Illuminated emblem

Abstract

The objective is to provide a light-emitting emblem in which the emblem emits light due to the light emitted by a light-emitting element housed inside, and which can maintain a high degree of uniformity in the illumination of the emblem even when it has a thin structure. [Solution] The present invention provides a light-emitting emblem 1 comprising a base material 11, a cover 10 having an emblem design on its surface, and a transparent substrate 12 on which a light-emitting element 13 is mounted and housed in the space surrounded by the base material 11 and the cover 10, wherein the inner surface 101 of the cover 10 is curved to bulge outward, and the transparent substrate 12 is installed curved along the inner surface 101 of the cover 10 so that the surface on which the light-emitting element 13 is mounted faces the base material 11, and the base material 11 has a conical or polygonal pyramidal projection 112 on the inner surface 111 on the cover 10 side that intersects with the optical axis L of the light-emitting element 13, with the light-emitting element 13 positioned directly above the apex of the projection 112.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a light-emitting emblem, particularly a light-emitting emblem installed on a vehicle such as an automobile.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a light-emitting emblem including a printed circuit board on which a light-emitting element is mounted, a housing that houses the printed circuit board, and a cover having an emblem applied to its surface and including a light-emitting portion on the surface from which light emitted from the light-emitting element is extracted, wherein the printed circuit board is arranged such that the surface on which the light-emitting element is mounted faces the bottom of the housing (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] In the light-emitting emblem described in Patent Document 1, the light emitted from the light-emitting element toward the bottom of the housing is reflected around by the protrusions provided on the bottom of the housing, and after being reflected by the inner surface of the housing and the printed circuit board, it is extracted to the outside from the light-emitting portion of the cover.

[0004] The light emitted from the light-emitting element is sufficiently diffused inside the light-emitting emblem due to reflection by the protrusions provided on the bottom of the housing and the length of the distance that the light travels from when it is emitted from the light-emitting element until it is extracted to the outside. Therefore, the uniformity of the brightness of the light-emitting portion of the cover is high.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, according to the light-emitting emblem described in Patent Document 1, in order to extract light from the space between the cover and the printed circuit board, it is necessary to provide a certain amount of space not only between the printed circuit board and the bottom of the housing, but also between the printed circuit board and the cover, which hinders the thinning of the device.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting emblem in which the emblem emits light due to the light emitted by a light-emitting element housed inside, and which can maintain a high degree of uniformity in the emission of light even when it has a thin structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One aspect of the present invention provides the following luminescent emblem to achieve the above objective.

[0009] [1] A light-emitting emblem comprising: a base material having a plate-like portion; a cover having the design of an emblem on its surface and attached to the base material so as to cover the base material; and a transparent substrate on which a light-emitting element as a light source is mounted, housed in the space surrounded by the base material and the cover, wherein the inner surface of the cover is curved so as to bulge outward, the transparent substrate is installed curved along the inner surface of the cover such that the surface on which the light-emitting element is mounted faces the base material side, the base material has a conical or polygonal pyramidal projection on its inner surface on the cover side that intersects with the optical axis of the light-emitting element, the light-emitting element is positioned directly above the apex of the projection, and the design of the emblem emits light by taking out the light emitted from the light-emitting element from the surface of the cover. [2] The cover is the luminescent emblem described in [1] above, which includes a diffusing material. [3] The light-emitting emblem according to [1] or [2] above, wherein a plurality of the light-emitting elements are arranged in accordance with the design of the emblem. [4] The luminescent emblem according to [1] or [2] above, wherein the inclination angle of the surface of the projection is 44 to 46°. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a light-emitting emblem in which the emblem emits light due to the light emitted by a light-emitting element housed inside, and which can maintain a high degree of uniformity in the emission of light even when it has a thin structure. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a plan view of an luminescent emblem according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a vertical cross-section of the luminescent emblem cut along the cutting line AA shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3(a) is a schematic diagram illustrating the path of light emitted from the light-emitting element. Figure 3(b) is a schematic diagram illustrating the path of light reflected towards the cover by the protrusion. [Figure 4] Figure 4(a) is an image showing the light emission state of a light-emitting emblem having a structure that directly extracts light from a light-emitting element facing the cover side, as a comparative example. Figure 4(b) is an image showing the light emission state of a light-emitting emblem according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] [Composition of the luminous emblem] Figure 1 is a plan view of a light-emitting emblem 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a vertical cross-section of the light-emitting emblem 1 cut along the cutting line AA shown in Figure 1.

[0013] The luminescent emblem 1 comprises a base material 11 having a plate-like portion, a cover 10 attached to the base material 11 so as to cover the base material 11 and having the emblem design (a mark consisting of an oval frame and an I-shape in the example shown in Figure 1) on its surface (the front-facing surface in Figure 1), and a transparent substrate 12 on which a light-emitting element 13 serving as a light source is mounted and housed in the space surrounded by the base material 11 and the cover 10. The emblem design emits light by taking out the light emitted from the light-emitting element 13 from the surface of the cover 10.

