In-vehicle lighting device

Abstract

To make industrial design layout of a lens of an on-vehicle illumination device easier.SOLUTION: An on-vehicle illumination device 1 is provided with a lens 14 which comprises a transparent part 18 which penetrates the light and an opaque part 16 which does not penetrate the light. The opaque part 16 includes light transit region 16b which is formed by an opening and the transparent part 18 includes lens body region 20 which covers the light transit region 16b and back side region 22 which extends from the lens body region 20 to reverse side of the opaque part 16. The opaque part 16 comes into contact to end surface of an edge of the back side region 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an in-vehicle lighting device, and more particularly to a lens structure that transmits light emitted by a light source. [Background technology]

[0002] A lighting device is attached to the ceiling in the interior of an automobile. As shown in Patent Documents 1 to 3, some lighting devices include a light source housed in a housing and a lens provided at an opening of the housing. The lens transmits light emitted by the light source. Some lenses diffuse the light emitted by the light source and irradiate a wide area in the interior of the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-199445 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2015-123875 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2007-331572 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In lighting devices equipped with lenses, some of the light entering the lens from the light source propagates through the lens in a direction along the surface and is diffused at the edge of the lens. This can cause the edge of the lens to shine, making it difficult to design the aesthetic appearance of the lighting device (design).

[0005] An object of the present invention is to facilitate the design of lenses for vehicle-mounted lighting devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides a lens having a transparent portion that transmits light and an opaque portion that does not transmit light, the opaque portion having a light passing area formed by an opening, the transparent portion having a lens body area that covers the light passing area and a back side area that extends from the lens body area to the back side of the opaque portion. The rear region is provided with a diffusion suppression rib that protrudes toward the opposite side to the vehicle interior and contacts the end surface of the edge of the rear region. It is characterized by the above.

[0007] The present invention also provides a lens having a transparent portion that transmits light and an opaque portion that does not transmit light, wherein the opaque portion has a light passing area formed by an opening, the transparent portion has a lens body area that covers the light passing area and a back area that extends from the lens body area to the back side of the opaque portion, the transparent portion has a front area that extends from the lens body area to the front side of the opaque portion, and the opaque portion is sandwiched between the front area and the back area.

[0008] Preferably, The front side region extends from the lens body region to the edge of the opaque portion and curves from the edge of the opaque portion toward the opposite side to the vehicle cabin. .

[0009] Preferably, The opaque portion is in contact with the edge surface of the rear region. . Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, the design of the lens of an in-vehicle lighting device can be facilitated. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an in-vehicle lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the vehicle interior side. [Diagram 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the in-vehicle lighting device taken along line AA. FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the in-vehicle lighting device taken along line AA. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components shown in the drawings are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0014] FIG. 1 shows an in-vehicle lighting device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the vehicle interior side. The in-vehicle lighting device 1 is fixed to an area of ​​the ceiling of the vehicle that faces diagonally upward and rearward from the windshield. The upward direction in FIG. 1 corresponds to the diagonally upward and rearward direction in the vehicle, and the left-right direction corresponds to the left-right direction as seen by the passengers. However, in the explanation of FIG. 1, the terms up-down-left-right and up-down-left-right refer to the top-down-left-right of the drawing.

[0015] The in-vehicle lighting device 1 has a structure integrated with a storage compartment, and may be incorporated in an overhead console. The surface facing the passenger compartment (the passenger compartment side surface) is substantially rectangular, and a lens 14 and a lid 10 for the storage compartment are provided on the passenger compartment side. The lid 10 is located on the upper side of the passenger compartment side surface. The lid 10 is a flat portion of a storage container 12 fitted into a housing of the in-vehicle lighting device 1 that appears on the passenger compartment side. A switch for operating the in-vehicle lighting device 1 may be provided on the lid 10.

