Light emission emblem

Abstract

To reduce the number of light sources.SOLUTION: A light emission emblem 10 includes: a light source 14; a light guide 16 to which light radiated from the light source 14 is guided; and an outer lens 18 in which light radiated from the light guide 16 penetrates therethrough to cause light emission. The light guide 16 is provided with: a first reflection surface S1 on which light from the light source 14 penetrating through an inner periphery part 18B of the outer lens 18 through an inner periphery part of the light guide 16 reflects; and a second reflection surface S2 which is provided at a position different from a position of the first reflection surface S1 and on which the light from the light source penetrating through an outer periphery part 18A of the outer lens 18 through an outer periphery part of the light guide 16 reflects. Further, the first reflection surface S1 and the second reflection surface S2 are provided on a taper surface 16E.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a luminous emblem. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses an emblem (badge) mounted on the front of a vehicle. The emblem described in this document includes a visible portion having a sign, a plurality of first LED light sources configured to emit light toward the visible portion, a light guide extending between the visible portion and the first LED light sources, and a plurality of second LED light sources configured to emit light toward the visible portion. Here, the first LED light sources illuminate a first region of the visible portion, and the second LED light sources illuminate a second region of the visible portion. The first LED light sources are also positioned below the sign and configured to emit light through the sign when illuminated. In this way, the lighting resulting from the use of multiple light sources can provide a unique and attractive viewing experience.

[0003] Incidentally, from the standpoint of making the emblem thinner and making effective use of the space within the emblem, it is desirable to be able to reduce the number of light sources such as LEDs, but the configuration described in Patent Document 1 below leaves room for improvement in this regard. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0043709 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting emblem that can reduce the number of light sources. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The luminous emblem of the first aspect comprises a light source, a light guide through which light emitted from the light source is guided, and an outer lens that emits light when the light emitted from the light guide passes through it. The light guide is provided with a first reflective surface that reflects light from the light source that passes through the inner periphery of the outer lens through the inner periphery of the light guide, and a second reflective surface that is provided at a position different from the first reflective surface and reflects light from the light source that passes through the outer periphery of the outer lens through the outer periphery of the light guide. The light guide is provided with a tapered surface that narrows as it approaches the light source, with a part of the tapered surface being the first reflective surface and another part of the tapered surface being the second reflective surface.

[0007] The luminous emblem of the second aspect is the luminous emblem of the first aspect, in which a mask is provided between the outer lens and the light guide to prevent light from passing through from a second range different from the first range in the outer lens, and a portion of the light guide facing the first range is provided with an uneven portion that reflects light reflected by the first reflective surface toward the outer lens.

[0008] The luminous emblem according to a third aspect is the luminous emblem according to the first or second aspect, wherein light from a single light source is guided to the light guide.

[0009] The luminous emblem according to a fourth aspect is the luminous emblem of the third aspect, wherein the light source is arranged at a position corresponding to the centroid of the outer lens when viewed from the outer lens side.

[0010] The luminous emblem of the fifth aspect is the luminous emblem of the fourth aspect, in which a mask is provided between the outer lens and the light guide to prevent light from passing through a second range different from the first range on the outer lens, and the light source is positioned at a position corresponding to the second range when viewed from the outer lens side. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] In the luminous emblem according to the first aspect, light emitted from the light source is guided to the light guide. A portion of the light from the light source guided to the light guide is reflected by the first reflecting surface and passes through the inner periphery of the outer lens via the inner periphery of the light guide. Another portion of the light from the light source guided to the light guide is reflected by the second reflecting surface and passes through the outer periphery of the outer lens via the outer periphery of the light guide. This configuration eliminates the need to provide separate light sources for obtaining light to illuminate the inner periphery of the outer lens and light sources for obtaining light to illuminate the outer periphery of the outer lens. As a result, the number of light sources can be reduced. In the luminous emblem according to the first aspect, light emitted from the light source is guided to the light guide. A portion of the light from the light source guided to the light guide is reflected by the first reflecting surface of the tapered surface of the light guide and passes through the inner periphery of the light guide and passes through the inner periphery of the outer lens. Furthermore, another portion of the light from the light source guided into the light guide is reflected by a second reflecting surface of the tapered surface of the light guide and passes through the outer periphery of the outer lens. This configuration eliminates the need to provide separate light sources for obtaining light to illuminate the inner periphery of the outer lens and light sources for obtaining light to illuminate the outer periphery of the outer lens. As a result, the number of light sources can be reduced.