[0014] In the luminescent emblem 1, the inner surface 101 of the cover 10 is curved so as to bulge outwards from the luminescent emblem 1 (upwards in Figure 1), and the transparent substrate 12 is installed curved along the inner surface 101 of the cover 10 so that the side on which the light-emitting element 13 is mounted faces the base material 11.

[0015] Furthermore, the base material 11 has a conical or polygonal pyramidal projection 112 on its inner surface 111 on the cover 10 side that intersects with the optical axis L of the light-emitting element 13, and the light-emitting element 13 is positioned directly above the apex of the projection 112. Here, the optical axis of the light-emitting element 13 is the axis that extends perpendicularly from the center of the light-emitting element 13 to the surface on which the light-emitting element 13 is installed. Also, the statement that the light-emitting element 13 is positioned directly above the apex of the projection 112 means that the light-emitting element 13 is installed at a position that intersects with a straight line perpendicular to the inner surface 111 and passing through the apex of the projection 112.

[0016] Figure 3(a) is a schematic diagram illustrating the path of light emitted from the light-emitting element 13. The light emitted from the light-emitting element 13 first travels toward the substrate 11 and is reflected by the inner surface 111 of the substrate 11. Here, since a projection 112 is provided at a position that intersects with the optical axis L of the light-emitting element 13, the light emitted from the light-emitting element 13 in a direction close to the optical axis L is reflected around the projection 112 by the surface of the projection 112 and diffused.

[0017] Of the light emitted from the light-emitting element 13, the light emitted in the direction close to the optical axis L is particularly strong. Therefore, by diffusing the light emitted in the direction close to the optical axis L with the projection 112, the entire amount of light inside the light-emitting emblem 1 can be effectively diffused.

[0018] The projection 112 reflects light from above in a lateral direction, and typically its surface inclination angle (angle relative to the inner surface 111) is around 45°, for example, 44-46°. The height of the projection 112 is, for example, 0.5-1.5 mm. Furthermore, the distance between the light-emitting element 13 and the tip of the projection 112 is preferably, for example, 1 mm or less.

[0019] FIG. 3(b) is a schematic diagram schematically showing the path of light reflected toward the cover 10 side by the protrusion 112. Light traveling at an angle close to parallel to the inner surface 111 of the base material 11, for example, light emitted from the light emitting element 13 and reflected by the protrusion 112, can also be reflected toward the cover 10 side by the protrusion 112.

[0020] Since the light is reflected upward by the protrusion 112, the light tends to concentrate directly above the protrusion 112. However, since the light emitting element 13 is located directly above the apex of the protrusion 112, the light directed toward directly above the protrusion 112 is not directly taken out to the outside, but hits the light emitting element 13 and is diffused. Therefore, the portion located directly above the protrusion 112 of the emblem does not emit a point light.

[0021] Also, the light reflected by the inner surface 111 of the base material 11 or the protrusion 112 passes through the transparent substrate 12 and the cover 10 and is taken out to the outside. In this way, in the light emitting emblem 1, since the light emitted from the light emitting element 13 is reflected by the surface of the base material 11 and then taken out, the distance that the light travels from when it is emitted from the light emitting element until it is taken out to the outside is longer compared to the case where the light is directly taken out from the light emitting element facing the cover side. Therefore, the light is effectively diffused inside the light emitting emblem 1.

[0022] Also, since the transparent substrate 12 is installed curved along the inner surface 101 of the cover 10, the optical axis L of the light emitting element 13 mounted on the transparent substrate 12 is inclined from the direction perpendicular to the inner surface 111 of the base material 11. As a result, the light is more likely to be diffused compared to the case where the transparent substrate 12 is installed parallel to the inner surface 111 of the base material 11.

[0023] In the light emitting emblem 1, since the transparent substrate 12 that transmits the light emitted by the light emitting element 13 is used as the substrate on which the light emitting element 13 is mounted, there is no need to provide a space between the transparent substrate 12 and the cover 10 in order to take out the light to the outside, and the light emitting emblem 1 can be made thinner.

[0024] In the luminescent emblem 1, the above-described configuration effectively diffuses light internally, thereby improving the uniformity of the emblem's illumination. For example, point illumination, where a region directly above the light-emitting element of the emblem shines brightly in a point-like manner, which is prone to occur in luminescent emblems with a structure that directly extracts light from a light-emitting element facing the cover side, can be effectively suppressed.

[0025] Figure 4(a) is an image illustrating the luminescence state of a comparative example of a light-emitting emblem having a structure that directly extracts light from light-emitting elements facing the cover side. In this comparative example, multiple light-emitting elements are arranged inside the light-emitting emblem along the design of the emblem (a mark consisting of an oval frame and an I-shape), and because the light emitted from the light-emitting elements is extracted without sufficient diffusion, the area directly above the light-emitting elements of the emblem glows brightly as a point.

