Road surface marking device

Abstract

A road surface drawing device suitable for drawing road surfaces is provided. [Solution] The vehicle comprises a plurality of light sources 2a, 2b, 2c, a plurality of lens bodies 3a, 3b, 3c arranged opposite each of the plurality of light sources 2a, 2b, 2c, and a circuit board 4 on which the plurality of light sources 2a, 2b, 2c are mounted, the plurality of light sources 2a, 2b, 2c being arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction on the same surface of the circuit board 4, and the plurality of lens bodies 3a, 3b, 3c being arranged so that the distances D1, D2, D3 between them and each of the plurality of light sources 2a, 2b, 2c become successively smaller from one side to the other in the vehicle width direction, and by projecting light L1, L2, L3 emitted from the plurality of light sources 2a, 2b, 2c onto the road surface T by the plurality of lens bodies 3a, 3b, 3c, a plurality of drawing patterns P1, P2, P3 are drawn side by side in a direction along the optical axis AX1 of light L1 emitted from the light source 2a located furthest to one side in the vehicle width direction when the road surface T is viewed in a plane.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a road surface drawing device. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, some vehicles are equipped with a road surface drawing device that draws road surface images by projecting light onto the road surface in order to improve driving safety (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

[0003] Specifically, Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a road surface painting device configured to form a road surface painting pattern to be painted on a road surface, the road surface painting device comprising: a first light source unit having a first light source and a first optical component that refracts or reflects light emitted from the first light source; a second light source unit having a second optical component that refracts or reflects light emitted from the second light source; and a projection lens that projects the light emitted from the first light source and transmitted through the first optical component and the light emitted from the second light source and transmitted through the second optical component forward of the road surface painting device to form the road surface painting pattern, wherein a first area illuminated by the first light source unit is located farther from the road surface painting device than a second area illuminated by the second light source unit, and the first optical component and the second optical component are configured so that the equivalent light-emitting area when the light emitted from the first light source is incident on the projection lens is smaller than the equivalent light-emitting area when the light emitted from the second light source is incident on the projection lens. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2022 / 168543 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the invention described in Patent Document 1, the first light source unit and the second light source unit are arranged vertically together with the projection lens. This configuration results in a large vertical dimension. Furthermore, because the relationship between each lens and the light source is determined by optical conditions, reducing the vertical dimension to suit the design sacrifices optical performance.

[0006] The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and has as its object to provide a road surface drawing device suitable for drawing road surfaces. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following means. [1] A road surface drawing device that is mounted on a vehicle and draws a road surface from the vehicle toward the road surface, Multiple light sources; a plurality of lens bodies disposed opposite the plurality of light sources, a circuit board on which the plurality of light sources are mounted, the plurality of light sources are arranged side by side in the width direction of the vehicle on the same surface of the circuit board, the plurality of lens bodies are arranged such that the distances between the lens bodies and the plurality of light sources become gradually smaller from one side to the other side in a width direction of the vehicle, By projecting the light emitted from the plurality of light sources onto the road surface by the plurality of lens bodies, a plurality of drawing patterns corresponding to the plurality of light sources are drawn side by side on the road surface, and a road surface drawing device characterized in that the plurality of drawing patterns are drawn in a line along the optical axis of light emitted from a light source located on the furthest side in the width direction of the vehicle when the road surface is viewed in a plane; [2] The road surface drawing device described in [1], characterized in that, among the plurality of drawing patterns, a drawing pattern corresponding to a light source located on one side of the vehicle in the width direction is drawn farther away in the direction in which the plurality of drawing patterns are arranged than a drawing pattern corresponding to a light source located on the other side of the vehicle in the width direction. [3] The road surface drawing device according to [1], wherein the circuit board is disposed in a state of being tilted forward with respect to the road surface. [4] The road surface drawing device described in [1], characterized in that the optical axis of the light emitted from the light source located on the furthest side in the width direction of the vehicle and the optical axis of the light projected by the lens body facing the light source extend in the same direction. [5] The road surface drawing device described in [1], characterized in that the outer shapes of the plurality of lens bodies become relatively larger as the distance between them and the light source increases, so that the incident surface onto which light emitted from the light source is incident becomes larger. [6] The road surface drawing device according to [1], wherein the plurality of lens bodies are integrally configured. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] As described above, according to the present invention, a road surface drawing device suitable for drawing road surfaces is provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view showing a state in which a plurality of drawing patterns are drawn on a road surface behind a vehicle using a road surface drawing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the road surface drawing device shown in FIG. [Figure 3] A cross-sectional view of the first, second and third drawing units of the road surface drawing device taken along line AA shown in Figure 2, and a plan view schematically showing multiple drawing patterns drawn on the road surface by the first, second and third drawing units. [Figure 4](A) A cross-sectional view of the first drawing unit of the road surface drawing device along line segment BB shown in Figure 2, (B) a cross-sectional view of the second drawing unit of the road surface drawing device along line segment CC shown in Figure 2, and (C) a cross-sectional view of the third drawing unit of the road surface drawing device along line segment DD shown in Figure 2. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which a plurality of drawing patterns are drawn on the road surface ahead of the vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings used in the following description, the dimensions of the components may be shown at different scales to make them easier to see, and the dimensional ratios of the components may not necessarily be the same as in reality.

