Steering device

Abstract

To appropriately illuminate a part of a steering device.SOLUTION: A steering device comprises: a rotary part which is provided on a movable body so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis; a peripheral part which is connected to the rotary part, is located at a position farther from the rotation axis than the rotary part, and has a dimension in a direction of the rotation axis smaller than a dimension in a rotation direction; and a light emission part provided on the rotary part. The light emission part comprises a light emitter, and a translucent cover covering the light emitter. The translucent cover comprises: a first face which receives light from the light emitter; and a second face which is a face on a side opposite to the first face, constitutes a part of an external surface of the steering device, and ejects the light received by the first face toward the peripheral part. The translucent cover includes a ramp, which is configured so that the first face becomes closer to the second face as moving away from the peripheral part along the second face, in a cross section including a direction parallel to the rotation axis and an optical axis of the light received by the first face.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a steering device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is an illumination device that illuminates a wheel portion of a steering device. In the steering wheel illumination device of Patent Document 1, a pair of light emitting portions that emit visible light are mounted on a pad portion and left and right spoke portions. Each light emitting portion emits light toward the wheel portion. Each light emitting portion can emit light of an arbitrary color. Each light emitting portion can change the intensity of the light. As a result, the steering wheel illumination device of Patent Document 1 can prompt a driver to grip the wheel portion, for example, with the light that illuminates the wheel portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] A large number of devices such as a core metal, an airbag, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit), and a harness for connecting each electronic device including the ECU are mounted on the steering device. In the steering device, the space for mounting the above-described light emitting portion is limited by those devices. For this reason, there are cases where a light emitting portion with a large light amount cannot be mounted on the steering device. In addition, there are cases where the light emitting portion cannot be mounted on the steering device in a posture in which the optical axis of the light emitted from the light emitting portion faces a portion visible to the driver among the wheel portions. In such a case, the portion visible to the driver among the wheel portions is not irradiated with light of sufficient brightness. Therefore, a technique for appropriately illuminating a part of the steering device is required.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0005] The present disclosure can be realized in the following forms.

[0006] (1) According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a steering device for a moving body is provided. The steering device includes a rotating portion provided on the moving body so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis, and a peripheral portion connected to the rotating portion, the peripheral portion being arranged at a position farther from the rotation axis than the rotating portion, and having a dimension in the direction of the rotation axis smaller than a dimension in the direction of rotation, a light emitting portion provided on the rotating portion, the light emitting portion including a light emitting element that emits light and a light transmitting cover that covers the light emitting element and transmits light. The light transmitting cover includes a first surface that receives the light emitted by the light emitting element, and a second surface that is on the side opposite to the first surface and forms a part of the outer surface of the steering device, and that emits the light received by the first surface toward the peripheral portion. The light transmitting cover includes an inclined portion, and in a cross section including a direction parallel to the rotation axis and an optical axis of the light received by the first surface, the first surface is configured to approach the second surface as it moves away from the peripheral portion along the second surface, or the first surface is configured to move away from the second surface as it moves away from the peripheral portion along the second surface. In such a manner, the light emitted from the light-emitting element and transmitted through the inclined portion of the light-transmitting cover is refracted with respect to the traveling direction of the light when it enters the light-transmitting cover and when it is emitted from the light-transmitting cover. As a result, the light emitted from the light-emitting element is bent by the light-transmitting cover with a direction component in the direction of the rotation axis added thereto. Therefore, by appropriately configuring the inclined portion of the light-transmitting cover, light can be emitted in an appropriate direction with respect to the peripheral portion where the dimension in the direction of the rotation axis is smaller than the dimension in the direction of rotation. As a result, the peripheral portion can be brightly irradiated. Further, the inclined portion is configured such that the first surface approaches the second surface or the first surface moves away from the second surface as it moves away from the peripheral portion along the second surface. That is, the function of the light-transmitting cover that adds a direction component in the direction of the rotation axis to the incident light is realized by the shape of the first surface among the first surface and the second surface. Therefore, the shape of the second surface that forms a part of the outer surface of the steering device can be formed into an arbitrary shape according to requirements other than the emission direction of the light that illuminates the peripheral portion. (2) In the steering device of the above aspect, the light-transmitting cover includes a plate portion that is arranged on the side where the peripheral portion is located with respect to the inclined portion in the direction of the rotation axis in the cross section, and the distance between the first surface and the second surface is constant. The inclined portion is configured such that the first surface approaches the second surface as it moves away from the peripheral portion along the second surface in the cross section. The light-transmitting cover is arranged with respect to the light-emitting element so as to receive the light emitted from the light-emitting element and having an optical axis directed toward the peripheral portion at the first surface included in the inclined portion and the first surface included in the plate portion. In such a manner, the light emitted from the light-emitting element and transmitted through the plate portion of the light-transmitting cover is emitted in a direction parallel to the direction when it enters the light-transmitting cover. On the other hand, the light emitted from the light-emitting element and transmitted through the inclined portion of the light-transmitting cover is bent with a direction component added thereto that approaches the light emitted from the plate portion. Therefore, by appropriately configuring the inclined portion of the light-transmitting cover, light can be irradiated onto the peripheral portion so that the brightness becomes stronger. (3) In the steering device of the above-described embodiment, the light received by the first surface is directed toward a range including a part of the peripheral portion on the side where the assumed position of the driver's head of the moving body is located in the direction of the rotation axis and another part of the peripheral portion on the side opposite to the side where the assumed position is located, and the light emitted from the second surface is configured to irradiate the part and not irradiate the other part. In such an aspect, it is possible to concentrate the light emitted from the light-emitting portion on the part of the peripheral portion that is easily visible to the driver without irradiating the part of the peripheral portion that is difficult to be visually recognized by the driver. As a result, the part visually recognized by the driver can be efficiently illuminated by the light emitted from the light-emitting portion. (4) In the steering device of the above-described embodiment, the inclined portion is configured such that in the cross section, as the first surface approaches the second surface along the second surface as it moves away from the peripheral portion, and the steering device is configured such that the light received by the first surface is directed toward a range not including a part of the peripheral portion on the side where the assumed position of the driver's head of the moving body is located in the direction of the rotation axis, and the light emitted from the second surface irradiates the part. In such an aspect, the light emitted from the light-emitting element and transmitted through the inclined portion of the light-transmitting cover has a direction component added thereto and is bent as it travels toward the peripheral portion. Therefore, by appropriately configuring the inclined portion of the light-transmitting cover, light can be emitted in an appropriate direction with respect to the peripheral portion. That is, the part of the peripheral portion that is easily visible to the driver can be irradiated with the light emitted from the light-emitting portion. As a result, the part visually recognized by the driver can be efficiently illuminated by the light emitted from the light-emitting portion. (5) In the steering device of the above-described embodiment, the light-emitting portion is a lens that receives and emits the light emitted by the light-emitting element, and includes a lens that narrows the divergence angle of the light emitted by the light-emitting element, and the light-transmitting cover receives the light emitted by the light-emitting element and transmitted through the lens on the first surface. In such a mode, the illuminance of the peripheral part illuminated by the light of the light emitting part can be made higher. Further, in this mode, the lens realizes the function of condensing the light emitted by the light emitting element to increase the illuminance, and the translucent cover realizes the function of accurately determining the direction of the light emitted toward the peripheral part. Therefore, by changing the configuration of the first surface of the translucent cover according to the type of the moving body, it is possible to brightly illuminate the peripheral part of the steering device for a plurality of types of moving bodies without changing the configuration of the lens. The present disclosure can also be realized in various forms other than the steering device. For example, it can be realized in forms such as a manufacturing method of a steering device, a design method of a steering device, a method of irradiating a long object, and the like.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] A. First Embodiment: A1. Configuration of the Steering Device: FIG. 1 is a front view of the steering device 1 as a first embodiment. The steering device 1 is mounted on the vehicle MV. The steering device 1 is operated by the driver of the vehicle MV in order to control the traveling direction of the vehicle MV.

