Illuminated emblem

Abstract

The present invention provides a light-emitting emblem in which a substrate on which a light source is mounted is installed outside the electromagnetic wave transmission range of a radar device, and which has high uniformity in the light emission intensity of the emblem. [Solution] The substrate 31 on which the light source 30 is mounted and the inner lens 20 are installed on the back side of the emblem plate 10 having a light-transmitting region 100, outside the electromagnetic wave transmission range R of the radar device 40. The inner lens 20 has a first reflective surface 21a that reflects the light supplied from the light source 30 toward a first region 101 of the emblem plate 1 and a second reflective surface 22 that reflects the light toward a second region 102 of the emblem plate 1. The portion of the light-transmitting region 100 included in the second region 102 is closer to the light source 100 than the portion included in the first region 101 of the light-transmitting region 100, thus providing a light-emitting emblem 1.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a light-emitting emblem.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a light-emitting emblem is known in which light from a light source is irradiated on the back surface of an emblem plate having a light-transmitting area to emit and display the design of the emblem (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] The light-emitting emblem described in Patent Document 1 is used in combination with a radar device that emits millimeter waves passing through the emblem plate. Therefore, the substrate on which the light source is mounted is disposed outside the millimeter wave transmission range, and the light emitted from the light source is guided by an inner lens to the vicinity of the center of the back surface of the emblem plate.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the light-emitting emblem described in Patent Document 1, due to the design of the inner lens, sufficient light cannot be sent to the portion of the back surface of the emblem plate close to the light source, so there is a problem that the uniformity of the light emission intensity of the emblem is low.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting emblem in which a substrate on which a light source is mounted is installed outside the electromagnetic wave transmission range of a radar device, and the uniformity of the light emission intensity of the emblem is high.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] <着 One aspect of the present invention provides the following luminescent emblem to achieve the above objective.

[0008] [1] An emblem comprising: an emblem plate having a light-transmitting region; a radar device that emits electromagnetic waves that pass through the emblem plate from the back side of the emblem plate; a light source mounted on a substrate; and an inner lens that irradiates the back side of the emblem plate with light supplied from the light source in order to emit it outward from the light-transmitting region, wherein the substrate and the inner lens are installed on the back side of the emblem plate, outside the electromagnetic wave transmission range of the radar device; the inner lens has a first reflective surface that reflects the light supplied from the light source toward a first region of the emblem plate, and a second reflective surface that reflects the light supplied from the light source toward a second region of the emblem plate, wherein the portion included in the second region of the light-transmitting region is closer to the light source than the portion included in the first region of the light-transmitting region. [2] The light-emitting emblem according to [1], wherein the inner lens has an inclined surface on the side opposite to the light source that is inclined with respect to the optical axis of the light source, and the inclined surface includes the first reflective surface and a third reflective surface which has a different inclination angle from the first reflective surface and reflects the light supplied from the light source toward the second reflective surface. [3] The light-emitting emblem according to [2] above, wherein the inclination angle of the third reflective surface with respect to the optical axis of the light source is 44 to 46°. [4] The light-emitting emblem according to any one of the above [1] to [3], wherein the position of the substrate in the direction of the central axis of the electromagnetic wave transmission range is within the range of the position of the radar device in the direction of the central axis. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a light-emitting emblem in which a substrate on which a light source is mounted is installed outside the electromagnetic wave transmission range of a radar device, and the uniformity of the light emission intensity of the emblem is high. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a front view of an luminescent emblem according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the luminous emblem cut along the cutting line A-A shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the inner lens included in the luminous emblem. [Figure 4] Figures 4(a) and 4(b) are cross-sectional views comparing a conventional inner lens as a comparative example with an inner lens according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figures 5(a) and (b) are simulation images for comparing the brightness of the portion of the second region of the light-transmitting area of ​​the emblem plate when using a conventional inner lens as a comparative example and an inner lens according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Figure 1 is a front view of a light-emitting emblem 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the light-emitting emblem 1 cut along the cutting line AA shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the inner lens 20 included in the light-emitting emblem 1.

