Vehicle lighting device

Abstract

To suppress glare at corner parts of a light guide part.SOLUTION: A vehicle lighting device 12 includes a light source and a lens 16. The lens 16 includes: a light guide part 30 which is provided at a position opposed to the light source and extends toward the vehicle interior side; and a body part 32 which is connected to the end on the cabin side of the light guide part 30 and extends in a direction intersecting with the light guide part 30. The lens 16 is configured to make at least a portion of the body part 32 function as a decorative lighting part when the light from the light source is reflected by a side surface 50 of the light guide part 30 and directed toward the cabin side, and a portion of the light is reflected by a reflective surface of the body part 32 and directed in the direction in which the body part 32 extends. Corner parts 70, 71 between the side surface 50 being the reflective surface of the light and the side surfaces 51, 52 adjacent to the side surface 50 have the rounded shapes in the light guide part 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lighting device for a vehicle, and more particularly to a lighting device arranged in a vehicle interior. [Background technology]

[0002] Some vehicle interior lights can achieve both spot lighting, which brightly illuminates the area around you, and decorative lighting, such as ambient lighting, using the same light source. Decorative lighting is visually recognized by the user when light is irradiated onto lens cuts or other features designed on the back surface of the lens.

[0003] Such a lighting device is disposed on the ceiling and includes a light source and a lens. The lens includes a light guide portion disposed opposite the light source and extending toward the vehicle interior, and a main body portion connected to the end of the light guide portion on the vehicle interior side and extending in a direction intersecting the light guide portion. The main body portion includes, for example, a lens cut for decorative lighting.

[0004] The light from the light source is reflected by the side of the light guide portion toward the vehicle interior, and a part of the light is reflected by the reflective surface of the main body portion and guided in the direction in which the main body portion extends, so that at least a part of the main body portion functions as a decorative lighting portion. In addition, the light guide portion functions as a spot lighting portion by emitting a part of the light from the light source toward the vehicle interior from an emission portion on the opposite side to the entrance portion where the light from the light source enters.

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle lamp that uses one light source to illuminate multiple light guides. Patent Document 2 discloses a light source device that includes a light guide in an internal space. Patent Document 3 discloses an LED lighting device that includes a light reflector on a light guide lens that receives light from an LED light source. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-17359 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2018-190623 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2012-199035 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] In an illumination device having the light guide section and main body section as described above, it is necessary to efficiently receive light from the light source and guide the light to the decorative lighting section. In order to guide a large amount of light to the reflective surface of the main body section where the light is dispersed to the decorative lighting section, it is necessary to ensure the area of ​​the reflective surface (hereinafter referred to as the reflective side surface) of the light guide section that directs the light to the reflective surface. In order to maximize the area of ​​the reflective side surface, the light guide section has a small radius (R) of the corner between the reflective side surface and the side adjacent to it. If the radius of the corner of the light guide section is small, light will gather at the corner, and the user will feel glare when looking at the corner.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to reduce glare at corners of a light guide portion in a vehicle lighting device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The vehicle lighting device of the present invention comprises a light source and a lens, the lens including a light guiding section disposed opposite the light source and extending toward the vehicle cabin, and a main body section connected to an end of the light guiding section on the vehicle cabin side and extending in a direction intersecting the light guiding section, the lens being configured such that light from the light source is reflected by a side surface of the light guiding section and directed toward the vehicle cabin, and a portion of the light is reflected by a reflective surface of the main body section and directed in the direction in which the main body section extends, thereby causing at least a portion of the main body section to function as a decorative lighting section, and the light guiding section is characterized in that a corner between the side surface that serves as a light reflecting surface and another side surface adjacent to that side surface has a rounded shape.

[0010] In the vehicle lighting device according to the present invention, the side surface of the light guiding portion that serves as a light reflecting surface may have a shape that is wider than the opposite side surface.

[0011] In the vehicle lighting device according to the present invention, a cross section of a connection portion between the light guiding portion and the main body portion in a direction intersecting the light guiding portion may be L-shaped.