[0011] In addition, in the drawings shown below, an XYZ Cartesian coordinate system is set up, with the X-axis direction representing the fore-and-aft direction (length direction) of vehicle B, the Y-axis direction representing the left-and-right direction (width direction) of vehicle B, and the Z-axis direction representing the up-and-down direction (height direction) of vehicle B.

[0012] As an embodiment of the present invention, a road surface drawing device 1 shown in, for example, FIGS. 1 to 4 will be described. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state in which a plurality of drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3 are drawn on a road surface T behind a vehicle B using a road surface drawing device 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the road surface drawing device 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the first, second, and third drawing units 11, 12, and 13 of the road surface drawing device 1 along line segment AA shown in FIG. 2, and a plan view schematically showing a plurality of drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3 drawn on the road surface T by the first, second, and third drawing units 11, 12, and 13. FIG. 4(A) is a cross-sectional view of the first drawing unit 11 along line segment BB shown in FIG. 2 of the road surface drawing device 1. FIG. 4(B) is a cross-sectional view of the second drawing unit 12 along line segment CC shown in FIG. 2 of the road surface drawing device 1. FIG. 4(C) is a cross-sectional view of the third drawing unit 13 along line segment DD shown in FIG. 2 of the road surface drawing device 1.

[0013] The road surface drawing device 1 of this embodiment is arranged inside the rear combination lamp RCL mounted on both corners of the rear end of the vehicle B, as shown in Figure 1, and as part of the backup lamp, when the vehicle B is reversing, projects multiple (three in this embodiment) lights L1, L2, L3 toward the road surface T behind the vehicle B, thereby drawing multiple (three in this embodiment) drawing patterns P1, P2, P3 lined up in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle B on the road surface T.

[0014] Specifically, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, this road surface drawing device 1 has multiple (three in this embodiment) light sources 2a, 2b, 2c, and multiple (three in this embodiment) lens bodies 3a, 3b, 3c arranged opposite each of the multiple light sources 2a, 2b, 2c.

[0015] The road surface drawing device 1 of this embodiment is equipped with multiple (three in this embodiment) drawing units 11, 12, 13 that project light L1, L2, L3 emitted from each light source 2a, 2b, 2c onto the road surface T behind the vehicle B using each lens body 3a, 3b, 3c, and has a configuration in which these multiple drawing units 11, 12, 13 are arranged in a line in the width direction of the vehicle B (hereinafter referred to as the "vehicle width direction").

[0016] In this embodiment, of these three drawing units 11, 12, and 13, the one located on the farthest side in the vehicle width direction (left side in Figure 2) is referred to as the first drawing unit 11, the one located in the middle in the vehicle width direction (middle in Figure 2) is referred to as the second drawing unit 12, and the one located on the farthest side in the vehicle width direction (right side in Figure 2) is referred to as the third drawing unit 13.

[0017] Therefore, the first drawing unit 11 is configured to include a light source 2a and a lens body 3a located on one side in the vehicle width direction, the second drawing unit 12 is configured to include a light source 2b and a lens body 3b located in the middle in the vehicle width direction, and the third drawing unit 13 is configured to include a light source 2c and a lens body 3c located on the other side in the vehicle width direction.

[0018] The light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c are light-emitting elements such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit white light and laser diodes (LDs). The light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c are mounted on one surface (front surface) of the circuit board 4 and are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction on the same surface of the circuit board 4.

[0019] The circuit board 4 is disposed in a state inclined forward with respect to the road surface T. As a result, the light sources 2a, 2b, 2c emit light beams L1, L2, L3 radially obliquely downward in front of them (rear of the vehicle B). The circuit board 4 is held by a bracket 50 disposed on the rear side thereof.