[0012] The illuminated emblem 1 is attached to the exterior panels of a vehicle, such as a car, for example, the grille, bumper, or garnish. While typically attached to the front exterior panels of the vehicle, such as the front grille, the illuminated emblem 1 may also be attached to the rear or side exterior panels of the vehicle.

[0013] The light-emitting emblem 1 comprises an emblem plate 10 having a light-transmitting region 100, a radar device 40 that emits electromagnetic waves that pass through the emblem plate 10 from the back side of the emblem plate 10 (the right side of the emblem plate 10 in Figure 2), a light source 30 mounted on a substrate 31, an inner lens 20 that irradiates the back surface 104 of the emblem plate 10 in order to emit light supplied from the light source 30 to the outside through the light-transmitting region 100, and a housing 50 for housing the inner lens 20, substrate 31, radar device 40, etc.

[0014] The light-transmitting region 100 has a pattern that forms the design of the emblem (in the example shown in Figure 1, the design consists of an elliptical frame and the letters TG inside it). By extracting light from the light-transmitting region 100 to the outside, the light-transmitting region 100 emits light when the emblem plate 10 is viewed from the front side (the left side of the emblem plate 10 in Figure 2), and the emblem is illuminated.

[0015] The light source 30 is, for example, a light-emitting element such as an LED that emits visible light. The substrate 31 on which the light source 30 is mounted is positioned such that the optical axis of the light source 30 intersects the inner lens 20, specifically, for example, that the optical axis of the light source 30 passes through the center of the groove 23 of the inner lens 20, which will be described later. Here, the optical axis of the light source 30 is the axis that extends perpendicularly from the center of the light source 30 to the surface of the substrate 31 on which the light source 30 is mounted.

[0016] The radar device 40 is a device that transmits and receives electromagnetic waves such as millimeter waves to detect the behavior of an object to be detected, such as distance, speed, and direction. The radar device 40 transmits electromagnetic waves outside the vehicle, for example, towards the front of the vehicle, reflects them off an object outside the vehicle, for example, another vehicle in front of the vehicle, and receives the reflected waves.

[0017] The substrate 31 and the inner lens 20 are installed on the back side of the emblem plate 10 to irradiate light on the back surface of the emblem plate 10. Also, the substrate 31 and the inner lens 20 are installed outside the electromagnetic wave transmission range R of the radar device 40 so as not to obstruct the progress of the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the radar device 40.

[0018] Since the substrate 31 is installed outside the electromagnetic wave transmission range R of the radar device 40, it is difficult to directly irradiate the light emitted from the light source 30 onto the back surface of the emblem plate 10 due to the positional relationship between the light source 30 and the emblem plate 10. Therefore, the inner lens 20 installed closer to the emblem plate 10 than the light source 30 is used to guide the light emitted from the light source 30 to the back surface of the emblem plate 10.

[0019] The inner lens 20 has a first reflecting surface 21a that reflects (preferably totally reflects) the light supplied from the light source 30 toward the first region 101 of the emblem plate 10, and a second reflecting surface 22 that reflects (preferably totally reflects) the light supplied from the light source 30 toward the second region 102 of the emblem plate 10. The first reflecting surface 21a and the second reflecting surface 22 are surfaces provided at different positions of the inner lens 20.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the second region 102 of the emblem plate 10 is closer to the light source 30 than the first region 101. Therefore, the portion included in the second region 102 of the light transmission region 100 is closer to the light source 30 than the portion included in the first region 101 of the light transmission region 100.

[0021] The light reflected by the first reflecting surface 21a and irradiated onto the first region 101 is taken out to the outside from the portion included in the first region 101 of the light transmission region 100, and the light reflected by the second reflecting surface 22 and irradiated onto the second region 102 is taken out to the outside from the portion closer to the light source 30 included in the second region 102 of the light transmission region 100.

[0022] Typically, the first region 101 is wider than the second region 102 and includes most of the light-transmitting region 100, including its center. In this case, light irradiated onto the first region 101 is extracted from most of the light-transmitting region 100 except for the portion close to the light source 30, and light irradiated onto the second region 102 is extracted from the portion close to the light source 30.