[0016] The left and right vertical sides of the lid 10 are straight lines. The upper edge of the lid 10 curves from the top of the left vertical side to the right, then curves gently upward, then curves downward to reach the top of the right vertical side. The lower edge of the lid 10 has a shape with the center protruding downward. That is, the lower edge of the lid 10 extends from the bottom of the left vertical side to the right, then curves downward and extends downward, then curves right and extends right, then curves upward and extends upward, then curves right again to reach the bottom of the right vertical side.

[0017] The accessory container 12 can freely swing about a central axis that is a straight line extending left and right below the lid 10. By pulling the upper side of the lid 10 toward the vehicle interior, an opening of the accessory container 12 appears on the vehicle interior side, allowing the user to store small items such as sunglasses in it. By pushing back the upper side of the lid 10, the accessory container 12 is stored in the housing of the in-vehicle lighting device 1, and the opening is closed.

[0018] The lens 14 is located below the lid 10. The lens 14 is formed in a plate shape and extends from the left end to the right end of the vehicle interior side surface of the vehicle-mounted lighting device 1. The left and right vertical sides of the lens 14 are straight lines. The lower edge of the lens 14 extends from the lower end of the left vertical side to the lower end of the right vertical side while drawing a curve that bulges gently upward. The upper edge of the lens 14 has a concave shape corresponding to the convex shape of the lower edge of the lid 10, and the center part is concave downward. That is, the upper edge of the lens 14 extends from the upper end of the left vertical side to the right, then bends downward and extends downward, bends right and extends right, then bends upward and extends upward, and bends right again to reach the upper end of the right vertical side.

[0019] The lens 14 includes a plate-shaped opaque portion 16 and a plate-shaped transparent portion 18 that covers the vehicle interior side surface of the opaque portion 16. The opaque portion 16 may be formed of an opaque plastic resin that does not transmit light. The transparent portion 18 may be formed of a plastic resin that transmits light. The transparent portion 18 may be a colored plastic resin. The opaque portion 16 includes light passing regions 16a to 16d formed by openings provided in the opaque portion 16. Light passes through the light passing regions 16a to 16d. In the example shown in FIG. 1, two substantially rectangular light passing regions 16a and 16b are vertically arranged on the left side of the opaque portion 16, i.e., on the left side of the region recessed downward. In addition, two substantially rectangular light passing regions 16c and 16d are vertically arranged on the right side of the opaque portion 16, i.e., on the right side of the region recessed downward.

[0020] Here, an example has been shown in which the lid portion 10 of the accessory case is provided above the lens 14, but the lid portion 10 may be provided below the lens 14.

[0021] Fig. 2 shows a cross section (AA cross section) that appears when the in-vehicle lighting device 1 is cut along the line AA in Fig. 1. The direction toward the drawing surface of Fig. 2 (positive direction of the z-axis) corresponds to the diagonally upward and rearward direction of the automobile. The upward direction (positive direction of the x-axis) in Fig. 2 corresponds to the direction from the ceiling toward the passenger compartment, and the rightward direction (positive direction of the y-axis) corresponds to the rightward direction of the automobile.

[0022] The vehicle-mounted lighting device 1 includes a housing 26, a lens 14, a substrate 52, a light source 54, and a conductive rubber 56. The housing 26 includes support parts 28a to 28c extending from the ceiling side toward the vehicle interior side. The support parts 28a to 28c may be formed in a wall shape or a column shape inside the housing 26. The support part 28a extends from the end on the ceiling side toward the vehicle interior side along the x-axis direction, and extends toward the vehicle interior side while being warped to the left of the positive x-axis direction. The end on the vehicle interior side of the support part 28a is formed with a flat lens support surface 34 facing the vehicle interior side, and a lens fitting protrusion 36 protruding from the surface. The support part 28b extends from the end on the ceiling side toward the vehicle interior side along the x-axis direction, and extends toward the vehicle interior side while being warped to the right of the positive x-axis direction. The support part 28c extends from the end on the ceiling side toward the vehicle interior side along the x-axis direction.