[0009] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the relationship between the steering device 1 and the position PA of the head of the driver of the vehicle MV. In the vehicle MV, the steering device 1 is provided at a position lower in the vertical direction DV than the assumed position PA where the head of the driver of the vehicle MV is assumed to be located (see the upper part of FIG. 2). In FIGS. 1 and 2, the vertical direction DV and the horizontal direction DH are shown. The horizontal direction DH shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a direction parallel to the paper surface, whereas the vertical direction DV shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is not a direction parallel to the paper surface.

[0010] The steering device 1 includes a grip portion 100, a rotating portion 200, a light emitting portion 210, a central member 300, and mounting members 400, 400.

[0011] The rotating portion 200 is provided on the vehicle MV so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis RA (see the central part in the middle section of FIG. 1). The rotating portion 200 is rotated by the driver of the vehicle MV via the grip portion 100. The traveling direction of the vehicle MV is specified by the direction of the rotating portion 200, that is, the angular position of the rotating portion 200. The rotating portion 200 includes a so-called spoke portion that is connected to the grip portion 100. In FIG. 1, a part of the rotating portion 200 is covered by the central member 300 and the mounting members 400, 400, respectively.

[0012] The central member 300 covers the rotating portion 200 and a part of the grip portion 100 from both sides in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotating portion 200 (see the central part in the middle section of FIG. 1). When the steering device 1 designates the front directly ahead as the traveling direction of the vehicle MV, the central member 300 covers a part of the grip portion 100 at the 6 o'clock position on the clock (see the central part in the lower section of FIG. 1).

[0013] The mounting members 400, 400 are respectively attached to the rotating portion 200 on both sides of the central member 300 (see the middle section of FIG. 1). Specifically, the mounting member 400 is a switch unit for the driver to input an instruction for controlling the vehicle MV.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2. The cross-section III-III is a plane CS1 that includes a direction parallel to the rotation axis RA and the optical axis ALU of the light L1U received by the first surface 216US1 of the light-transmitting cover 216U of the light-emitting unit 210UL (see the central part in the middle row of FIG. 2). In the present embodiment, the plane CS1 is a plane that includes the front directly in front of the vehicle MV and the vertical direction DV. The configuration of the light-emitting unit 210UL will be described later.

[0015] The gripping portion 100 is a portion that is gripped by the driver of the vehicle MV (see FIG. 1). The gripping portion 100 is arranged at a position farther from the rotation axis RA than the rotating portion 200 (see the left part of FIG. 3). More specifically, the gripping portion 100 has an annular shape (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The gripping portion 100 is connected to the rotating portion 200 at the spoke portion of the rotating portion 200.