[0023] As illustrated in Figure 1, if the design of the emblem provided on the emblem plate 10 has an outer frame, the portion included in the second region 102 of the light-transmitting region 100 will be the portion of the emblem frame that is close to the light source 30.

[0024] For example, in the luminescent emblem 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2, the portion included in the second region 102 of the light-transmitting region 100, which corresponds to the light source 30 (light source 30 shown in Figure 2) installed on the lower side of the emblem plate 10, is the portion located on the lower side of the elliptical frame of the emblem.

[0025] The inner lens 20 has an inclined surface 21 on the side opposite to the light source 30, which is inclined with respect to the optical axis of the light source 30. The inclined surface 21 includes a first reflective surface 21a and a third reflective surface 21b provided on the radar device 40 side of the inner lens 20, which reflects (preferably total internal reflection) the light supplied from the light source 30 toward a second reflective surface 22. The third reflective surface 21b has a different inclination angle from the first reflective surface 21a.

[0026] The inner lens 20 has a cylindrical groove 23 on the side facing the light source 30 for capturing light emitted from the light source 30. The bottom surface of the groove 23 is curved so as to bulge outwards toward the opening, and light emitted from the light source 30 that enters the bottom surface of the groove 23 is refracted at the bottom surface of the groove 23 and travels through the inner lens 20 almost parallel to the optical axis direction of the light source 30.

[0027] Furthermore, the light emitted from the light source 30 and taken into the inner lens 20 from the side of the groove 23 is reflected (preferably by total internal reflection) by the fourth reflective surface 24 provided on the light source 30 side of the inner lens 20, and travels through the inner lens 20 substantially parallel to the optical axis direction of the light source 30.

[0028] Therefore, the light emitted radially from the light source 30 and taken into the inner lens 20 through the groove 23 travels through the inner lens 20 as parallel light, which is almost parallel to the optical axis direction of the light source 30.

[0029] Then, a portion of this parallel light is reflected by the first reflective surface 21a and emitted from the light emission surface 25 toward the first region 101 of the emblem plate 10. The light emission surface 25 may be provided with irregularities to diffuse the light emitted from the light emission surface 25, as shown in Figure 3.

[0030] Furthermore, some of the parallel light described above is reflected by the third reflective surface 21b toward the second reflective surface 22, then reflected by the second reflective surface 22, and emitted from the light emission surface 26 toward the second region 102 of the emblem plate 10.

[0031] The inclination angle of the third reflective surface 21b with respect to the optical axis of the light source 30 is preferably 44 to 46°. In this case, the light reflected by the third reflective surface 21b travels almost perpendicular to the optical axis of the light source 30. Therefore, it becomes easier to adjust the inclination angle of the second reflective surface 22 for reflecting the light toward the second region 102 of the emblem plate 10.

[0032] Figures 4(a) and 4(b) are cross-sectional views comparing a conventional inner lens 60 as a comparative example with an inner lens 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 4(a) schematically shows the path of light passing through the inner lens 60. The inner lens 60 differs from the inner lens 20 mainly in that it does not have a second reflective surface 22 and a third reflective surface 21b. In the inner lens 60, almost all of the light emitted from the light source 30 and taken in by the groove 23 to become parallel light is reflected by the first reflective surface 21a and emitted from the light emission surface 25 toward the first region 101 of the emblem plate 10.

[0034] Therefore, almost no light emitted from the inner lens 60 goes towards the second region 102 of the emblem plate 10, and only stray light that deviates from the designed path goes towards the second region 102. In Figure 4(a), the path of this stray light is schematically shown by a dotted arrow.

[0035] As a result, the amount of light extracted from the second region 102 of the emblem plate 10 is less than the amount of light extracted from the first region 101, resulting in a lower uniformity of the emblem's luminescence intensity.

[0036] On the other hand, with the inner lens 20 shown in Figure 4(b), as described above, the light reflected by the second reflective surface 22 is emitted toward the second region 102 of the emblem plate 10. As a result, the difference between the amount of light extracted from the second region 102 of the emblem plate 10 and the amount of light extracted from the first region 101 becomes smaller, and the uniformity of the emblem's luminescence intensity is improved.