[0020] The multiple lens bodies 3a, 3b, 3c are made of a light-transmitting material such as a transparent resin such as polycarbonate or acrylic, or glass. The road surface drawing device 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a lens member 5 in which the multiple lens bodies 3a, 3b, 3c are integrally formed, and this lens member 5 is disposed opposite the front side of the circuit board 4. The lens member 5 is attached to a bracket 50 by screws or the like.

[0021] The plurality of lens bodies 3a, 3b, and 3c are not necessarily limited to being integrally formed by the lens member 5 described above, but may also be configured to be arranged separately.

[0022] The plurality of lens bodies 3a, 3b, 3c are arranged so that the distances D1, D2, D3 between the lens bodies 3a, 3b, 3c and the light sources 2a, 2b, 2c become gradually smaller from one side to the other side in the vehicle width direction.

[0023] Specifically, in this embodiment, when the opposing distance between the light source 2a located at the farthest side in the vehicle width direction and the lens body 3a is T1, the opposing distance between the light source 2b located at the middle in the vehicle width direction and the lens body 3b is T2, and the opposing distance between the light source 2c located at the farthest side in the vehicle width direction and the lens body 3c is T3, D1>D2>D3 holds.

[0024] Each of the lens bodies 3a, 3b, and 3c is formed of a convex lens whose distances D1, D2, and D3 are adjusted so that the rear focal point of each lens body 3a, 3b, and 3c coincides with the light emitting point of each of the light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c.

[0025] Specifically, each lens body 3a, 3b, 3c has a flat incident surface 41 located on the side facing each light source 2a, 2b, 2c, and a convexly curved exit surface 42 located on the opposite side from this incident surface 41.

[0026] Each lens body 3a, 3b, 3c receives light L1, L2, L3 radially emitted from each light source 2a, 2b, 2c through its respective entrance surface 41, and then emits the light L1, L2, L3 to the outside through its respective exit surface 42 while concentrating (parallelizing) the light so that it is parallel to the optical axes AX1, AX2, AX3 of the light L1, L2, L3 emitted from each light source 2a, 2b, 2c.

[0027] Furthermore, the outer shapes of the plurality of lens bodies 3a, 3b, 3c are relatively larger so that the larger the intervals D1, D2, D3 between the lens bodies 3a, 3b, 3c and the light sources 2a, 2b, 2c, the larger the incident surface 41 onto which the light L1, L2, L3 emitted from the light sources 2a, 2b, 2c enters. As a result, the larger the intervals D1, D2, D3 between the lens bodies 3a, 3b, 3c and the light sources 2a, 2b, 2c, the larger the amount of incident light L1, L2, L3 emitted from the light sources 2a, 2b, 2c, and the further away the light L1, L2, L3 from the light sources 2a, 2b, 2c can be projected.

[0028] In the road surface drawing device 1 of this embodiment, in the first drawing unit 11, the optical axis AX1 of the light L1 emitted from the light source 2a located on the furthest side in the vehicle width direction and the optical axis BX1 of the light L1 projected from the lens body 3a facing this light source 2a extend in the same direction in the XY cross section shown in Figure 3 and the XZ cross section shown in Figure 4(A).

[0029] On the other hand, in the second drawing unit 12, the optical axis AX2 of the light L2 emitted from the light source 2b located in the middle in the vehicle width direction is inclined toward one side in the vehicle width direction in the XY cross section shown in Figure 3, and is inclined diagonally downward in the XZ cross section shown in Figure 4(B).

[0030] On the other hand, in the third drawing unit 13, the optical axis AX3 of the light L3 emitted from the light source 2b located at the other end of the vehicle width direction is inclined toward one side in the vehicle width direction in the XY cross section shown in Figure 3, and is inclined diagonally downward in the XZ cross section shown in Figure 4(C).

[0031] In addition, in the second and third drawing units 12, 13 shown in Figures 3 and 4(B) and (C), the optical axis BX3 of the light L3 projected from the lens body 3c located on the other side in the vehicle width direction is larger than the optical axis BX2 of the light L2 projected from the lens body 3b located in the middle in the vehicle width direction, and is inclined diagonally downward to one side in the vehicle width direction.

[0032] In the road surface drawing device 1 of this embodiment having the above-described configuration, as shown in Figure 2, light L1, L2, and L3 emitted from multiple light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c is projected onto the road surface T behind the vehicle B by multiple lens bodies 3a, 3b, and 3c.