[0023] The lens 14 is in contact with the end portions of the support portion 28a and the support portion 28b on the vehicle interior side. In the opaque portion 16 constituting the lens 14, a fitting rib 30 protruding toward the ceiling side is provided in a region to the left of the light passing region 16b. In addition, in the region to the left of the light passing region 16b, a diffusion suppressing rib 32 protruding toward the ceiling side is provided to the right of the fitting rib 30. The fitting rib 30 and the diffusion suppressing rib 32 may extend in the z-axis direction. A lens fitting protrusion 36 formed on the end portion of the support portion 28a on the vehicle interior side is inserted into an inter-rib recess 40 formed between the fitting rib 30 and the diffusion suppressing rib 32. The lens fitting protrusion 36 may be in contact with at least one of the innermost surface and the left and right surfaces of the inter-rib recess 40. In addition, the ceiling side edge of the diffusion suppressing rib 32 is in contact with a lens support surface 34 formed on the end portion of the support portion 28a on the vehicle interior side.

[0024] Of the opaque portion 16 constituting the lens 14, the region to the right of the light passing region 16b extends rightward from the edge of the boundary with the light passing region 16b, bends toward the ceiling, extends in a direction warped to the right with respect to the negative direction of the x-axis, then bends further toward the ceiling, and extends toward the ceiling along the x-axis. A protrusion 50 extends rightward from the section of the opaque portion 16 that extends toward the ceiling along the x-axis. The protrusion 50 may support a member that constitutes a small storage compartment.

[0025] The transparent portion 18 constituting the lens 14 covers the passenger compartment side (front surface) of the opaque portion 16, and also enters the light passing region 16b formed in the opaque portion 16 to block the light passing region 16b. The transparent portion 18 further extends from the lens body region 20 that enters the light passing region 16b to the rear side of the left region of the opaque portion 16, and contacts the rear surface of the left region of the opaque portion 16. The diffusion suppressing rib 32 in the left region of the opaque portion 16 contacts the edge end face (surface at the end of the edge) of the rear region 22 that extends from the lens body region 20 to the rear side of the opaque portion 16. The diffusion suppressing rib 32 may extend in the z-axis direction along the edge end face of the rear region 22. The diffusion suppressing rib 32 may be in close contact with the edge end face of the rear region 22.

[0026] A flat transparent portion contact surface 38 facing the left side is formed on the back surface of the portion bent toward the ceiling in the right region of the opaque portion 16. The transparent portion 18 extends from the lens body region 20 to the back side of the right region of the opaque portion 16, and contacts the back surface of the right region of the opaque portion 16. The transparent portion contact surface 38 contacts the edge face of the back side region 22 that extends from the lens body region 20 to the back side of the opaque portion 16. The transparent portion contact surface 38 may extend in the z-axis direction along the edge face of the back side region 22. The transparent portion contact surface 38 may be in close contact with the edge face of the back side region 22.

[0027] Here, a cross section of the transparent portion 18 of the lens 14 taken along line AA is shown, with a structure in which the edge face of the left-hand back region 22 is in contact with the diffusion-suppressing rib 32, and the edge face of the right-hand back region 22 is in contact with the transparent portion contact surface 38. The back region 22 of the transparent portion 18 extends outward from the outer periphery of the lens body region 20, and the edge face of the outer periphery of the back region 22 may be in contact with a rib similar to the diffusion-suppressing rib 32 formed in the opaque portion 16, or a contact surface similar to the transparent portion contact surface 38 (a rib or contact surface along the outer periphery of the back region 22).

[0028] The transparent portion 18 further has front side regions 24 on the left and right sides that extend from the lens body region 20 to the cabin side of the opaque portion 16 and contact the cabin side surface of the opaque portion 16. The left side of the opaque portion 16 is sandwiched between the left side front side region 24 and the left side rear side region 22, and the right side of the opaque portion 16 is sandwiched between the right side front side region 24 and the right side rear side region 22. The front side region 24 on the left side of the lens body region 20 extends to the left along the cabin side surface of the opaque portion 16 and bends toward the ceiling side (the opposite side to the cabin) at the left edge of the opaque portion 16. The front side region 24 on the right side of the lens body region 20 extends to the right along the cabin side surface of the opaque portion 16 and bends toward the ceiling side, with the edge of the tip contacting the protruding portion 50.

