Lighting device

Abstract

To provide a lighting device that improves the flexibility of placement while maintaining the brightness of the illumination light. [Solution] The lighting device 1 is generally configured to include a light source 2 that outputs illumination light 20, a lens body 30 having an incident surface 33 into which the illumination light 20 output from the light source 2 is incident, and a lens part 3 provided on the lens body 30 and having a projection 35 that has an outgoing surface 38 from which the illumination light 20 is emitted, and which reflects the illumination light 20 off a reflective surface 36 of the projection 35 that intersects with the outgoing surface 38, thereby emitting the illumination light 20 in a direction inclined from the direction of the normal 380 of the outgoing surface 38 and in the direction of the reference eye point 9 of the occupant 8.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lighting device.

Background Art

[0002] As a conventional technique, a vehicle decorative member including a light source that emits light and a light guide lens that is formed in a long shape and emits the light from the light source in a long shape along the shape is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

[0003] This light guide lens has a light incident portion where light enters and a light emission portion where light exits. The vehicle decorative member can change the light emission direction by changing the inclination angle of the lens tip portion of the light emission portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the conventional vehicle decorative member, since light is emitted in the normal direction of the lens tip portion, depending on the installation location, the reference eye point of the occupant sitting on the seat deviates from the normal direction, and there is a problem that the amount of light reaching the eyes decreases and it does not look bright.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device that improves the degree of freedom in arrangement while maintaining the brightness of the illumination light.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] One aspect of the present invention provides an illumination device comprising: a light source that outputs illumination light; a lens body having an incident surface into which the illumination light output from the light source enters; and a lens portion provided on the lens body, having a projection having an exit surface from which the illumination light exits, and which causes the illumination light to be emitted in a direction inclined from the direction of the normal to the exit surface and in the direction of the occupant's reference eye point by reflecting it off the inner surface of the projection that intersects with the exit surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom in placement while maintaining the brightness of the illumination light. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an example of the interior of a vehicle in which a lighting device according to the embodiment is installed. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows an example of a lighting device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an example of a cross-sectional view of a lighting device according to an embodiment, taken from the direction of the arrow, of a cross-section cut along line AA in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an example of the normal direction and reference eye point when the lighting device according to the embodiment is placed on an instrument panel. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] (Summary of the embodiment) The lighting device according to the embodiment is generally configured to include a light source that outputs illumination light, a lens body having an incident surface into which the illumination light output from the light source enters, and a lens portion provided on the lens body, having a projection that has an exit surface from which the illumination light exits, and which reflects the illumination light off the inner surface of the projection that intersects with the exit surface, thereby emitting the illumination light in a direction inclined from the direction of the normal to the exit surface and in the direction of the occupant's reference eye point.

[0011] This lighting device outputs illumination light at an angle from the direction of the normal to the emission surface. Compared to a system that outputs illumination light in the direction of the normal to the emission surface and positions the device so that the normal direction coincides with the direction of the reference eye point, this device maintains the brightness of the illumination light while improving the flexibility of placement.

[0012] [Embodiment] (Overview of Lighting Device 1) Figure 1 shows an example of the interior of a vehicle in which the lighting device according to the embodiment is installed. Figure 2 shows an example of the lighting device according to the embodiment. Figure 3 shows an example of a cross-sectional view of the lighting device according to the embodiment, cut along line AA in Figure 2, viewed from the direction of the arrow. Figure 4 shows an example of the normal direction and reference eye point when the lighting device according to the embodiment is installed on the instrument panel. Note that in the figures relating to the embodiments described below, the ratios and shapes between figures may differ from the actual ratios and shapes. First, the outline of lighting device 1 will be described below.

[0013] As an example, the lighting device 1 of this embodiment is positioned in an opening 700, described later, between the first design panel 71 and the second design panel 72 that constitute the instrument panel 70 of the vehicle 7, as shown in Figure 1. The lighting device 1 may also be positioned in, for example, the door trim 750 of the door 75 on the driver's side 73, the door trim 760 of the door 76 on the passenger side 74, the panel 77 at the feet of the driver's side 73, the panel 78 at the feet of the passenger side 74, and the floor console 79.