[0033] As a result, drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3 reflecting the shapes (e.g., rectangular) of the light emitted by each light source 2a, 2b, and 2c are drawn side by side on the road surface T behind the vehicle B as rectangular drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3 that extend toward the rear of the vehicle B and gradually increase in width.

[0034] The shape of each drawing pattern P1, P2, P3 can also be a diamond shape extending toward the rear of the road surface T, depending on the in-plane orientation of each light source 2a, 2b, 2c. The shape of each drawing pattern P1, P2, P3 can also be changed as appropriate by changing the light emission shape of each light source 2a, 2b, 2c or by placing a light blocking member (shade) in front of each light source 2a, 2b, 2c.

[0035] In addition, in the road surface drawing device 1 of this embodiment, when the road surface T is viewed in a plane, multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3 are drawn side by side in a direction along the optical axis AX1 of the light L emitted from the light source 2a located on the farthest side in the vehicle width direction.

[0036] Furthermore, in the road surface drawing device 1 of this embodiment, among the multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3, the drawing pattern corresponding to the light source located on one side of the vehicle width direction is drawn farther away in the direction in which the multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3 are arranged than the drawing pattern corresponding to the light source located on the other side of the vehicle width direction.

[0037] Specifically, in this embodiment, of the multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3, the drawing pattern P1 formed by the first drawing unit 11 located on one side in the vehicle width direction is drawn farther in the direction in which the multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3 are arranged than the drawing pattern P2 formed by the second drawing unit 12 located in the middle in the vehicle width direction, and the drawing pattern P2 formed by the second drawing unit 12 located in the middle in the vehicle width direction is drawn farther in the direction in which the multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3 are arranged than the drawing pattern P3 formed by the third drawing unit 13 located on the other side in the vehicle width direction.

[0038] Furthermore, since the distance of light L1, L2, L3 projected from the multiple drawing units 11, 12, 13 toward the road surface T is sufficiently greater than the spacing between adjacent drawing units 11, 12, 13 lined up in the vehicle width direction, it is possible to almost ignore the center shift of the multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, P3 in the vehicle width direction.

[0039] In the road surface drawing device 1 of this embodiment, when vehicle B shown in Figure 1 described above is reversing, multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3 are drawn side by side on the road surface T behind vehicle B, thereby making it possible to alert pedestrians and others located behind vehicle B that vehicle B is reversing.

[0040] In addition, in the road surface drawing device 1 of this embodiment, when the vehicle B is reversing, it is possible to perform road surface drawing that creates a flow of light emission by the multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, P3 by sequentially switching the lighting of the multiple drawing units 11, 12, 13 and repeating the lighting operation of sequentially lighting the multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, P3 toward the road surface T.

[0041] As for the lighting operation of sequentially lighting up the multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3, there are methods that can be used, for example, to start with a completely off state, and then alternately light up the multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3 one by one toward the rear, and then repeat the operation of turning them all off, or to start with a completely off state, and then light up the multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3 one by one toward the rear, and then repeat the operation of turning them all off.

[0042] However, when multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3 are drawn in a line toward the rear of vehicle B from multiple drawing units 11, 12, and 13 arranged in the vehicle width direction as described above, the drawing pattern P1 drawn farthest is likely to become blurred or distorted.

[0043] In contrast, in the road surface drawing device 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figures 3 and 4(A), when the road surface T is viewed in a plane, multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3 are drawn side by side in a direction along the optical axis AX1 of the light L1 emitted from the light source 2a located on the furthest side in the vehicle width direction, and the direction of the optical axis AX1 of the light L1 emitted from the light source 2a located on the furthest side in the vehicle width direction is aligned with the optical axis BX1 of the light L1 projected from the lens body 3a opposite this light source 2a.

[0044] This prevents blurring or distortion from occurring in the drawing pattern P1 that is drawn farthest from the first drawing unit 11. Furthermore, because the output of the first drawing unit 11 that draws the drawing pattern P1 farthest has the greatest output, the first drawing unit 11 is arranged at the extreme end in the vehicle width direction so as not to affect the remaining second and third drawing units 12 and 13 due to heat generated.