[0037] In the luminous emblem 1, the inner lens 20 can supply a sufficient amount of light to the second region 102 of the emblem plate 10, thus improving the uniformity of the emblem's luminescence intensity without the need for a separate light source or lens for the second region 102.

[0038] Figures 5(a) and (b) are simulation images for comparing the brightness of the portion of the light-transmitting region 100 of the emblem plate 10 that is included in the second region 102, when using a conventional inner lens 60 as a comparative example and the inner lens 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figures 5(a) and (b) show the luminance distribution when the portion included in the second region 102 of the light-transmitting region 100 (the portion that constitutes the lower part of the elliptical frame of the emblem) is viewed from the surface 103 side of the emblem plate 10.

[0040] If the average brightness of the light-transmitting region 100 in the range indicated by the double arrow in Figure 5(a) is 1.0 (standard value), then the average brightness of the light-transmitting region 100 in the range indicated by the double arrow in Figure 5(b) is 1.5. This indicates that by using the inner lens 20, the portion of the light-transmitting region 100 included in the second region 102 can be illuminated with 1.5 times the brightness compared to when using the inner lens 60.

[0041] The emblem plate 10 is made of a material that transmits electromagnetic waves such as millimeter waves emitted by the radar device 40.

[0042] The emblem plate 10 has a laminated structure in which a first layer 11 located on the front side, a second layer 12 located on the back side, and a third layer 13 located between the first layer 11 and the second layer 12 are stacked, as shown in Figure 2, for example.

[0043] The first layer 11 is made of a material that transmits visible light emitted from the light source 30, such as acrylic resin or polycarbonate (PC) resin. The second layer 12 is made of a material that transmits visible light emitted from the light source 30, such as acrylonitrile styrene (AS), acrylic resin, or polycarbonate (PC) resin. The third layer 13 is made of a material that does not transmit visible light emitted from the light source 30, such as black PC material, polypropylene (PP), or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), or a material whose transmittance of visible light emitted from the light source 30 is lower than that of the materials in the first layer 11 and the second layer 12.

[0044] The second layer 12 protrudes toward the front side of the emblem plate 10 and has a projection 121 that penetrates a hole 131 provided in the third layer 13. Light irradiated from the inner lens 20 onto the second layer 12 is mainly extracted to the outside through the projection 121 that is not covered by the third layer 13.

[0045] The protruding portion 121 has a pattern that forms the design of the emblem, and the in-plane region of the emblem plate 10 including the protruding portion 121 becomes a light-transmitting region 100 in which the emblem is illuminated when the light source 30 is emitted.

[0046] Furthermore, the protruding portion 121 can be seen from the surface 103 side under ambient light such as sunlight, even when the light source 30 is not emitting light, thus allowing the emblem to be displayed.

[0047] A light-diffusing layer may be provided on the side of the second layer 12 opposite to the third layer 13 (the right side in Figure 2), or between the second layer 12 and the third layer 13, to diffuse the light irradiated onto the back surface 104 of the emblem plate 10. This light-diffusing layer is, for example, a layer in which a light-diffusing layer material is dispersed within a base material that transmits visible light emitted from a light source 30, such as an acrylic resin or PC resin.

[0048] A protective layer (a so-called hard coat) for protecting the emblem plate 10 may be provided on the side of the first layer 11 opposite to the third layer 13 (the left side in Figure 2). This protective layer is made of a material that transmits visible light emitted from a light source 30, such as an acrylic resin.

[0049] Typically, multiple light sources 30 are provided around the radar device 40. In that case, as shown in Figure 3, multiple parts such as a first reflective surface 21a, a second reflective surface 22, and a third reflective surface 21b are also provided on the inner lens 20 to guide the light emitted from the light sources 30 to the back surface of the emblem plate 10. For example, when using the inner lens 20 shown in Figure 3, nine light sources 30 are used.

[0050] The inner lens 20 has an annular shape, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, for example, and the radar device 40 is housed inside its hole 27.