[0012] In addition, in the vehicle lighting device of the present invention, the light-guiding portion may include an incident portion into which light from the light source is incident, and a light exit portion on the opposite side of the incident portion, and the corners of the light-guiding portion may be rounded such that a diameter size of the corner near the exit portion is larger than a diameter size of the corner near the incident portion.

[0013] In addition, in the vehicle lighting device according to the present invention, the light-guiding section may function as a spot lighting section by emitting a portion of the light from the light source into the vehicle cabin from an exit section opposite an entrance section into which the light is incident.

[0014] In the vehicle lighting device according to the present invention, the corner portion of the light guiding portion may be located at a position visible to an occupant in the vehicle cabin. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, the corners of the light-guiding section have a rounded shape, so that light concentration at the corners can be reduced, and the glare felt by the user when looking at the corners can be suppressed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1A is a perspective view showing the overhead console 10, FIG. 1B is a diagram showing the design surface of the lens 16, and FIG. 1C is a perspective view of the lens 16. FIG. [Diagram 2]1A is a perspective view showing a holding member 20, FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing a part of a lens 16, and FIG. 1C is a diagram showing a schematic view of a corner of a light guiding section 30. FIG. [Diagram 3] 1A is a diagram showing a schematic view of how light travels inside the lens 16, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a reflecting surface 61 of the main body 32 of the lens 16. FIG. [Figure 4] 1A is a diagram of the light guide section 30 as viewed from the light source side, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the light guide section 30 as viewed from the side. [Diagram 5] 10(A) to 10(C) are perspective views of the light guiding section 30 as viewed from multiple directions. [Figure 6] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating the concentration of light within lenses 100 and 101. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a light guiding section 130 of a comparative technique as viewed from the light source side. [Figure 8] 1A is a diagram of a conventional light guiding section 230 as viewed from the light source side, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the conventional light guiding section 230 as viewed from the side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described here. The same elements in all the drawings are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0018] Fig. 1(A) is a perspective view showing an overhead console 10. The overhead console 10 is located on the ceiling of the interior of a vehicle, between the driver's seat and the passenger seat at the front of the interior. The figure shows a schematic diagram of a design surface 22 of the overhead console 10 that is visible to a user in the vehicle interior. Note that a structure 24 on the back side of the design surface 22 is a part that is located inside the ceiling and is not visible to the user.

[0019] The vehicle lighting device 12 is incorporated in an overhead console 10. The vehicle lighting device 12 (hereinafter simply referred to as the lighting device 12) is held by a holding member 20. The lighting device 12 includes two light sources and a lens 16. The two light sources are LEDs. FIG. 1(B) is a diagram showing the design surface of the lens 16, and FIG. 1(C) is a perspective view of the lens 16.

[0020] 1(C), the lens 16 has a symmetrical shape. The lens 16 is a solid member. The lens 16 includes a U-shaped main body 32 and two light guides 30 connected to both ends of the main body 32.

[0021] The tips of the two light guides 30 each serve as an entrance section 40 (light receiving section) into which light from the light source is incident. Each of the two light guides 30 functions as a spot lighting section by emitting a portion of the light from the light source into the vehicle cabin from an exit section on the opposite side to the entrance section 40 into which the light is incident. The main body 32 has a dot-shaped lens cut section. Part of the light from the two light sources is guided from the two light guides 30 to the main body 32, and the light is irradiated onto the dot-shaped lens cut sections, thereby functioning as a decorative lighting section (ambient light, mood light, etc.).

[0022] Below, we will explain the right side portion of lens 16 in Figure 1 (C) (the right side light guide section 30 and the main body section 32 connected thereto), but the left side portion of the lens has a similar configuration to the right side portion.