[0012] In the luminous emblem according to the second aspect, a mask is provided between the outer lens and the light guide to prevent light from passing through a second area of the outer lens that is different from the first area. The light guide has a portion facing the first area that is provided with an uneven portion that reflects light reflected by the first reflective surface toward the outer lens. This configuration can prevent uneven brightness in the light passing through the first area of the outer lens compared to a configuration in which the light guide does not have an uneven portion facing the first area.

[0013] In the luminous emblem according to the third aspect, both the inner periphery of the outer lens and the outer periphery of the outer lens can be illuminated by a single light source.

[0014] In the illuminating emblem according to the fourth aspect, the light source is positioned at a position corresponding to the centroid of the outer lens when viewed from the outer lens side. This configuration can suppress uneven brightness in the light that passes through positions on the outer lens far from the light source, compared to configurations in which the light source is positioned at a different position.

[0015] In the luminous emblem according to the fifth aspect, a mask is provided between the outer lens and the light guide to block the transmission of light from a second range on the outer lens that is different from the first range. Furthermore, a light source is positioned at a position corresponding to the second range when viewed from the outer lens side. This configuration prevents the light from the light source from being directly visible from the outer lens side. In other words, it prevents the area corresponding to the light source from appearing to glow brightly when viewed from the outer lens side. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the light-emitting emblem of the present embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the issuing emblem taken along line 2-2 shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a tapered recess formed in a light guide main body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] FIG. 1 shows the light-emitting emblem 10 of this embodiment. As shown in this figure, in the light-emitting emblem 10 of this embodiment, light passing through the outer peripheral portion 18A of the outer lens 18 (described later) is emitted to draw an elliptical ring shape, and light passing through the inner peripheral portion 18B of the outer lens 18 is emitted to draw the letters "TR." Note that the arrows FR and UP shown in the figure indicate the front and upper sides, respectively, of the light-emitting emblem 10. Also, the arrows RH and LH shown in the figure indicate the right and left sides, respectively, of the light-emitting emblem 10. Hereinafter, when the terms "front-rear," "up-down," and "left-right" are used in explanations, these terms refer to the front-rear direction of the light-emitting emblem 10, the up-down direction of the light-emitting emblem 10, and the left-right direction of the light-emitting emblem 10, unless otherwise specified.

[0018] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the luminous emblem 10 comprises a housing 12, a single light source 14 and a light guide 16 provided within the housing 12, an outer lens 18 attached to the housing 12, and a mask 20 formed on the outer lens 18.

[0019] The housing 12 is formed in a box shape using a resin material with an open front side, and includes a bottom wall 12A extending in the up-down and left-right directions with the thickness direction being the front-to-rear direction, and a side wall 12B extending forward from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall 12A.

[0020] The light source 14 is, for example, an LED that emits light when powered on, and is attached to a substrate 22. The substrate 22 is fixed to the housing 12, and the light source 14 is supported by the housing 12.

[0021] The light guide 16 is formed, for example, using a transparent resin material and guides light emitted from the light source 14. The light guide 16 includes a light guide main body 16A formed in a plate shape with its front-rear and thickness directions. The outer edge of the light guide main body 16A, as viewed from the front, is elliptical. The outer peripheral surface of the light guide main body 16A forms an inclined surface 16B that slopes toward the opposite side from the center of the light guide main body 16A (the centroid when viewed from the front) as it approaches the front. A concave-convex portion 16C is formed in a predetermined area on the rear surface of the light guide main body 16A, functioning as a reflective step that reflects light from the light source 14 forward. The concave-convex portion 16C is formed by slits, depressions, protrusions, recesses, etc., spaced apart in the left-right and front-rear directions. In this embodiment, the concave-convex portion 16C is shaped to form the letters "TR" when viewed from the front. A tapered recess 16D, which is open toward the front, is formed at the center of the light guide main body 16A (the centroid when viewed from the front side, which is an extension of the light source 14). The inner peripheral surface of this tapered recess 16D forms a tapered surface 16E that narrows in a funnel shape from the front side to the rear side. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rear side of the tapered surface 16E is a first reflecting surface S1. The angle between this first reflecting surface S1 and the front-to-rear direction is θ1°. The front side of the tapered surface 16E is a second reflecting surface S2. The angle between this second reflecting surface S2 and the front-to-rear direction is θ2°, which is larger than θ1°. Note that in FIG. 3, the difference between the angle θ1° between the first reflecting surface S1 and the front-to-rear direction and the angle θ2° between the second reflecting surface S2 and the front-to-rear direction is exaggerated. The area of the first reflecting surface S1 is different from the area of the second reflecting surface S2. Specifically, in this embodiment, the area of the first reflecting surface S1 is larger than the area of the second reflecting surface S2.

