be easily disposed at a position horizontally spaced a predetermined distance from the protruding section 25B.

[0026] The protruding portion 25B of the first housing portion 25 accommodates the light sources 21 and 22, the first end 23A of the first light guide 23, and the second end 24A of the second light guide 24. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, notches 25B1 and 25B2 are formed on the sides of the protruding portion 25B for engaging with the first end 23A of the first light guide 23 and the second end 24A of the second light guide 24, respectively. The notches 25B1 and 25B2 are cut out in the horizontal direction. The protruding portion 25B also has through holes 25B3 and 25B4 formed in the vertical direction for inserting the light source boards 41 and 42 therethrough.

[0027] As shown in Figures 6 and 9, a first lens member 27 is placed on the upper surface of base 25A of first housing section 25 via a first light shielding plate 28. Also, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, a second lens member 37 is installed on the lower surface of base 25A. The distance between first lens member 27 and second lens member 37 is maintained by base 25A, and base 25A also serves as a spacer.

[0028] 6 and 8, the second housing portion 26 is columnar and houses the second light guide 24 except for the second end 24A. A notch 26A is formed on the side of the second housing portion 26 for engaging with the second light guide 24 except for the second end 24A. The notch 26A is cut out in the horizontal direction. The second housing portion 26 can stably support the second light guide 24.

[0029] The first lens member 27 covers the first light guide 23 and the second light guide 24 from above and from the sides, and diffuses the light emitted from the light guides 23 and 24. The first lens member 27 also plays a role in protecting the light guides 23 and 24. The first lens member 27 has a rectangular ring shape, and one is provided in the upper illumination unit 20. As shown in FIG. 10, the first lens member 27 has a first insertion hole 27A, a second insertion hole 27B, a first groove 27C, and a second groove 27D. As shown in FIG. 9, the protrusion 25B of the first housing portion 25 and the auxiliary member 29 surrounding the protrusion 25B are inserted into the first insertion hole 27A. The second housing portion 26 is inserted into the second insertion hole 27B. The light guides 23 and 24 are engaged with the grooves 27C and 27D, respectively.

[0030] The first light-shielding plate 28 has a shape and size for covering the lower surface of the first lens member 27. As shown in Fig. 6, the first light-shielding plate 28 has openings 28A, 28B formed therein through which the protrusion 25B of the first housing portion 25 and the second housing portion 26 are inserted. The first light-shielding plate 28 blocks light irradiated downward from the first lens member 27. This improves the brightness of light irradiated from above and sides of the first lens member 27, and enhances the design.

[0031] The auxiliary member 29 has a frame shape and is attached so as to surround the protruding portion 25B of the first housing portion 25 as shown in FIG. 9. The auxiliary member 29 covers the first end 23A of the first light guide 23 and the second end 24A of the second light guide 24 engaged with the protruding portion 25B from the sides, and stably holds them together with the protruding portion 25B. The auxiliary member 29 has translucency and is made of a milky white resin material in this embodiment. Since the auxiliary member 29 is interposed between the protruding portion 25B and the first lens member 27, the translucency of the auxiliary member 29 can prevent the auxiliary member 29 from blocking the light emitted from the light guides 23 and 24 to the first lens member 27.

[0032] Next, the lower illumination section 30 will be described. The basic structure of the lower illumination section 30 is similar to that of the upper illumination section 20 described above, and therefore, hereinafter, a duplicated description of the similar configuration and effects will be omitted. As shown in Fig. 4, the lower illumination section 30 includes a third light source 31, a fourth light source 32, a third light guide 33, a fourth light guide 34, a third housing section 35, a fourth housing section 36, a second lens member 37, and a second light shielding plate 38, but does not include an auxiliary member, unlike the upper illumination section 20.

[0033] 12, the second lens member 37 has a third insertion hole 37A, a second insertion hole 37B, a third groove 37C, and a fourth groove 37D. The third housing portion 35 and the fourth housing portion 36 are inserted into the insertion holes 37A and 37B, respectively. The third light guide 33 and the fourth light guide 34 are engaged with the grooves 37C and 37D, respectively.