[0023] FIG. 2(A) is a perspective view showing holding member 20. FIG. 2(B) is a perspective view showing a part of lens 16 (the right-hand part of lens 16 in FIG. 1(C)). As shown in FIG. 2(A), holding member 20 has guide portion 26 in which lens 16 is disposed. The portion of holding member 20 in which light guiding portion 30 of lens 16 is disposed is a recess 27. Light guiding portion 30 is disposed within recess 27. A light source is disposed at the back side of recess 27.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2(B), the light guiding unit 30 has a side surface 50 facing the outside of the lens, and a side surface 55 opposite the side surface 50. As shown in FIG. 3(A), the side surface 50 functions as a reflecting surface 60 that reflects the light of the light source 14 toward a reflecting surface 61 of the main body unit 32. A part of the light of the light source 14 is guided to the reflecting surface 61 of the main body unit 32 and reflected there, and the light is irradiated to the lens cut portion 92 of the main body unit 32. Hereinafter, the side surface 50 of the light guiding unit 30 is referred to as a reflecting side surface 50. Note that the other side surfaces of the light guiding unit 30 also have a function of reflecting the light of the light source 14.

[0025] 2(A) and (B), side surface 55 (portion b) of light guiding unit 30 is disposed on the right rear side of recess 27 of holding member 20. In addition, reflective side surface 50 (portion a) of light guiding unit 30 is disposed on the left front side of recess 27 of holding member 20.

[0026] In the light guide unit 30, if the radius of a corner between adjacent side surfaces is small, light is concentrated at the corner, and the user feels glare when looking at the corner. As shown in FIG. 2(B), the radius of a corner between side surface 55 of the light guide unit 30 and the adjacent side surface is small, so light is concentrated at the corner. However, side surface 55 (part b) of the light guide unit 30 is a part disposed on the far right side of recess 27, and as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 2(C), part b is in a position that is not visible to the user, so the user does not feel glare.

[0027] On the other hand, the corner (part a) between the reflective side surface 50 of the light guide unit 30 and the adjacent side surface is a portion disposed on the left front side of the recess 27, and as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 2(C), part a is located in a position that is visible to the user. The corner can be seen in this manner because the lens 16 is transparent. In this embodiment, the corners 70, 71 (see FIG. 4(A)) between the reflective side surface 50 and the adjacent side surface are rounded to reduce the concentration of light at the corners 70, 71, thereby suppressing the user from feeling glare.

[0028] 8(A) and (B) are diagrams showing a light guide section 230 of the prior art. In the light guide section 230, the R (radius) of the corners 270, 271 between the reflective side surface 250 and the adjacent side surfaces 251, 252 is small, so that light is concentrated at the corners 270, 271. The corners 270, 271 of the light guide section 230 are disposed on the left front side (part a in FIG. 2(C)) of the recess 27 of the holding member 20 in FIG. 2(A), so that the corners 270, 271 are visually recognized by the user. Therefore, there is a problem that the user feels glare when looking at the corners 270, 271. In this embodiment, in order to suppress this problem, the corners 70, 71 (see FIG. 4(A)) are rounded to suppress the concentration of light at the corners 70, 71, and suppress the user from feeling glare.

[0029] The lens 16 of this embodiment will be described further. FIG. 3(A) is a diagram that shows a schematic view of how light travels in the lens 16. FIG. 3(B) is a perspective view showing a part of the lens 16. In FIG. 3(B), the reflective surface 61 of the main body 32 is hatched. As shown in FIG. 3(A), the LED as the light source 14 is disposed on the substrate 28. The light guide 30 is provided at a position opposite to the light source 14 and extends toward the vehicle interior side (upper side in FIG. 3(A)). The main body 32 is connected to the end of the light guide 30 on the vehicle interior side and extends in a direction intersecting with the light guide 30. A plurality of lens cut portions 92 are provided on the rear surface of the main body 32.

[0030] The light from the light source 14 is reflected by the reflective side surface 50 of the light guide unit 30 toward the vehicle interior, and part of the light is reflected by the reflective surface 61 of the main body unit 32 and guided in the direction in which the main body unit 32 extends. The light then illuminates the multiple lens cut portions 92. This causes the main body unit 32 to function as a decorative lighting unit. The light guide unit 30 functions as a spot lighting unit by emitting part of the light into the vehicle interior from the emission unit 42 on the opposite side to the incidence unit 40 into which the light from the light source 14 enters.