[0016] The light-emitting unit 210 is provided in the rotating portion 200. Specifically, the light-emitting unit 210 includes four light-emitting units 210UR, 210UL, 210LR, and 210LL (see the central part in the middle row of FIG. 1 and the central part in the middle row of FIG. 2). In this specification, when the light-emitting units 210UR, 210UL, 210LR, and 210LL are referred to without distinction, they are denoted as the light-emitting unit 210.

[0017] A2. Configuration and Function of the Light-Emitting Unit 210U: The light-emitting units 210UR and 210UL emit light LU upward from above the horizontal direction DH (see the central part in the upper row of FIG. 1). When the steering device 1 designates the front directly in front as the traveling direction of the vehicle MV, the light-emitting unit 210UR and the light-emitting unit 210UL are arranged at symmetric positions with respect to the plane RS that includes the rotation axis RA and the vertical direction DV (see the central part in the middle row of FIG. 1). In this specification, when the light-emitting units 210UR and 210UL are referred to without distinction, they are denoted as the light-emitting unit 210U.

[0018] Among the gripping part 100, the part irradiated with light by the light emitting parts 210UR and 210UL is shown as the irradiated part 100iU in FIGS. 1 and 3 (see the upper central part of FIG. 1 and the upper left part of FIG. 3). When the steering device 1 designates the due front as the traveling direction of the vehicle, the irradiated part 100iU is an arc-shaped part located in an angular range of about 30 degrees centered on the 12 o'clock direction among the annular gripping part 100 (see the upper central part of FIG. 1). The irradiated part 100iU is connected to the spoke part of the rotating part 200 via the part other than the irradiated part 100iU among the gripping part 100 (see FIG. 1).

[0019] Since the gripping part 100 is annular, the dimension Dra in the direction of the rotation axis RA of the irradiated part 100iU, which is a part of the gripping part 100, is smaller than the dimension DdrU in the rotation direction DR of the irradiated part 100iU (see the upper left part of FIG. 3 and the upper central part of FIG. 1). The light emitting part 210U is located on the side opposite to the assumed position PA of the driver's head with respect to the irradiated part 100iU that is the irradiation target in the direction DPra of the rotation axis RA (see the upper part of FIG. 3).

[0020] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the light emitting part 210U. The light emitting part 210UL and the light emitting part 210UR have the same configuration (see the middle central part of FIG. 2 and the middle central part of FIG. 3). Therefore, hereinafter, the light emitting part 210UL and the light emitting part 210UR will be collectively referred to as the light emitting part 210U, and their configuration will be described. The light emitting part 210U includes a light emitting element 212U, a lens 214U, a light transmissive cover 216U, and a support part 218U.

[0021] The light-emitting element 212U is an element that emits light LU (see the lower part of FIG. 4). Specifically, the light-emitting element 212U is a light-emitting diode. In this specification, among the light LU emitted from the light-emitting element 212U and irradiating the irradiated portion 100iU, the light emitted from the light-emitting element 212U and incident on the lens 214U is denoted as light L0U. The light-emitting element 212U emits a radial light L0U having a directivity angle θdr. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the central axis of the light L0U emitted by the light-emitting element 212U is shown as the optical axis ALU. The optical axis ALU has a direction from the light-emitting element 212U toward the irradiated portion 100iU, which is the irradiation target.

[0022] The lens 214U receives and emits the light L0U emitted by the light-emitting element 212U (see the middle part of FIG. 4). More specifically, the lens 214U receives the light within the range of the directivity angle θra (θra < θdr) in the direction of the cross-section CS1 shown in FIG. 4 among the light L0U emitted by the light-emitting element 212U. The lens 214U receives the light L0U within the range of the directivity angle θdr emitted by the light-emitting element 212U in the direction of the cross-section perpendicular to the cross-section CS1 shown in FIG. 4. In this specification, among the light LU emitted from the light-emitting element 212U and irradiating the irradiated portion 100iU, the light emitted from the lens 214U and incident on the light-transmitting cover 216U is denoted as light L1U (see the middle part of FIG. 4).

[0023] The lens 214U narrows the directivity angle θra of the light L0U emitted by the light-emitting element 212U (see the middle part of FIG. 4). More specifically, the lens 214U narrows the directivity angle of the light to θLra (θLra < θra < θdr) in the direction of the cross-section CS1 of FIG. 4. The lens 214U does not change the optical axis of the received light L0U. That is, the optical axis of the light L1U emitted by the lens 214U is the optical axis ALU.

[0024] By adopting such a configuration, the illuminance of the irradiated portion 100iU illuminated by the light L2U of the light-emitting unit 210U can be made higher (see the central part in the middle of FIG. 4). In addition, the irradiated portion 100iU having a wide range in the direction of rotation DR can be effectively illuminated (see the central part in the upper part of FIG. 1).

[0025] The light L1U emitted by the lens 214U has a direction toward a range including (i) a part RUi of the irradiated portion 100iU on the side where the assumed position PA of the driver's head is located with respect to the direction Dpra of the rotation axis RA, and (ii) another part RUni of the irradiated portion 100iU on the side opposite to the side where the assumed position PA is located with respect to the direction Dpra of the rotation axis RA (see the upper part of FIG. 3). More specifically, the part RUi is in the range of approximately 6 o'clock to 8 o'clock of the outer periphery of the cross-section of the substantially circular irradiated portion 100iU in the cross-section CS1. The part RUni is in the range of approximately 3 o'clock to 4:30 of the outer periphery of the cross-section of the substantially circular irradiated portion 100iU in the cross-section CS1. The part RUni is a part that cannot be seen from the assumed position PA of the driver's head.