[0029] A transparent electrode 58 is provided on the rear surfaces of the lens body region 20 and the left and right rear regions 22. The transparent electrode 58 may be a transparent thin-film conductor attached to the rear surfaces of the lens body region 20 and the left and right rear regions 22 by a technique such as sputtering. The right rear region 22 of the transparent portion 18 is in contact with the end of the support portion 28b on the vehicle cabin side via the transparent electrode 58.

[0030] The substrate 52 is in contact with the ceiling-side end of each of the support portions 28a to 28c. Between the substrate 52 and a transparent electrode 58 provided on the rear surface of the transparent portion 18, a conductive rubber 56 formed of a conductive elastic body is provided, and electrical conduction is established between the transparent electrode 58 and the substrate 52. The conductive rubber 56 has a rectangular wave shape (a zigzag shape extending in the x-axis direction) in which a plurality of U-shaped conductive rubbers are connected in the x-axis direction such that adjacent U-shaped conductive rubbers are arranged in opposite orientations and share a section extending in the left-right direction.

[0031] A light source 54 is disposed between the support portion 28a and the support portion 28b on the surface of the substrate 52 facing the vehicle interior. The light source 54 may be a light bulb, a light emitting diode, or the like. The substrate 52 is also provided with a control circuit (not shown). The control circuit is electrically connected to the transparent electrode 58 via the conductive rubber 56. The control circuit detects a change in the capacitance of the transparent electrode 58 via the conductive rubber 56, and turns on or off the light source 54 according to the detection result. When a human body, such as a user's finger, touches the vehicle interior side surface of the lens 14, the capacitance of the transparent electrode 58 changes. The control circuit turns on the light source 54 that was turned off according to the change in capacitance. Alternatively, the control circuit turns off the light source 54 that was turned on according to the change in capacitance.

[0032] When the light source 54 is turned on, the light emitted from the light source 54 passes through the lens body region 20, illuminating the vehicle interior. The lens body region 20 may have a structure, such as diamond cutting, that diffuses the light that enters and passes through the lens body region 20. In this case, the light that passes through the lens body region 20 is diffused, and a wide area in the vehicle interior is brightly illuminated.

[0033] Generally, in a lighting device equipped with a lens, a part of the light incident on the lens from the light source propagates in a direction along the surface of the lens and is diffused at the edge of the lens, which may cause the edge of the lens to shine. In the in-vehicle lighting device 1 according to this embodiment, the end face of the edge of the left rear region 22 of the transparent portion 18 of the lens 14 is in contact with the diffusion suppressing rib 32. In addition, the surface of the left rear region 22 near the edge on the cabin side is in contact with the back surface of the opaque portion 16. This suppresses the diffusion of light at the edge of the left rear region 22, and suppresses the light emitted from the edge of the left rear region 22.

[0034] 3 shows an optical path 70 of such light. Most of the light emitted from the light source 54 and incident on the lens 14 is transmitted through the transparent electrode 58 and the transparent portion 18. A part of the light emitted from the light source 54 and incident on the transparent portion 18 is multiple-reflected between the cabin side (front surface) and the back surface of the transparent portion 18, propagates along the cabin side surface and the back surface of the transparent portion 18, and reaches the edge of the left back region 22. In the in-vehicle lighting device 1 according to this embodiment, the opaque portion 16 including the diffusion suppression rib 32 suppresses the diffusion of light at the edge of the left back region 22, and suppresses the light emitted from the edge of the left back region 22.