[0031] Fig. 4(A) is a view of light guide 30 as viewed from the light source side, with reflective side surface 50 (reflective surface 60) hatched. Fig. 3(B) is a perspective view of light guide 30 as viewed from the side. Light guide 30 has extension 43 on the reflective side surface 50 side. As a result, as shown in Fig. 4(A), reflective side surface 50 has a shape that is wider than the opposite side surface 55. Also, as shown in Fig. 4(B), cross section S (cross section in a direction intersecting light guide 30) of the connection portion between light guide 30 and main body 32 has an L-shape.

[0032] In this way, by widening the width of the reflective side surface 50, the corners 70, 71 between the reflective side surface 50 and the adjacent side surfaces 51, 52 are rounded, while the area of ​​the reflective side surface 50 is sufficiently secured. This allows the reflective side surface 50 to guide a large amount of light from the light source 14 (FIG. 3(A)) to the reflective surface 61 of the main body portion 32, allowing the main body portion 32 to function as a decorative lighting portion. In other words, a large amount of light can be guided to the lens cut portion 92.

[0033] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the light guide unit 130 of the comparative technology. The light guide unit 130 has a large radius R of the corners 170, 171 between the reflective side surface 150 and the adjacent side surfaces 151, 152, so that it is possible to suppress light concentration at the corners 70, 71, and to suppress the user from feeling glare. However, the light guide unit 130 does not have the extension 43 as shown in FIG. 4(A), and the width of the reflective side surface 150 is not wide. In this case, the area of ​​the light reflecting surface 160 (the hatched portion in FIG. 7) is small due to the large radius R of the corners 170, 171. Therefore, the reflecting surface 160 has a problem of being unable to guide much light to the reflecting surface 61 (FIG. 3(A)) of the main body 32. On the other hand, in this embodiment (see FIG. 4(A)), the width of the reflective side surface 50 is widened, so that it is possible to suppress the problem of the comparative technology.

[0034] Even if the width of the reflective side surface 150 is not wide as in Fig. 7, there may be no problem if the radius R of the corners 170, 171 is made slightly smaller to ensure the area of ​​the reflective surface 160. Therefore, the comparative technique as in Fig. 7 is not completely excluded from the present invention.

[0035] In this embodiment, it is also possible to make the entire light guide 30 wide (to make the light guide 30 thick), that is, to make the side of the side 55 (see FIG. 4(A)) wide as well. However, in this case, the light guide 30 becomes large in size, and there is a possibility that sink marks may occur on the lower surface (design surface) of the main body 32 below the light guide 30. Therefore, it is preferable to make only the reflective side surface 50 wide, as shown in FIGS. 4(A) and (B).

[0036] Continuing with the description of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4(A), in the light guide section 30 of this embodiment, the corners 70, 71 are rounded such that the diameter size of the corners 70, 71 at the portion closer to the exit section 42 is larger than the diameter size of the corners 70, 71 at the portion closer to the entrance section 40. That is, the corners 70, 71 at the portion closer to the entrance section 40 have a smaller R (radius), and the corners 70, 71 at the portion closer to the exit section 42 have a larger R (radius). This makes it possible to reduce the size and weight of the light guide section 30 while suppressing the concentration of light at the corners 70, 71.

[0037] 5(A) to 5(C) are perspective views of light guiding section 30 viewed from a plurality of directions. From these drawings, the detailed shape of extension section 43 of light guiding section 30 can be seen.

[0038] According to the lighting device 12 of the present embodiment described above, as shown in Fig. 4(A), the corners 70, 71 of the light-guiding section 30 have a rounded shape, so that it is possible to reduce light concentration at the corners 70, 71. Therefore, it is possible to suppress glare felt by the user when looking at the corners 70, 71.