[0022] 2, the light guide 16 has a central protrusion 16F that protrudes rearward from the center (centroid when viewed from the front) of the light guide main body 16A. A light source mounting recess 16G that is recessed forward is formed at the tip end of the central protrusion 16F in the protruding direction. The light source 14 is arranged in the light source mounting recess 16G.

[0023] The light guide 16 described above is supported by the housing 12 on the front side of the light source 14 .

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the outer lens 18 is formed, for example, using a transparent resin material, and is configured to emit light within a predetermined range by transmitting light irradiated from the light guide 16. The outer lens 18 is formed in a plate shape with a longitudinal and thickness direction, and is gently curved forward as it approaches the center of the outer lens 18 (the centroid when viewed from the front). The outer edge of the outer lens 18, as viewed from the front, is elliptical, corresponding to the light guide main body 16A. The outer peripheral end of the outer lens 18 is fixed to the front end of the side wall 12B of the housing 12. This closes the open end of the housing 12 with the outer lens 18. When viewed from the front, the light source 14 is positioned corresponding to the centroid of the outer lens 18.

[0025] The mask 20 is a light-shielding layer provided between the outer lens 18 and the light guide 16 to block the transmission of light from areas other than a predetermined area of the outer lens 18. In this embodiment, the mask 20 is formed along the rear surface of the outer lens 18. In this embodiment, the mask 20 is provided in an area different from the light-emitting portions of the outer lens 18 (the portions that emit light to form the letters "TR" on the outer peripheral portion 18A and the inner peripheral portion 18B of the outer lens 18). The letters "TR" formed by the mask 20 and the letters "TR" formed by the aforementioned uneven portion 16C are configured to overlap in the front-to-rear direction. Furthermore, the area of the letters "TR" formed by the uneven portion 16C when viewed from the front is larger than the area of the letters "TR" formed by the mask 20 when viewed from the front. In other words, the size of the letters "TR" formed by the uneven portion 16C is larger than the size of the letters "TR" formed by the mask 20. When the outer lens 18 is viewed from the front side, the light source 14 is disposed at a position where it is hidden by the mask 20 .

[0026] (Actions and Effects of This Embodiment) Next, the operation and effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the light emitting emblem 10 of this embodiment described above, light emitted from the light source 14 is guided from the central protrusion 16F of the light guide 16 to the light guide main body 16A.

[0028] A portion of the light from the light source 14 guided into the light guide main body 16A is reflected by the first reflecting surface S1 of the tapered surface 16E of the tapered recess 16D and reaches the uneven portion 16C provided on the inner periphery of the light guide main body 16A. Most of the light that reaches the uneven portion 16C is reflected forward and passes through a portion of the inner periphery 18B of the outer lens 18 where the mask 20 is not formed. This causes the inner periphery 18B of the outer lens 18 to emit light in a manner that writes the letters "TR."

[0029] Another portion of the light from light source 14 guided into light guide body 16A is reflected by second reflecting surface S2 of tapered surface 16E of tapered recess 16D and reaches inclined surface 16B on the outer periphery of light guide body 16A. Most of the light that reaches inclined surface 16B is reflected forward and passes through a portion of outer periphery 18A of outer lens 18 where mask 20 is not formed. As a result, outer periphery 18A of outer lens 18 emits light in an elliptical ring shape.

[0030] As described above, the illuminating emblem 10 of this embodiment does not require separate light sources 14 for obtaining light to illuminate the inner peripheral portion 18B of the outer lens 18 and light sources for obtaining light to illuminate the outer peripheral portion 18A of the outer lens 18. As a result, the number of light sources 14 can be reduced. In particular, in this embodiment, a single light source 14 can illuminate both the inner peripheral portion 18B of the outer lens 18 and the outer peripheral portion 18A of the outer lens 18. There is a correlation between the areas of the first reflecting surface S1 and the second reflecting surface S2 and the areas of the illuminated portions of the inner peripheral portion 18B of the outer lens 18 and the outer peripheral portion 18A of the outer lens 18.

[0031] Furthermore, in this embodiment, by employing the light guide 16 configured as described above, it is possible to allow the light from the light source 14 to reach a predetermined range of the outer lens 18. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a member for diffusing the light from the light source 14, such as a diffusion lens, between the outer lens 18 and the light guide 16. As a result, it is possible to achieve a reduction in the thickness of the luminous emblem 10 in the front-to-rear direction.