[0035] In addition, in the vehicle-mounted lighting device 1 according to this embodiment, the vehicle interior side of the right-side back area 22 of the transparent portion 18 of the lens 14 is covered with the opaque portion 16, so that it cannot be seen from the vehicle interior. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the user's line of sight 72 is blocked by the opaque portion 16, and the line of sight 72 does not reach the edge of the right-side back area 22. Therefore, even if light is diffused at the edge of the right-side back area 22, the diffused light is not visible to the user. In addition, the end face of the edge of the right-side back area 22 is in contact with the transparent portion contact surface 38 of the opaque portion 16. Therefore, the diffusion of light at the edge of the right-side back area 22 is suppressed, and the light emitted from the edge of the right-side back area 22 is suppressed. In this way, according to the vehicle-mounted lighting device 1 according to this embodiment, it is possible to avoid the edges of the left and right back areas 22 from becoming bright, and the design is made easier.

[0036] In the in-vehicle lighting device 1 according to this embodiment, the left surface region 24 further extends to the left along the cabin side surface of the opaque portion 16 and curves toward the ceiling at the left edge of the opaque portion 16. Similarly, the right surface region 24 extends to the right along the cabin side surface of the opaque portion 16 and curves toward the ceiling. Therefore, the edge of the surface region 24 is in a position that cannot be seen from the cabin side. This makes the edges of the left and right surface regions 24 invisible to the user, facilitating design.

[0037] Here, the structure around the light passing region 16b of the opaque portion 16 shown in Fig. 1 has been described, but the periphery of the light passing region 16a has a similar structure to that of the light passing region 16b. Also, the peripheries of the light passing regions 16c and 16d have structures that are approximately symmetrical to the light passing regions 16a and 16b, respectively.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the in-vehicle lighting device 1 is fixed to the area of ​​the ceiling of the automobile that extends diagonally upward from the windshield to the rear. The in-vehicle lighting device 1 may be fixed to another area, such as the center of the ceiling.

[0039] In the above embodiment, the transparent electrode 58 is provided on the back surface of the transparent portion 18 of the lens 14, but the present invention may be used for a lens that is not provided with a transparent electrode. The present invention may be used for a lighting device for a switch panel, in addition to a lighting device incorporated in an overhead console. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1 Vehicle lighting device, 10 Lid portion, 12 Small item storage container, 14 Lens, 16 Opaque portion, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d Light passing area, 18 Transparent portion, 20 Lens body area, 22 Back side area, 24 Front side area, 26 Housing, 28a, 28b, 28c Support portion, 30 Fitting rib, 32 Diffusion suppression rib, 34 Lens support surface, 36 Lens fitting protrusion, 38 Transparent portion contact surface, 40 Recess between ribs, 50 Protruding portion, 52 Substrate, 54 Light source, 56 Conductive rubber, 58 Transparent electrode, 70 Optical path, 72 Line of sight.

Claims

1. A lens having a transparent portion that transmits light and an opaque portion that does not transmit light, The opaque portion is a light passage area formed by an aperture; The transparent portion has a lens body region covering the light passing region and a back side region extending from the lens body region to the back side of the opaque portion, An in-vehicle lighting device comprising a diffusion suppression rib that protrudes toward the opposite side to the vehicle compartment and contacts an end face of the edge of the back area.

2. A lens having a transparent portion that transmits light and an opaque portion that does not transmit light, The opaque portion is a light passage area formed by an aperture; The transparent portion has a lens body region covering the light passing region and a back side region extending from the lens body region to the back side of the opaque portion, the transparent portion has a front side area extending from the lens body area to a front side of the opaque portion, An in-vehicle lighting device, characterized in that the opaque portion is sandwiched between the front region and the back region.

3. The vehicle-mounted lighting device according to claim 2, The front side region is An in-vehicle lighting device, comprising: a lens body region extending to an edge of the opaque portion; and a curved portion extending from the edge of the opaque portion toward a side opposite to a vehicle interior.

4. In the vehicle lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The opaque portion is The vehicle-mounted lighting device is characterized in that it is in contact with an end face of the edge of the back side area.

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