[0034] 13, the third housing portion 35 and the fourth housing portion 36 are columnar and are inserted into the third insertion hole 37A and the fourth insertion hole 37B of the second lens member 37, respectively. The third housing portion 35 is disposed at a distance in the vertical direction so as to overlap with the protrusion 25B of the first housing portion 25 in the vertical direction. The fourth housing portion 36 is disposed at a distance in the vertical direction so as to overlap with the second housing portion 26 in the vertical direction.

[0035] 14, cutouts 35A and 35B are formed on the side of the third housing 35 for engaging with the third end 33A of the third light guide 33 and the fourth end 34A of the fourth light guide 34, respectively. Also, cutout 36A is formed on the side of the fourth housing 36 for engaging with a portion of the fourth light guide 34 other than the fourth end 34A. The cutouts 35A, 35B, and 36A are cut out in the vertical direction.

[0036] The containers 35 and 36 are translucent and made of a milky white resin material in this embodiment. The translucency can prevent the light emitted from the light guides 33 and 34 to the second lens member 37 from being blocked.

[0037] Unlike the first light shielding plate 28, the second light shielding plate 38 does not have any openings through which the accommodation portions 35, 36 are inserted. As shown in Fig. 15, the second light shielding plate 38 blocks the light irradiated downward from the second lens member 37 and covers and supports the third light guide 33 and the fourth light guide 34 from below.

[0038] Next, a method for assembling each part of the vehicle lighting device 10 described above will be described in the order of steps. First, as shown in Fig. 6, the second housing part 26 is inserted from above along the vertical direction into the insertion hole 25C of the first housing part 25 and fixed. Next, the protrusion 25B of the first housing part 25 and the second housing part 26 are inserted into the openings 28A and 28B of the first light-shielding plate 28, respectively, and the first light-shielding plate 28 is placed on the base part 25A of the first housing part 25.

[0039] 7, the first end 23A of the first light guide 23 is horizontally engaged with the notch 25B1 of the protrusion 25 of the first housing portion 25 (first engagement step). As shown in Fig. 8, the second end 24A of the second light guide 24 is horizontally engaged with the notch 25B2 of the protrusion 25 of the first housing portion 25 (second engagement step), and a part of the second light guide 24 other than the second end 24A is horizontally engaged with the second housing portion 26 (third engagement step).

[0040] 9, frame-shaped auxiliary member 29 is attached from above to first housing portion 25 along the up-down direction so as to surround protrusion 25B of first housing portion 25. Furthermore, protrusion 25B of first housing portion 25, auxiliary member 29, and second housing portion 26 are inserted into insertion holes 27A and 27B of first lens member 27, respectively, and first lens member 27 is placed on first light-shielding plate 28 arranged on base 25A of first housing portion 25 and attached (first attachment step).

[0041] Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the support portion 11 is placed from above so that the protrusion portion 25B of the first accommodating portion 25 is at one end side in the longitudinal direction and the second accommodating portion 26 is at the other end side, and the support portion 11 is fixed to the first accommodating portion 25 and the second accommodating portion 26 with fastening members 45 (specifically, screws).

[0042] Next, the members assembled as described above are turned upside down as shown in Fig. 12. In this state, the second lens member 37 is placed on the lower surface of the base 25A of the first housing portion 25. As shown in Fig. 13, the third housing portion 35 and the fourth housing portion 36 are inserted into the insertion holes 37A and 37B of the second lens member 37, respectively, and fixed with fastening members 46 (specifically, screws). This completes the attachment of the second lens member 37, the third housing portion 35, and the fourth housing portion 36 (second attachment step).

[0043] 14, the third end 33A of the third light guide 33 is engaged with the third housing portion 35 from above (fourth engagement step). In addition, the fourth end 34A of the fourth light guide 34 is engaged with the third housing portion 35 from above (fifth engagement step), and a part of the fourth light guide 34 other than the fourth end 34A is engaged with the fourth housing portion 36 from above (sixth engagement step).