[0045] In addition, in the road surface drawing device 1 of this embodiment, the distances D1, D2, D3 between the light sources 2a, 2b, 2c and the lens bodies 3a, 3b, 3c that constitute each drawing unit 11, 12, 13 and the sizes of the lens bodies 3a, 3b, 3c are adjusted so that, of the above-mentioned multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, P3, the drawing pattern corresponding to the light source located on one side of the vehicle width direction is drawn farther away in the direction in which the multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, P3 are arranged than the drawing pattern corresponding to the light source located on the other side of the vehicle width direction.

[0046] In this case, as shown in Figure 3, the inclination angle α of the optical axis BX2 of the light L2 projected from the second drawing unit 12 and the inclination angle β of the optical axis BX3 of the light L3 projected from the third drawing unit 13 relative to the optical axis BX1 of the light L1 projected farthest from the first drawing unit 11 become larger the further away they are from the first drawing unit 11 toward the other side in the vehicle width direction (α<β).

[0047] In contrast, in the road surface drawing device 1 of this embodiment, the drawing pattern P3 from the third drawing unit 13, which has the largest inclination angle β of the optical axis BX3 described above, is drawn closest, thereby reducing the impact of the inclination of the optical axis BX3 and preventing blurring or distortion in the drawing pattern P3.

[0048] As described above, in the road surface drawing device 1 of this embodiment, when drawing multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, P3 in a row from the multiple drawing units 11, 12, 13 arranged in the vehicle width direction as described above toward the road surface T behind the vehicle B, it is possible to appropriately draw these multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, P3 on the road surface.

[0049] The present invention is not necessarily limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the road surface drawing device 1 can be configured to be disposed inside the rear combination lamp, or can be configured to be disposed separately from the rear combination lamp, or on the rear bumper, etc.

[0050] 1, the above embodiment illustrates a case in which a plurality of drawing patterns P1, P2, P3 that emit white light toward the road surface T behind the vehicle B are drawn as part of a backup lamp when the vehicle B is reversing. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the road surface drawing device of the present invention can also be applied to a case in which a plurality of drawing patterns P1, P2, P3 that emit orange light toward the road surface T diagonally ahead of the turning side of the vehicle B are drawn as part of turn lamps mounted on both corners on the front end side of the vehicle B when the vehicle B is turning.

[0051] As a result, for example, in a scenario in which vehicle B is involved in an accident while turning at an intersection, when the turn signal lights are turned on, multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, P3 drawn on the road surface T can alert motorcycles, pedestrians, etc. in the blind spot of vehicle B that vehicle B is turning. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1...road surface drawing device 2a, 2b, 2c...light source 3a, 3b, 3c...lens body 4...circuit board 5...lens member 11...first drawing unit 12...second drawing unit 13...third drawing unit 50...bracket L1, L2, L3...light P1, P2, P3...drawing pattern B...vehicle

Claims

1. A road surface drawing device that is mounted on a vehicle and draws a road surface from the vehicle toward the road surface, Multiple light sources; a plurality of lens bodies disposed opposite the plurality of light sources, a circuit board on which the plurality of light sources are mounted, the plurality of light sources are arranged side by side in the width direction of the vehicle on the same surface of the circuit board, the plurality of lens bodies are arranged such that the distances between the lens bodies and the plurality of light sources become gradually smaller from one side to the other side in a width direction of the vehicle, By projecting the light emitted from the plurality of light sources onto the road surface by the plurality of lens bodies, a plurality of drawing patterns corresponding to the plurality of light sources are drawn side by side on the road surface, and A road surface drawing device characterized in that the multiple drawing patterns are drawn in a row along the optical axis of light emitted from a light source located on the furthest side in the width direction of the vehicle when the road surface is viewed in a plane.

2. 2. The road surface drawing device according to claim 1, wherein, among the plurality of drawing patterns, a drawing pattern corresponding to a light source located on one side of the vehicle in the width direction is drawn farther in the direction in which the plurality of drawing patterns are arranged than a drawing pattern corresponding to a light source located on the other side of the vehicle in the width direction.

3. 2. The road surface drawing device according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board is disposed in a state of being tilted forward with respect to the road surface.

4. 2. The road surface drawing device according to claim 1, wherein the optical axis of the light emitted from the light source located on the furthest side in the width direction of the vehicle and the optical axis of the light projected by the lens body facing the light source extend in the same direction.

5. 2. The road surface drawing device according to claim 1, wherein the outer shapes of the plurality of lens bodies are relatively larger as the distance between the lens bodies and the light source increases, so that the incident surface onto which the light emitted from the light source is incident becomes larger.

6. 2. The road surface drawing device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of lens bodies are integrally formed.

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