[0026] The support portion 218U supports the light-emitting element 212U, the lens 214U, and the light-transmitting cover 216U (see the lower right part of FIG. 4). The support portion 218U fixes the relative positions of those components.

[0027] The light-transmitting cover 216U covers the light-emitting element 212U and the lens 214U (see the middle part of FIG. 4). That is, the light-transmitting cover 216U is arranged on the downstream side of the light-emitting element 212U and the lens 214U with respect to the traveling direction of the light LU. The light-transmitting cover 216U transmits light. Specifically, the light-transmitting cover 216U is made of acrylic. The light-transmitting cover 216U includes a first surface 216US1 and a second surface 216US2.

[0028] The first surface 216US1 receives the light LU emitted by the light-emitting element 212U (see the middle part of FIG. 4). More specifically, the light-transmitting cover 216U receives, at the first surface 216US1, the light L1U that is emitted by the light-emitting element 212U and transmitted through the lens 214U.

[0029] The second surface 216US2 is the surface of the light-transmitting cover 216U that is located on the side opposite to the first surface 216US1 (see the middle part of FIG. 4). The second surface 216US2 emits the light L1U received by the first surface 216US1 toward the irradiated portion 100iU (see the upper part of FIG. 4 and the upper part of FIG. 1). In this specification, among the light LU emitted from the light-emitting element 212U and irradiating the irradiated portion 100iU, the light emitted from the second surface 216US2 of the light-transmitting cover 216U toward the irradiated portion 100iU is denoted as light L2U. The second surface 216US2, together with the surface of the central member 300 surrounding the light-transmitting cover 216U of the light-emitting portion 210U, constitutes a part of the outer surface of the steering device 1 (see the central part of the upper part of FIG. 1).

[0030] The light-transmitting cover 216U includes an inclined portion 216Ui and a plate portion 216Up (see the middle part of FIG. 4).

[0031] In the cross-section CS1, the inclined portion 216Ui is configured such that as it moves away from the irradiated portion 100iU along the second surface 216US2, the first surface 216US1 approaches the second surface 216US2 (see the right part of the middle part of FIG. 4 and the middle part of FIG. 3). In the cross-section CS1, the direction in which it moves away from the irradiated portion 100iU along the second surface 216US2 is shown as direction Dus2 in FIG. 4.

[0032] With such a configuration, the light L1U emitted from the light-emitting element 212U and passing through the inclined portion 216Ui of the light-transmitting cover 216U is refracted with respect to the traveling direction of the light L1U when it enters the light-transmitting cover 216U and when it is emitted from the light-transmitting cover 216U. As a result, the light LU emitted by the light-emitting element 212U is bent by the light-transmitting cover 216U with a direction component in the direction DPra of the rotation axis RA added thereto (see the upper part of FIG. 3). Therefore, by appropriately configuring the inclined portion 216Ui of the light-transmitting cover 216U, the light L2U can be emitted in an appropriate direction with respect to the irradiated portion 100iU where the dimension Dra in the direction of the rotation axis RA is smaller than the dimension DdrU in the rotation direction DR. As a result, the target site of the irradiated portion 100iU can be brightly irradiated.

[0033] Specifically, the light L2U emitted from the second surface 216US2 of the translucent cover 216U irradiates a part RUi on the side where the assumed position PA is located in the irradiated portion 100iU in the direction DPra of the rotation axis RA (see the upper part of FIG. 3). The light L2U emitted from the second surface 216US2 of the translucent cover 216U does not irradiate another part RUni on the side opposite to the side where the assumed position PA is located in the irradiated portion 100iU in the direction DPra of the rotation axis RA (see the left part of the upper part of FIG. 3).

[0034] With such a configuration, the light L2U emitted from the light emitting unit 210U can be concentrated on the part RUi in the irradiated portion 100iU that is easily visible to the driver, without irradiating the part RUni in the irradiated portion 100iU that is difficult to be visually recognized by the driver. As a result, the part visible to the driver can be efficiently illuminated by the light L2U emitted from the light emitting unit 210U.

[0035] Further, in the present embodiment, the function of the translucent cover 216U that adds the directional component in the direction DPra of the rotation axis RA to the incident light L2U is realized by the shape of the first surface 216US1 among the first surface 216US1 and the second surface 216US2. For this reason, the shape of the second surface 216US2 that constitutes a part of the outer surface of the steering device 1 can be formed into an arbitrary shape according to requirements other than the adjustment of the emission direction of the light L2U that irradiates the irradiated portion 100iU, for example, the design requirements of the steering device 1. The second surface 216US2 of the inclined portion 216Ui has a shape that is smoothly connected to the surface of the central member 300 that surrounds the translucent cover 216U of the light emitting unit 210U at its outer periphery. In this specification, "smoothly connected" means a differentiable shape.