[0014] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the lighting device 1 is generally configured to include a light source 2 that outputs illumination light 20, a lens body 30 having an incident surface 33 into which the illumination light 20 output from the light source 2 enters, and a lens section 3 provided on the lens body 30, having a projection 35 that emits an exit surface 38 from which the illumination light 20 exits, and reflecting the illumination light 20 off a reflective surface 36 which is the inner surface of the projection 35 that intersects with the exit surface 38, thereby emitting the illumination light 20 in a direction inclined from the direction of the normal 380 of the exit surface 38 and in the direction of the reference eye point 9 of the occupant 8.

[0015] The reference eye point 9 is a point representing the position of the eyes 80 of the occupant 8 in a normal driving state, for example, called TEP (Theoretical Eye Point). In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, since the lighting device 1 is arranged on the instrument panel 70 in front of the passenger seat 74, the position of the eyes 80 of the occupant 8 sitting on the passenger seat 74 is taken as the reference eye point 9, but it is not limited thereto. The lighting device 1, for example, when arranged targeting the occupant 8 sitting on the driver's seat 73, takes the position of the eyes 80 of the occupant 8 sitting on the driver's seat 73 as the reference eye point 9.

[0016] The lens part 3 has a non-parallel incident surface 33 and exit surface 38.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, the lighting device 1 includes a light guide 4 arranged between the light source 2 and the lens part 3, and guides the illumination light 20 output from the light source 2 to the incident surface 33 of the lens part 3.

[0018] This light guide 4 has a light guide reflecting surface 41 that reflects the incident illumination light 20. This light guide reflecting surface 41 faces the incident surface 33 of the lens main body 30. In the present embodiment, the light guide reflecting surface 41 is parallel to the incident surface 33, but it is not limited thereto.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the lens part 3 has an elongated shape elongated in one direction. The light guide 4 has an elongated shape long in the same direction as the lens part 3, guides the illumination light 20 to the lens part 3, and causes the linear illumination light 20 to exit from the lens part 3. This one direction is, for example, the direction of arrow B shown in FIG. 2.

[0020] The lighting device 1 is arranged such that the emission surface 38 of the lens unit 3 is positioned inside the surface of the interior part of the vehicle 7. As an example, the interior part in this embodiment is, as shown in FIG. 3, the first design panel 71 and the second design panel 72 that constitute the instrument panel 70. The surface of the interior part is the surface 710 of the first design panel 71 and the surface 720 of the second design panel 72. The lighting device 1 is arranged such that the protruding part 35 of the lens unit 3 is the opening 700 between the surface 710 and the surface 720 and is positioned inside the surface 710 and the surface 720. Since the lighting device 1 does not have to tilt the protruding part 35 to direct the emission surface 38 toward the reference eye point 9, it is possible to narrow the width of the opening 700.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lighting device 1 further includes a holding part 5 that holds the lens unit 3 and the light guide 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the light source 2 is held by the light source holding part 54 at the end of the holding part 5 and outputs illumination light 20 in a direction intersecting the above-described one direction (arrow B direction). As a modified example, the light source 2 may be configured to output the illumination light 20 in one direction (arrow B direction) instead of the intersecting direction.

[0022] (Configuration of the light source 2) As an example, the light source 2 includes a light emitting element that outputs the illumination light 20. This light emitting element may be monochromatic or may be configured to output a plurality of colors. Further, the light source 2 may be configured to include a plurality of light emitting elements along one direction (arrow B direction).

[0023] The illumination light 20 propagates through the light guide 4, is reflected by the light guide reflection surface 41, exits the light guide 4, and enters the incident surface 33 of the lens unit 3. Then, the illumination light 20 propagates from the lens body 30 to the protruding part 35 and is emitted by the reflection surface 36 at an angle inclined from the normal line 380 of the emission surface 38.

[0024] Thus, the illumination light 20 reaches the reference eye point 9 via the optical path 21, shown as a dotted line in Figure 3, as an example. This optical path 21 is inclined toward the reference eye point 9 relative to the normal 380 of the emission surface 38. The direction of this inclination is in the direction of arrow C in Figure 3, which is toward the occupant 8.

[0025] The illumination light 20 is brighter around the reference eye point 9 than around the normal vector 380. Therefore, the crew member 8 can see the bright illumination light 20.

[0026] In this embodiment, it is preferable that the illumination light 20 has less light intensity in the direction from the normal 380 to arrow D, that is, in the range from the normal 380 to the first design panel 71, than in the direction from the normal 380 to arrow C. This is because in this embodiment, the direction from the normal 380 to arrow D is closer to the ceiling 701 of the vehicle 7 than the reference eye point 9.