[0026] Figure 4(b) is an image showing the light-emitting state of the light-emitting emblem 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the light-emitting emblem 1 shown in Figure 4(b), multiple light-emitting elements 13 are arranged inside along the design of the emblem (a mark consisting of an oval frame and an I-shape), but point light is effectively suppressed, and the uniformity of the emblem's light emission is high.

[0027] The base material 11 is, for example, a plate-shaped component as shown in Figure 2, or a box-shaped component with a side wall extending from the side of a plate-shaped portion. In either case, by attaching the cover 10 to the base material 11, a space is formed to house a transparent substrate 12 on which the light-emitting element 13 is mounted.

[0028] The joint between the base material 11 and the cover 10 is bonded, for example, by welding. This seals the space enclosed by the base material 11 and the cover 10, preventing the intrusion of moisture and other elements from the outside.

[0029] Furthermore, the base material 11 may have a fixing portion on its back surface for securing it to the mounting target of the luminous emblem 1, such as the front grille of a vehicle. For example, the base material 11 can be fixed to the mounting target of the luminous emblem 1 by tightening screws through screw holes provided in the fixing portion. The base material 11 may also have a structure for routing cables connected to the transparent substrate 12 to the outside.

[0030] The base material 11 consists of, for example, ASA (acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylic acid ester), ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) + PC (polycarbonate), or AES (acrylonitrile-ethylene-propylene-diene-styrene).

[0031] The light-emitting element 13 is a light-emitting element mounted on a transparent substrate 12, and typically an LED is used. Typically, multiple light-emitting elements 13 are arranged along the design of the emblem (in the example shown in Figure 1, the mark consists of an oval frame and an I-shape).

[0032] As described above, the transparent substrate 12 is installed curved along the inner surface 101 of the cover 10 such that the side on which the light-emitting element 13 is mounted faces the substrate 11. Since the transparent substrate 12 is in close contact with the inner surface 101 of the cover 10, it is preferable that the transparent substrate 12 be a flexible substrate such as a film substrate. For example, various known transparent film substrates can be used as the transparent substrate 12.

[0033] The cover 10 and the transparent substrate 12 are bonded together, for example, with an adhesive. Alternatively, the cover 10 and the transparent substrate 12 may be integrally molded by insert molding, in which resin is poured into a mold into which the transparent substrate 12 is inserted to form the cover 10.

[0034] To make the light-emitting emblem 1 thinner, the transparent substrate 12 is preferably thin, for example, it is preferable to have a thickness of 0.5 mm or less.

[0035] The cover 10 is made of a resin such as PMMA (methyl methacrylate) or PC that transmits light emitted from the light-emitting element 13. The cover 10 may contain a diffusing material such as TiO2 particles to improve the uniformity of the light extracted from its surface. By containing a diffusing material, the cover 10 has, for example, a milky white color.

[0036] (Effects of the embodiment) In the light-emitting emblem 1 according to the above embodiment of the present invention, the uniformity of the emblem's illumination can be enhanced by effectively diffusing light within it. Therefore, even in the case of a thin structure with a narrow internal space where it is difficult to diffuse light, the uniformity of the emblem's illumination can be maintained at a high level.

[0037] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the components of the above embodiments can be arbitrarily combined without departing from the spirit of the invention. Moreover, the above embodiments do not limit the invention as defined in the claims. It should also be noted that not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential for solving the problem of the invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 1. Illuminated Emblem 10 Covers 101 Inner self 11 Base material 111 Inner self 112 Protrusion 12 Transparent substrate 13 Light-emitting element

Claims

1. A base material having a plate-like portion, A cover having the design of an emblem on its surface and attached to the substrate so as to cover the substrate, A transparent substrate on which a light-emitting element serving as a light source is mounted is housed in the space enclosed by the substrate and the cover, Equipped with, The inner surface of the aforementioned cover is curved so as to bulge outwards. The transparent substrate is installed curved along the inner surface of the cover such that the side on which the light-emitting element is mounted faces the substrate side. The substrate has a conical or polygonal pyramidal projection on the inner surface of the cover side that intersects with the optical axis of the light-emitting element. The light-emitting element is located directly above the apex of the projection, By extracting the light emitted from the light-emitting element from the surface of the cover, the design of the emblem illuminates. Illuminated emblem.

2. The cover includes a diffusion material, The light-emitting emblem according to claim 1.

3. Multiple light-emitting elements are arranged in accordance with the design of the emblem. The light-emitting emblem according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The inclination angle of the surface of the aforementioned protrusion is 44 to 46°. The light-emitting emblem according to claim 1 or 2.

Images