[0036] The plate portion 216Up is arranged on the side where the irradiated portion 100iU is located with respect to the inclined portion 216Ui in the direction Dpra of the rotation axis RA in the cross section CS1 (see the middle left part of FIG. 4 and the upper left part of FIG. 3). In the plate portion 216Up, the distance between the first surface 216US1 and the second surface 216US2 is constant. Also in the plate portion 216Up, the second surface 216US2 has a shape that is smoothly connected to the surface of the central member 300 surrounding the light-transmitting cover 216U of the light-emitting portion 210U at its outer periphery. The first surface 216US1 has a shape such that the distance from the second surface 216US2 having such a shape is constant. Note that the distance between the first surface 216US1 and the second surface 216US2 is the distance from each point on the second surface 216US2 to the first surface 216US1 measured along the direction perpendicular to the second surface 216US2.

[0037] The light-transmitting cover 216U is arranged with respect to the light-emitting element 212U and the lens 214U so as to receive the light LU emitted from the light-emitting element 212U and having its optical axis ALU directed toward the irradiated portion 100iU at the first surface 216US1 included in the inclined portion 216Ui and the first surface 216US1 included in the plate portion 216Up (see the middle central part of FIG. 4).

[0038] With such a configuration, the light L2Up emitted from the light-emitting element 212U and transmitted through the plate portion 216Up of the light-transmitting cover 216U is emitted in a direction parallel to the direction when it enters the light-transmitting cover 216U. On the other hand, the light L2Ui emitted from the light-emitting element 212U and transmitted through the inclined portion 216Ui of the light-transmitting cover 216U is bent by adding a direction component approaching the light L2Up emitted from the plate portion 216Up. Therefore, by appropriately configuring the inclined portion 216Ui of the light-transmitting cover 216U, the light emitted from the plate portion 216Up and the light emitted from the inclined portion 216Ui overlap on the irradiated portion 100iU, and the light L2U can be irradiated onto the irradiated portion 100iU so that the brightness becomes stronger on the irradiated portion 100iU.

[0039] A3. Configuration and function of the light-emitting portion 210L: The light emitting units 210LR and 210LL emit light LL downward from the horizontal direction DH (see the lower part of FIG. 1). When the steering device 1 designates the front directly ahead as the traveling direction of the vehicle MV, the light emitting unit 210LR and the light emitting unit 210LL are arranged at symmetric positions with respect to the plane RS including the rotation axis RA and the vertical direction DV (see the central part of the lower part of FIG. 1). In this specification, when the light emitting units 210LR and 210LL are mentioned without distinction, they are denoted as the light emitting unit 210L. When the light LL emitted by the light emitting unit 210L and the light LU emitted by the light emitting unit 210U are mentioned without distinction, they are denoted as the light L.

[0040] Among the gripping parts 100, the parts irradiated with light by the light emitting units 210LR and 210LL are shown as the irradiated parts 100iL and 100iL in FIG. 1 (see the lower part of FIG. 1 and the lower part of FIG. 5). The irradiated parts 100iL and 100iL are located on both sides of the part of the gripping part 100 covered by the central member 300. When the steering device 1 designates the front directly ahead as the traveling direction of the vehicle, one of the irradiated parts 100iL and 100iL is an arc-shaped part located in an angular range of about 20 degrees centered on the 7 o'clock direction among the annular gripping parts 100 (see the left part of the lower part of FIG. 1). The other of the irradiated parts 100iL and 100iL is an arc-shaped part located in an angular range of about 20 degrees centered on the 5 o'clock direction among the annular gripping parts 100 (see the right part of the lower part of FIG. 1).

[0041] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 2. The V-V cross-section is a plane CS2 including the optical axis ALL of the light L1L received by the first surface 216LS1 of the light-transmitting cover 216L of the light emitting unit 210LR. The configuration of the light emitting unit 210LR will be described later. The light emitting unit 210LR will be described later.

[0042] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the light emitting unit 210L. The light emitting units 210LL and 210LR have the same configuration (see the central part in the middle row of FIG. 2 and the central part in the bottom row of FIG. 5). Therefore, hereinafter, the light emitting units 210LL and 210LR will be collectively referred to as the light emitting unit 210L, and their configuration will be described. The light emitting unit 210L includes a light emitting element 212L, a lens 214L, a light transmissive cover 216L, and a support part 218L.

[0043] The light emitting element 212L is an element that emits light LL (see the bottom row of FIG. 6). In this specification, among the light LL emitted from the light emitting element 212L and irradiating the irradiated part 100iL, the light that is emitted from the light emitting element 212L and enters the lens 214L is denoted as light L0L. The configuration and function of the light emitting element 212L are the same as those of the light emitting element 212U (see the bottom row of FIG. 4). In FIGS. 6 and 7, the central axis of the light L0L emitted by the light emitting element 212L is shown as the optical axis ALL. The optical axis ALL has a direction from the light emitting element 212L toward the irradiated part 100iL.

[0044] The lens 214L receives and emits the light L0L emitted by the light emitting element 212L (see the middle row of FIG. 6). The configuration and function of the lens 214L are the same as those of the lens 214U (see the middle row of FIG. 4). In this specification, among the light LL emitted from the light emitting element 212L and irradiating the irradiated part 100iL, the light that is emitted from the lens 214L and enters the light transmissive cover 216L is denoted as light L1L (see the middle row of FIG. 6). The lens 214L does not change the optical axis of the received light L0L. That is, the optical axis of the light L1L emitted by the lens 214L is the optical axis ALL.