[0039] Here, the concentration of light within a lens will be explained. Figures 6(A) and (B) are diagrams showing cross sections of lenses 100 and 101. Note that these lenses 100 and 101 are not directly related to the lens 16 of this embodiment. As shown in part c of Figure 6(A), the corners of a lens composed of surfaces with an internal angle of less than 180° are dazzling because light is concentrated near the reflective surface. On the other hand, as shown in part d of Figure 6(B), the corners of a lens composed of two surfaces with an internal angle of 180° or more do not concentrate light and do not appear dazzling.

[0040] By changing the part c in Fig. 6(A) to a rounded shape like the part e in Fig. 6(B), it is possible to suppress the concentration of light and reduce glare. Based on this principle, the light guide section 30 of the present embodiment has a large R (radius) of the corners 70, 71, thereby reducing the concentration of light at the corners 70, 71.

[0041] Even if the corners of the light guide 30 have a small radius R, providing the corners with texture can reduce glare. However, the labor required to provide the texture and the reduced design due to the texture can be considered, so it can be said that a measure to increase the radius R of the corners 70, 71 as in this embodiment is effective. It is not denied that the texture can also be provided in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the radius R of the corners 70, 71 is increased to reduce glare, so even if the texture is provided, the thickness of the texture can be reduced, improving the design.

[0042] In the embodiment described above, the light source 14 is an LED. However, the light source 14 may be an incandescent light bulb or the like. Also, the lighting device 12 described above is a combination of spot lighting and decorative lighting. However, the lighting device 12 may be a combination of lighting such as dome lighting, vanity lighting, and luggage lighting and decorative lighting. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 10 overhead console, 12 lighting device, 14 light source, 16 lens, 20 holding member, 22 design surface, 24 structure, 26 guide portion, 27 recess, 28 substrate, 30 light guide portion, 32 main body portion, 40 entrance portion, 42 exit portion, 43 extension portion, 50 side surface (reflective side surface), 51, 52, 55 side surface, 60, 61 reflective surface, 70, 71 corner portion, 92 lens cut portion, 100, 101, 116 lens, 130 light guide portion, 150 side surface (reflective side surface), 151, 152 side surface, 160 reflective surface, 170, 171 corner portion, 230 light guide portion, 250 side surface (reflective side surface), 251, 252 side surface, 270, 271 corner portion.

Claims

1. A vehicle lighting device, A light source; a lens; The lens is a light guiding portion provided at a position opposite to the light source and extending toward a vehicle interior side; and a main body portion connected to an end portion of the light guiding portion on the vehicle interior side and extending in a direction intersecting the light guiding portion, The lens is configured such that light from the light source is reflected by a side surface of the light guiding portion and directed toward the vehicle interior, and a portion of the light is reflected by a reflective surface of the main body portion and directed in a direction in which the main body portion extends, thereby causing at least a portion of the main body portion to function as a decorative lighting portion, In the light guiding section, a corner between the side surface serving as a light reflecting surface and another side surface adjacent to the side surface has a rounded shape. A vehicle lighting device comprising:

2. 2. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, In the light guiding section, the side surface serving as a light reflecting surface has a shape wider than the opposite side surface. A vehicle lighting device comprising:

3. 3. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 2, A cross section of a connection portion between the light guiding portion and the main body portion in a direction intersecting the light guiding portion has an L-shape. A vehicle lighting device comprising:

4. 4. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, the light guide portion includes an incident portion into which light from the light source is incident, and a light exit portion on the opposite side to the incident portion, Regarding the roundness of the corners of the light guiding section, the diameter size of the corners of the light guiding section near the light exit section is larger than the diameter size of the corners of the light guiding section near the light entrance section. A vehicle lighting device comprising:

5. 4. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, The light guide unit functions as a spot lighting unit by emitting a part of the light from the light source into the vehicle cabin from an emission unit on the opposite side to an incidence unit into which the light is incident. A vehicle lighting device comprising:

6. 4. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, The corner portion of the light guiding portion is located at a position visible to an occupant in the vehicle cabin. A vehicle lighting device comprising:

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