[0032] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the light guide main body 16A is formed with an uneven portion 16C that reflects the light reflected by the first reflecting surface S1 toward the outer lens 18. In this configuration, compared to a configuration in which the uneven portion 16C is not formed in the light guide main body 16A, it is possible to suppress uneven brightness in the portion of the outer lens 18 that emits light to form the letters "TR."

[0033] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when viewed from the outer lens 18 side, the light source 14 is disposed at a position corresponding to the centroid of the outer lens 18. In this configuration, compared to a configuration in which the light source 14 is disposed at a position different from the above-mentioned position, it is possible to suppress uneven brightness in the light that passes through a position in the outer lens 18 that is distant from the light source 14.

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the light source 14 is disposed at a position where it is hidden by the mask 20 when viewed from the outer lens 18 side. This configuration can prevent the light from the light source 14 from being directly visible from the outer lens 18 side. In other words, it can prevent the portion corresponding to the light source 14 from appearing to glow strongly when viewed from the outer lens 18 side.

[0035] In this embodiment, an example has been described in which the light source 14 is disposed in a position hidden by the mask 20 when viewed from the outer lens 18 side, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if it is desired to make a part of the outer lens 18 shine brightly, a configuration may be adopted in which the light source 14 is disposed in a position not hidden by the mask 20 when viewed from the outer lens 18 side.

[0036] In addition, in this embodiment, an example has been described in which the light source 14 is disposed at a position corresponding to the centroid of the outer lens 18 when viewed from the outer lens 18 side, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if it is desired to provide a gradation in the light emitted from the outer lens 18, a configuration may be adopted in which the light source 14 is disposed at a position different from the position corresponding to the centroid of the outer lens 18 when viewed from the outer lens 18 side.

[0037] In addition, in the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the light guide main body 16A is provided with the uneven portion 16C that reflects the light reflected by the first reflecting surface S1 toward the outer lens 18, but the present invention is not limited to this. Whether or not to provide the uneven portion 16C on the light guide main body 16A can be determined appropriately taking into consideration the allowable brightness unevenness, etc.

[0038] In addition, in the present embodiment, an example has been described in which a single light source 14 is used to illuminate both the inner peripheral portion 18B of the outer lens 18 and the outer peripheral portion 18A of the outer lens 18, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a configuration in which a plurality of light sources 14 are arranged in a concentrated manner may also be employed.

[0039] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example in which the first reflecting surface S1 and the second reflecting surface S2 are provided as described above has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The area and angle of the first reflecting surface S1 and the area and angle of the second reflecting surface S2 may be set appropriately taking into consideration the design formed by the light irradiated from the outer lens 18. Furthermore, depending on the design formed by the light irradiated from the outer lens 18, a configuration in which three or more first reflecting surfaces S1 and second reflecting surfaces S2 are provided may also be used.

[0040] The above describes one embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that it can be implemented in various other modified forms within the scope of the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 10 Luminous Emblem 14 Light source 16 Light Guide 16C Uneven shaped part 16E tapered surface 18 Outer Lens S1 First reflecting surface S2 Second reflecting surface 20 Mask

Claims

1. A light source and a light guide through which light emitted from the light source is guided; an outer lens that emits light when light emitted from the light guide passes through it; Equipped with the light guide is provided with a first reflecting surface that reflects light from the light source that passes through the inner peripheral part of the light guide and through the inner peripheral part of the outer lens, and a second reflecting surface that is provided at a position different from the first reflecting surface and that reflects light from the light source that passes through the outer peripheral part of the outer lens through the outer peripheral part of the light guide, The light guide is provided with a tapered surface that narrows toward the light source, A part of the tapered surface serves as the first reflecting surface, and another part of the tapered surface serves as the second reflecting surface.

2. a mask is provided between the outer lens and the light guide to disable transmission of light from a second range of the outer lens, the second range being different from the first range; An illuminating emblem as described in claim 1, wherein the portion of the light guide facing the first range has an uneven portion that reflects light reflected by the first reflecting surface toward the outer lens side.

3. The luminous emblem according to claim 1 , wherein the light guide guides light from the single light source.

4. 4. The luminous emblem according to claim 3, wherein the light source is disposed at a position corresponding to the centroid of the outer lens when viewed from the outer lens side.

5. a mask is provided between the outer lens and the light guide to disable transmission of light from a second range of the outer lens, the second range being different from the first range; 5. The luminous emblem according to claim 4, wherein the light source is disposed at a position corresponding to the second range when viewed from the outer lens side.

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