[0045] The light L1L emitted by the lens 214L has a direction toward a range that does not include a part RLni on the side where the assumed position PA of the driver's head is located with respect to the direction Dpra of the rotation axis RA among the irradiated part 100iL (see the bottom row of FIG. 5). More specifically, the part RLni is a range of approximately 10 o'clock to 12 o'clock among the outer periphery of the cross-section of the substantially circular irradiated part 100iL in the cross-section CS2.

[0046] The support part 218L supports the light-emitting element 212L, the lens 214L, and the light-transmitting cover 216L (see the lower left part in the lower row of FIG. 6). The support part 218L fixes the relative positions of those components.

[0047] The light-transmitting cover 216L covers the light-emitting element 212L and the lens 214L (see the middle row of FIG. 6). That is, the light-transmitting cover 216L is arranged on the downstream side of the light-emitting element 212L and the lens 214L in the traveling direction of the light LL. The light-transmitting cover 216L transmits light. Specifically, the light-transmitting cover 216L is made of acrylic. The light-transmitting cover 216L includes a first surface 216LS1 and a second surface 216LS2.

[0048] The first surface 216LS1 receives the light LL emitted by the light-emitting element 212L (see the middle row of FIG. 6). More specifically, the light-transmitting cover 216L receives, at the first surface 216LS1, the light L1L that is emitted by the light-emitting element 212L and transmitted through the lens 214L.

[0049] The second surface 216LS2 is a surface that is located on the side opposite to the first surface 216LS1 in the light-transmitting cover 216L (see the middle row of FIG. 6). The second surface 216LS2 emits the light L1L received by the first surface 216LS1 toward the irradiated part 100iL (see the upper row of FIG. 6 and the lower row of FIG. 1). In this specification, among the light LL that is emitted from the light-emitting element 212L and irradiates the irradiated part 100iL, the light that is emitted from the second surface 216LS2 of the light-transmitting cover 216L toward the irradiated part 100iL is denoted as light L2L. A part of the second surface 216LS2 constitutes a part of the outer surface of the steering device 1 together with the surface of the central member 300 that surrounds the light-transmitting cover 216L of the light-emitting part 210L (see the central part in the lower row of FIG. 1).

[0050] The light-transmitting cover 216L includes an inclined part 216Li (see the middle row of FIG. 6). The light-transmitting cover 216L does not include a configuration corresponding to the plate part 216Up of the light-transmitting cover 216U (see the lower left part in the middle row of FIG. 4).

[0051] In the cross-section CS2, the inclined portion 216Li of the light-transmitting cover 216L is configured such that as it moves away from the irradiated portion 100iL along the second surface 216LS2, the first surface 216LS1 approaches the second surface 216LS2 (refer to the middle right portion of FIG. 6 and the lower portion of FIG. 5). In the cross-section CS2, the direction in which it moves away from the irradiated portion 100iL along the second surface 216LS2 is indicated as the direction Dls2 in FIG. 6.

[0052] The light L2L emitted from the second surface 216LS2 of the light-transmitting cover 216L irradiates a part RLni that would not be irradiated if the light L1L emitted by the lens 214L were emitted as it is (refer to the lower portion of FIG. 5). More specifically, the portion RLi irradiated by the light L2L emitted from the light-transmitting cover 216L is, in the cross-section CS2, in the range approximately from 10 o'clock to 3 o'clock of the outer periphery of the cross-section of the substantially circular irradiated portion 100iL.

[0053] In such a configuration, the light emitted from the light-emitting element 212L and transmitted through the inclined portion 216Li of the light-transmitting cover 216L has a direction component added thereto and is bent toward the irradiated portion 100iL. Therefore, by appropriately configuring the inclined portion 216Li of the light-transmitting cover 216L, the light L2L can be emitted in an appropriate direction with respect to the irradiated portion 100iL. That is, the light L2L emitted from the light-emitting portion 210U can be irradiated onto the portion RLi including the portion RLni that is easily visible to the driver among the irradiated portion 100iL. As a result, the portion visible to the driver can be efficiently illuminated by the light L2L emitted from the light-emitting portion 210L.

[0054] A4. Effects of the First Embodiment: According to this embodiment, the light LU and LL emitted from the light-emitting elements 212U and 212L and transmitted through the inclined portions 216Ui and 216Li of the translucent covers 216U and 216L are refracted with respect to the traveling directions of the light LU and LL when entering the translucent covers 216U and 216L and when exiting the translucent covers 216U and 216L, respectively (see FIGS. 4 and 6). As a result, the light LU and LL emitted from the light-emitting elements 212U and 212L are bent by adding the direction components in the directions Dus2 and Dls2 of the rotation axis RA by the translucent covers 216U and 216L (see the upper parts of FIGS. 4 and 6). Therefore, by appropriately configuring the inclined portions 216Ui and 216Li of the translucent covers 216U and 216L, the light LU and LL can be emitted in an appropriate direction with respect to the irradiated portions 100iU and 100iL where the dimension Dra in the direction of the rotation axis RA is smaller than the dimensions DdrU and DdrL in the rotation direction DR (see the upper part of FIG. 3 and the lower part of FIG. 5). As a result, the irradiated portions 100iU and 100iL can be brightly irradiated (see the upper and lower parts of FIG. 1).