[0027] Furthermore, when the reference eye point 9 is located in the direction of arrow D from the normal vector 380, the lighting device 1 is configured such that the amount of illumination light 20 is greater in the direction of arrow D from the normal vector 380. In other words, the lighting device 1 is not configured so that the amount of illumination light 20 is greatest in the direction of the normal vector 380, but rather so that it is greater in the direction of the reference eye point 9, which is tilted from the normal vector 380.

[0028] (Configuration of lens section 3) The lens portion 3 is formed using a transparent resin material such as acrylic resin or polycarbonate resin. The lens portion 3 mainly has a long shape in which the cross-sectional shape shown in Figure 3 is continuous along one direction. The lens portion 3 is held by the holding portion 5. As a modification, the lens portion 3 may be composed of, for example, a diffusing agent or an opaque material that diffuses the illumination light 20.

[0029] As shown in Figure 3, the lens body 30 has a recess 34 surrounded by a first leg portion 31 and a second leg portion 32. The recess 34 has an incident surface 33 formed at the top of Figure 3. The first leg portion 31 protrudes in the direction of the first side portion 51 of the holding portion 5, which will be described later. The second leg portion 32 has a shape in which its end extends outward from the second side portion 52 of the holding portion 5, which will be described later.

[0030] The protruding portion 35 is inclined in a direction intersecting the incident surface 33 and protrudes from the lens body 30. The protruding portion 35 has a rectangular prism shape. Specifically, the protruding portion 35 protrudes from the lens body 30 inclined from a direction perpendicular to the incident surface 33 toward the reference eye point 9. The illumination light 20 is reflected by the reflective surface 36 of the protruding portion 35 and the inner surface 37 opposite to the reflective surface 36, but mainly reflects off the reflective surface 36 and is emitted toward the reference eye point 9. At least the reflective surface 36 is configured to totally reflect the illumination light 20.

[0031] (Composition of light guide 4) The light guide 4, for example, has a substantially cylindrical shape as shown in Figure 3, but is not limited to this. The light guide 4 is formed using a transparent resin material such as acrylic resin or polycarbonate resin.

[0032] The light guide 4 has a portion of its side surface that serves as a light guide reflective surface 41. This light guide reflective surface 41 is parallel to the incident surface 33 of the lens section 3 and non-parallel to the exit surface 38. The light guide 4 is held in the holding section 5, as shown in Figure 3. The light guide reflective surface 41 of the light guide 4, the incident surface 33, the reflective surface 36, and the exit surface 38 of the lens section 3 are arranged in order in the direction normal to the light guide reflective surface 41. Furthermore, when viewed in the direction normal to the light guide reflective surface 41, these three surfaces overlap.

[0033] The illumination light 20 propagates while reflecting off the inner surface 40 of the light guide 4, and then reflects off the light guide's reflective surface 41 before being emitted towards the lens section 3.

[0034] (Configuration of the holding part 5) The holding portion 5 is formed using, for example, a resin material. The holding portion 5 is configured to include, for example, a base portion 50, a first side portion 51, a second side portion 52, and a light source holding portion 54, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

[0035] The base 50 holds the lens portion 3. The base 50 has a light source holding portion 54 at its end. The light guide 4 is exposed to the light source holding portion 54. The light source 2 outputs illumination light 20 toward the light guide 4 exposed to the light source holding portion 54.

[0036] The first side portion 51 and the second side portion 52 form a rectangular recess 53 with a rectangular cross-section. This rectangular recess 53 holds the light guide 4.

[0037] (Effects of the embodiment) The lighting device 1 according to this embodiment can improve the degree of freedom in placement while maintaining the brightness of the illumination light 20. Specifically, the lighting device 1 ensures that the amount of light in the illumination light 20 is greater in the direction of the reference eye point 9, which is inclined from the normal 380, rather than in the direction of the normal 380. Therefore, the illumination light 20 can appear bright even if the reference eye point 9 is not located on the extension of the normal 380. Furthermore, since the lighting device 1 does not need to be positioned so that the reference eye point 9 is located on the extension of the normal 380, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom in placement while maintaining the brightness of the illumination light 20 compared to the case where the reference eye point 9 is located on the extension.