[0044] 15, a second light-shielding plate 38 is attached to the second lens member 37, and the light guides 33, 34 and the housings 35, 36 are covered by the second light-shielding plate 38. Then, the assembled members are turned upside down, and the light source boards 41, 42 are inserted from above, as shown in FIG.

[0045] Next, the effects of the present technology will be described. According to the above-mentioned configuration, as shown in Fig. 5, the first light guide 23 and the second light guide 24 are arranged to extend in different opposite directions from the first housing portion 25 in the annular direction, and the first end portion 23A of the first light guide 23 and the second end portion 24 of the second light guide 24 are arranged to overlap in the first housing portion 25 in the elongated longitudinal direction.

[0046] In this way, it is possible to eliminate a portion where no light guide is present at the joint between the first light guide 23 and the second light guide 24. As a result, it is possible to suppress a dark portion occurring in a portion where no light guide is present, as shown in the simulation result in Fig. 17. If there is no overlapping portion in the elongated longitudinal direction between the first end 23A of the first light guide 23 and the second end 24 of the second light guide 24, a dark portion will occur in a portion where no light guide is present, as shown in the simulation result of Comparative Example 1 in Fig. 18.

[0047] In addition, a first end 23A of the first light guide 23 is disposed opposite to a light emitting surface 21A of the first light source 21, and a second end 24A of the second light guide 24 is disposed opposite to a light emitting surface 22A of the second light source 22, The light emitting surfaces 21A, 22A are arranged to face each other in a staggered manner. In this manner, the first end 23A of the first light guide 23 and the second end 24A of the second light guide 24 can be easily arranged to overlap each other in the longitudinal direction.

[0048] The first housing portion 25 is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of the support portion 11, and the second housing portion 26 is provided at the other end. By providing the housing portions 25, 26 and the support portion 11 in this manner, the light sources 21, 22 and the light guides 23, 24 can be stably held.

[0049] <Other embodiments> The present technology is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, and for example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present technology.

[0050] (1) The vehicle lighting device 10 achieves high design quality by including both the upper lighting section 20 and the lower lighting section 30, but it may also have only one of them, or three or more lighting sections arranged vertically.

[0051] (2) In the above embodiment, a vehicle is exemplified as a vehicle to which the vehicle lighting device is attached, but the vehicle to which the vehicle lighting device is attached may be various vehicles. For example, the lighting device disclosed herein can be applied to vehicles such as trains, recreational vehicles, and unmanned vehicles as ground vehicles, airplanes and helicopters as flying vehicles, and ships and submarines as marine and underwater vehicles. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1: vehicle (vehicle), 10: vehicle lighting device, 11: support, 21: first light source, 21A: light emitting surface, 22: second light source, 22A: light emitting surface, 23: first light guide, 23A: first end, 24: second light guide, 24A: second end, 25: first housing portion, 26: second housing portion, 27: first lens member

Claims

1. A first light source; A second light source; a first light guide body having an elongated shape that guides light from the first light source; a second light guide body having an elongated shape that guides light from the second light source; a first housing portion that houses the first light source, the second light source, a first end portion that is one end of the first light guide, and a second end portion that is one end of the second light guide, The first light guide and the second light guide are disposed to extend in different directions from the first housing portion, The first end of the first light guide and the second end of the second light guide are arranged in the first housing portion so as to overlap in the longitudinal direction of the elongated shape.

2. The first end of the first light guide is disposed opposite to a light emitting surface of the first light source, The second end of the second light guide is disposed opposite to a light emitting surface of the second light source, The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the light emitting surfaces of the first light source and the second light source are arranged to face each other in a staggered manner.

3. a second receiving portion that receives a portion of the second light guide other than the second end portion; A support portion that supports the first storage portion and the second storage portion, The first housing portion is provided on one end side of the support portion, The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second housing portion is provided on the other end side of the support portion.

4. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 3 , wherein the support portion constitutes a connection portion with the vehicle.

5. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a lens member covering the first light guide and the second light guide.

Images