[0055] Further, the inclined portions 216Ui and 216Li are configured such that the first surfaces 216US1 and 216LS1 approach the second surfaces 216US2 and 216LS2 as they move away from the irradiated portions 100iU and 100iL along the second surfaces 216US2 and 216LS2 (see the middle parts of FIGS. 4 and 6). That is, the function of the translucent covers 216U and 216L to add the direction component in the direction DPra of the rotation axis RA to the incident light LU and LL is realized by the shape of the first surfaces 216US1 and 216LS1 among the first surfaces 216US1 and 216LS1 and the second surfaces 216US2 and 216LS2 (see the middle parts of FIGS. 4 and 6). Therefore, the shapes of the second surfaces 216US2 and 216LS2 that form a part of the outer surface of the steering device 1 can be formed in an arbitrary shape according to requirements other than the emission directions of the light LU and LL that illuminate the irradiated portions 100iU and 100iL.

[0056] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the lenses 214U and 214L realize the function of condensing the light L0U and L0L emitted by the light-emitting elements 212U and 212L to increase the illuminance, and the translucent covers 216U and 216L realize the function of accurately determining the directions of the light L2U and L2L emitted toward the irradiated portions 100iU and 100iL. Therefore, by changing the configuration of the first surfaces 216US1 and 216LS1 of the translucent covers 216U and 216L according to the type of the vehicle MV, the irradiated portions 100iU and 100iL of the steering device 1 can be brightly illuminated for a plurality of types of vehicles MV without changing the configuration of the lenses 214U and 214L.

[0057] The vehicle MV in the present embodiment is also referred to as a "moving body". The irradiated portions 100iU and 100iL are also referred to as "peripheral portions".

[0058] B. Other Embodiments: B1. Other Embodiment 1: (1) In the above embodiment, the light-emitting unit 210U includes the lens 214U (see the middle row of FIG. 4). However, the light-emitting unit may include other optical elements such as a diffractive optical element instead of or together with the lens.

[0059] (2) In the above embodiment, the inclined portion 216Ui is configured such that in the cross-section CS1, as it moves away from the irradiated portion 100iU along the second surface 216US2, the first surface 216US1 approaches the second surface 216US2 (see the right part of the middle row of FIG. 4 and the middle row of FIG. 3). However, the inclined portion may be configured such that in a cross-section including the direction parallel to the rotation axis and the optical axis of the light received by the first surface, as it moves away from the irradiated portion as the peripheral portion along the second surface, the first surface moves away from the second surface.

[0060] Even in such a mode, the light emitted from the light-emitting element and transmitted through the inclined portion of the light-transmitting cover is refracted with respect to the traveling direction of the light when it enters the light-transmitting cover and when it is emitted from the light-transmitting cover. As a result, the light emitted from the light-emitting element is bent by the light-transmitting cover with a direction component in the direction of the rotation axis added thereto. Therefore, in a certain form of the steering device, by appropriately configuring the inclined portion of the light-transmitting cover, light can be emitted in an appropriate direction to the irradiated portion as a peripheral portion whose dimension in the direction of the rotation axis is smaller than the dimension in the direction of rotation. As a result, the peripheral portion can be brightly irradiated.

[0061] In the above embodiment, the light L1L emitted by the lens 214L is irradiated while being shifted toward the direction DRpa with respect to the gripping portion 100 (see the lower part of FIG. 5). On the other hand, in a mode in which the light emitted by the lens 214L is irradiated while being shifted to the side opposite to the direction DRpa with respect to the gripping portion 100, it is preferable to configure the inclined portion as described above. That is, it is preferable that the inclined portion is configured such that the first surface moves away from the second surface as it moves away from the irradiated portion. In such a mode, the direction of the light emitted by the lens 214L is changed so as to be directed toward the irradiated portion.

[0062] (3) In the above embodiment, the gripping portion 100 has an annular shape (see FIGS. 1 and 2). However, the gripping portion 100 may have a shape other than annular, such as a shape in which the left and right are independent.

[0063] B2. Other Embodiment 2: In the above embodiment, the light-transmitting cover 216U includes an inclined portion 216Ui and a plate portion 216Up (see the middle part of FIG. 4). However, the light-transmitting cover may be configured in a mode without a plate portion, such as the light-emitting portion 210L (see the middle part of FIG. 6).

[0064] B3. Other Embodiment 3: In the above embodiment, the light L2U emitted from the second surface 216US2 of the translucent cover 216U does not irradiate another part RUni on the side opposite to the side where the assumed position PA is located among the irradiated portions 100iU in the direction DPra of the rotation axis RA (see the central upper part of FIG. 3). However, the light L2U emitted from the second surface 216US2 of the translucent cover 216U may irradiate at least a part of the portion located on the side opposite to the side where the assumed position PA is located among the irradiated portions 100iU in the direction DPra of the rotation axis RA.

[0065] B4. Other Embodiment 4: In the above embodiment, the light L1L emitted by the lens 214L travels toward a range that does not include a part RLni on the side where the assumed position PA of the driver's head is located in the direction DPra of the rotation axis RA among the irradiated portions 100iL (see the lower part of FIG. 5). The portion RLni is approximately in the range from about 10 o'clock to 12 o'clock among the outer periphery of the cross-section of the substantially circular irradiated portion 100iL in the cross-section CS2.