[0051] The inner lens 20 has screw holes 28 for fixing the inner lens 20 to the housing 50, for example, as shown in Figure 3. For example, the screw holes 28 and the screw holes in the substrate 31 can be aligned and a screw can be passed through to screw the inner lens 20 and the substrate 31 to the housing 50.

[0052] A frame portion 14 extending to the back is provided on the outer edge of the emblem plate 10. The frame portion 14 is provided in an annular shape along the outer edge of the emblem plate 10, for example. The frame portion 14 is also provided integrally with the third layer 13, for example.

[0053] The housing 50 has a flange 51 at a position corresponding to the frame portion 14 of the emblem plate 10. By fixing the frame portion 14 to the flange 51, the emblem plate 10 is attached to the housing 50 so as to close the opening of the housing 50.

[0054] The housing 50 has a hole 52 on the side opposite the emblem plate 10 for passing through a harness 55 connected to the radar device 40 and a harness 56 connected to the circuit board 31. A grommet 54, for example, is fitted into this hole 52.

[0055] The housing 50 has, for example, a fixing portion 53 extending outward from the outer surface of the housing 50 for fixing the luminous emblem 1 to an exterior panel of the vehicle, such as a grille, as shown in Figure 1. For example, the fixing portion 53 is fixed to the exterior panel of the vehicle using screws.

[0056] The radar device 40 does not have to be housed inside the housing 50. For example, it may be installed on the outside of the housing 50 (on the right side of the housing 50 in Figure 2) or in an opening in the housing 50 into which the radar device 40 is fitted.

[0057] The substrate 31 is typically positioned around the radar device 40 when viewed from the direction of the central axis C of the electromagnetic wave transmission range R (left-right direction in Figure 2). In the example shown in Figure 2, the substrate 31 has a ring shape, and the radar device 40 is housed inside its hole 32.

[0058] To make the light-emitting emblem 1 thinner, it is preferable that the position of the substrate 31 in the direction of the central axis C of the electromagnetic wave transmission range R is within the range of the position of the radar device 40 in the direction of the central axis C, as illustrated in Figure 2. In other words, it is desirable that the thickness of the substrate 31 be within the range of the thickness of the radar device 40.

[0059] (Effects of the embodiment) According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, a light-emitting emblem 1 can be provided in which the substrate 31 on which the light source 30 is mounted is installed outside the electromagnetic wave transmission range R of the radar device, and the uniformity of the light emission intensity of the emblem is high.

[0060] 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]

[0061] 1. Illuminated Emblem 10 Emblem Plate 100 light transmission area 101 First Domain 102 Second Domain 20 Inner Lenses 21 Slope 21a First reflective surface 21b Third reflective surface 22 Second reflective surface 30 light source 31 circuit boards 40 Radar equipment

Claims

1. An emblem plate having a light-transmitting region, A radar device that emits electromagnetic waves that pass through the emblem plate from the back side of the emblem plate, A light source mounted on a circuit board, An inner lens that irradiates the back surface of the emblem plate in order to emit light supplied from the light source outwards from the light-transmitting region, Equipped with, The substrate and the inner lens are installed on the back side of the emblem plate, outside the electromagnetic wave transmission range of the radar device. The inner lens has a first reflective surface that reflects light supplied from the light source toward a first region of the emblem plate, and a second reflective surface that reflects light toward a second region of the emblem plate. The portion included in the second region of the light-transmitting region is closer to the light source than the portion included in the first region of the light-transmitting region. Illuminated emblem.

2. The inner lens has an inclined surface on the side opposite to the light source that is inclined with respect to the optical axis of the light source. The inclined surface includes the first reflective surface and a third reflective surface having a different inclination angle from the first reflective surface, which reflects light supplied from the light source toward the second reflective surface. The light-emitting emblem according to claim 1.

3. The inclination angle of the third reflective surface with respect to the optical axis of the light source is 44 to 46°. The light-emitting emblem according to claim 2.

4. The position of the substrate in the direction of the central axis of the electromagnetic wave transmission range is within the range of the position of the radar device in the direction of the central axis. A light-emitting emblem according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images