[0038] The lighting device 1 has a greater amount of light in the direction of the reference eye point 9, which is inclined from the normal 380, rather than in the direction of the normal 380 of the emission surface 38. Therefore, compared to cases where the amount of light is greater in the direction of the normal, it can alleviate constraints on the shape and design surface of the interior components where it is placed. Furthermore, the lighting device 1 does not require the interior components to be shaped in such a way that they hold the lens part 3 with the emission surface 38 facing the reference eye point 9. Moreover, the lighting device 1 does not require the design surface to be deliberately created to intersect with the direction of the normal of the emission surface 38 in order to reflect the illumination light 20 and direct it towards the reference eye point 9.

[0039] The lighting device 1 allows the crew member 8 to see the illumination light 20 brightly if their eyes 80 are within the vicinity of the reference eye point 9. Compared to the case where the normal of the emission surface is directed toward the reference eye point, the lighting device 1 allows the crew member 8 to see the illumination light 20 brightly even if the position of their eyes 80 changes due to physical differences or seating positions of the crew member 8.

[0040] Since the lighting device 1 emits more light in the direction inclined from the normal 380 of the emission surface 38, exposure from the aperture 700 where it is installed can be reduced compared to when it is positioned so that the direction of the reference eye point and the direction of the normal coincide. Furthermore, since the lighting device 1 does not need to align the direction of the reference eye point 9 with the direction of the normal 380, the width of the emission surface 38 and the width of the aperture 700 where it is installed can be made almost the same compared to when the emission surface is directed towards the occupant in order to make them coincide. This results in a narrower gap between the emission surface 38 and the aperture 700, improving the appearance and design.

[0041] Since the lighting device 1 is equipped with a light guide 4 that guides the illumination light 20 to the incident surface 33 of the lens section 3, it becomes easier to reflect the illumination light 20 off the reflective surface 36 compared to a configuration that does not employ this setting. As a result, the lighting device 1 can provide uniform illumination with minimal brightness unevenness, even though it is long in length.

[0042] Although embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments and modifications are merely examples and do not limit the invention as defined in the claims. These novel embodiments and modifications can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, not all combinations of features described in these embodiments and modifications are essential means for solving the problem of the invention. Moreover, these embodiments and modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the invention described in the claims and its equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0043] 1...Illumination device, 2...Light source, 3...Lens part, 4...Light guide, 5...Holding part, 7...Vehicle, 8...Occupant, 9...Reference eye point, 20...Illumination light, 21...Optical path, 30...Lens body, 31...First leg, 32...Second leg, 33...Incident surface, 34...Recess, 35...Protruding part, 36...Reflective surface, 37...Inner surface, 38...Emitting surface, 40...Inner surface, 41...Light guide reflective surface, 50...Base, 51...First side 52...Second side section, 53...Rectangular recess, 54...Light source holder section, 70...Instrument panel, 71...First design panel, 72...Second design panel, 73...Driver's seat, 74...Passenger seat, 75,76...Door, 77,78...Panel, 79...Floor console, 80...Eye, 380...Normal, 700...Opening, 701...Ceiling, 710,720...Surface, 750,760...Door trim

Claims

1. A light source that emits illumination light, A lens body having an incident surface into which the illumination light output from the light source is incident, and a lens portion provided on the lens body having a projection having an exit surface from which the illumination light is emitted, which causes the illumination light to be emitted in a direction inclined from the normal direction of the exit surface and in the direction of the occupant's reference eye point by reflecting it off the inner surface of the projection that intersects with the exit surface, A lighting device equipped with this.

2. The lens portion has an incident surface and an exit surface that are not parallel. The lighting device according to claim 1.

3. The light source is positioned between the lens portion and includes a light guide that directs the illumination light output from the light source to the incident surface of the lens portion. The lighting device according to claim 2.

4. The light guide has a light guide reflective surface that reflects the incident illumination light, The light guide reflective surface is parallel to the incident surface of the lens body. The lighting device according to claim 3.

5. The lens portion has an elongated shape that is slender in one direction. The light guide has an elongated shape that is long in the same direction as the lens portion, and guides the illumination light to the lens portion, causing the illumination light to be emitted in a line from the lens portion. The lighting device according to claim 4.

6. The emission surface of the lens portion is positioned to be located inside the surface of the vehicle's interior components. The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

Images