[0066] However, the light L1L emitted by the lens 214L may travel toward a range that does not include other parts, such as a range from about 2 o'clock to 3 o'clock among the outer periphery of the cross-section of the substantially circular irradiated portion 100iL. Further, the light L1L may travel toward a range that includes the entire substantially circular irradiated portion 100iL.

[0067] B5. Other Embodiment 5: In the above embodiment, the light-emitting portion 210U includes the lens 214U. However, the light-emitting portion may be configured not to include a lens. That is, the light received by the first surface of the translucent cover may be received directly from the light-emitting element by the translucent cover, or may be received via other components such as a lens.

[0068] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the technical features of the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each of the forms described in the summary of the invention can be appropriately replaced or combined in order to solve some or all of the above-described problems or to achieve some or all of the above-described effects. Further, if the technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be appropriately deleted.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0069] 1... Steering device, 100... Gripping part, 100iL... Irradiated part, 100iU... Irradiated part, 200... Rotating part, 210L... Light emitting part, 210LL... Light emitting part, 210LR... Light emitting part, 210U... Light emitting part, 210UL... Light emitting part, 210UR... Light emitting part, 212L... Light emitting element, 212U... Light emitting element, 214L... Lens, 214U... Lens, 216L... Translucent cover, 216LS1... First surface, 216LS2... Second surface, 216Li... Inclined part, 216U... Translucent cover, 216US1... First surface, 216US2... Second surface, 216Ui... Inclined part, 216Up... Plate part, 218L... Support part, 218U... Support part, 300... Central member, 400... Mounting member, ALL... Optical axis, ALU... Optical axis, CS1... Cross section, CS2... Cross section, DPra... Direction parallel to the rotation axis, DH... Horizontal direction, DR... Rotation direction, DV... Vertical direction, DdrL... Dimension of the irradiated part in the rotation direction, DdrU... Dimension of the irradiated part in the rotation direction, Dls2... Direction away from the irradiated part 100iL along the second surface 216LS2, Dra... Dimension in the direction of the rotation axis RA, Dus2... Direction away from the irradiated part 100iU along the second surface 216US2, L0L... Light, L0U... Light, L1L... Light, L1U... Light, L2L... Light, L2U... Light, L2Ui... Light, L2Up... Light, LL... Light, LU... Light, MV... Vehicle, PA... Assumed position of the head, RA... Rotation axis, RLi... Part irradiated by the light L2L, RLni... Part that should not be irradiated by the light L1L and is irradiated by the light L2L, RS... Plane including the rotation axis RA and the vertical direction DV, RUi... Part that should be irradiated by the light L1U, RUni... Part that should be irradiated by the light L1U and is irradiated by the light L2U, θLra... Pointing angle of the light L2U, θdr... Pointing angle of the light L0U, θra... Angle of the light L0U received by the lens 214U

Claims

1. A steering device for a moving body, comprising: a rotating part provided on the moving body so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis; a peripheral part connected to the rotating part, arranged at a position farther from the rotation axis than the rotating part, and having a dimension in the direction of the rotation axis smaller than a dimension in the direction of rotation; a light emitting part provided on the rotating part; The light emitting part includes: a light emitting element that emits light; a light transmitting cover that covers the light emitting element and transmits light; The light transmitting cover includes: a first surface that receives the light emitted by the light emitting element; a second surface that is on the side opposite to the first surface, forms a part of the outer surface of the steering device, and emits the light received by the first surface toward the peripheral part; The light transmitting cover includes: an inclined part, in a cross section including a direction parallel to the rotation axis and an optical axis of the light received by the first surface, configured such that the first surface approaches the second surface as it moves away from the peripheral part along the second surface, or configured such that the first surface moves away from the second surface as it moves away from the peripheral part along the second surface.

2. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein: The light transmitting cover includes: a plate part arranged on the side where the peripheral part is located with respect to the inclined part in the direction of the rotation axis in the cross section, and having a constant distance between the first surface and the second surface; The inclined part is configured such that the first surface approaches the second surface as it moves away from the peripheral part along the second surface in the cross section; The light transmitting cover is arranged with respect to the light emitting element such that the first surface included in the inclined part and the first surface included in the plate part receive the light emitted from the light emitting element and having an optical axis directed toward the peripheral part.

3. The steering device according to claim 2, wherein: The light received by the first surface is directed toward a range including a part of the peripheral part on the side where the assumed position of the driver's head of the moving body is located in the direction of the rotation axis and another part of the peripheral part on the side opposite to the side where the assumed position is located; The light emitted from the second surface is configured to irradiate the part and not irradiate the other part.

4. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein: In the cross section, the inclined portion is configured such that the first surface approaches the second surface as it moves away from the peripheral portion along the second surface. The steering device is configured such that light received by the first surface is directed toward a range that does not include a part of the peripheral portion on the side where the assumed position of the head of the driver of the moving body is located in the direction of the rotation axis, and light emitted from the second surface irradiates the part. A steering device. **Claim 5** A steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the light emitting unit is a lens that receives and emits light emitted by the light emitting element, and includes a lens that narrows the divergence angle of the light emitted by the light emitting element, and the light transmitting cover receives, on the first surface, light emitted by the light emitting element and transmitted through the lens. A steering device.

Images