Interior lighting

Abstract

To provide a vehicle interior lighting device capable of detecting a change of a capacitance stably, in switching between turning on and off.SOLUTION: A vehicle interior lighting device 1 comprises: a housing 12 comprising, an annular lens contact surface 12d which surface-contacts along an outer peripheral shape of a light reception surface 13d of a light transmission part 13a, and a bus bar contact surface 12i; a first bas bar 14 which has an electric conductive annular electrode part 14a; a first holder 15 which has an annular contact end 15j being formed in a shape along a shape of the electrode part 14a, and holds the first bas bar 14 by bringing the contact end 15j into contact with the electrode part 14a; and a control part 22 for switching on / off of a light source 20 according to a change of a capacity between the electrode part 14a and a part of a human body touching a light radiation surface 13c. The electrode part 14a is a flat plate body where a first main flat surface 14c surface-contacts the bas bar contact surface 12i, and a second main flat surface 14d faces the contact end 15j. The electrode part 14a has a first energization part 14e for applying energization force to the contact end 15j.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle interior lighting device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are devices installed in the passenger compartment of an automobile to illuminate the interior of the vehicle. Patent Document 1 discloses technology related to a vehicle interior lighting device that turns on and off when a part of the human body touches the light-emitting surface of a lens facing the interior of the vehicle. In this technology, a part of the light-transmitting part of the lens and an annular electrode part of the bus bar are in contact with each other via a part of the housing (inner cover). The bus bar also contacts an electrode pad on a circuit board that is electrically connected to a control unit. Therefore, when a part of the human body touches the light-emitting surface of the lens, the control unit can detect a change in capacitance between the electrode part and the human body and switch the light source on and off. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-12257 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the vehicle interior lighting device disclosed in Patent Document 1, dimensional variations in components can occur between products due to various manufacturing conditions. For example, dimensional errors in the housing can cause a loss of adhesion between the busbar electrode and the housing, resulting in an insufficient change in capacitance between the electrode and the human body when the human body touches the light-irradiated surface. This insufficient change in capacitance is undesirable because it makes it difficult for the control unit to detect the change in capacitance and, ultimately, to properly switch the light source on and off.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the problems inherent in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle interior lighting device that can stably detect a change in capacitance when switching between on and off. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An interior lighting device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a light source, a lens having a light-transmitting portion that transmits light emitted from the light source toward the interior of the vehicle cabin, a housing having an annular lens contact surface that is in surface contact along the outer circumferential shape of the light-receiving surface of the light-transmitting portion and a busbar contact surface that is the surface opposite the lens contact surface, a conductive busbar having an annular electrode portion that conforms to the shape of the busbar contact surface, a holder having an annular contact end portion that conforms to the shape of the electrode portion and that holds the busbar by bringing the contact end portion into contact with the electrode portion, and a control unit that switches the light source on and off in response to a change in capacitance between the electrode portion and a part of a human body that touches the light-irradiating surface of the light-transmitting portion, wherein the electrode portion is a flat plate having one main plane that is in surface contact with the busbar contact surface and the other main plane that faces the contact end portion, and one of the electrode portion or the contact end portion has a biasing portion that applies a biasing force to the other. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is an external perspective view of a vehicle interior lighting device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle interior lighting device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a housing according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first bus bar in the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first holder in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the vehicle interior lighting device corresponding to the cross section VI-VI of FIG. 1. [Figure 7] 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the vehicle interior lighting device corresponding to the cross section VII-VII of FIG. 1. [Figure 8]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second bus bar in the second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a third bus bar in the third embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second holder in the fourth embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an engagement groove and a first spring portion in a fourth embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a fourth bus bar in the fifth embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a third holder in the fifth embodiment. [Figure 14A] FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a wide portion of a third side wall portion in a fifth embodiment. [Figure 14B] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a wide portion of a second side wall portion in a fifth embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a fifth bus bar in the sixth embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a sixth bus bar in the seventh embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a fourth holder in the seventh embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a wide portion in the seventh embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a seventh bus bar in the eighth embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a fifth holder in the eighth embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a fifth biasing portion in the eighth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, vehicle interior lighting devices according to embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for the sake of convenience and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0009] (First embodiment) 1 is a perspective view showing the exterior of a vehicle interior lighting device 1 according to a first embodiment. The vehicle interior lighting device 1 is installed in the interior of a vehicle such as an automobile, and illuminates the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle interior lighting device 1 has a capacitive touch switch structure that allows an occupant to switch the vehicle interior lighting device 1 on and off by touching a light irradiation surface 13c of a lens 13, which is a part of the vehicle interior lighting device 1.

[0010] In the following drawings, each direction based on the XYZ coordinate system is illustrated. The Z direction corresponds to the light irradiation direction perpendicular to the light irradiation surface 13c of the lens 13, and, referring to FIG. 2, also corresponds to the assembly direction of the components constituting the vehicle interior lighting device 1. The X and Y directions are perpendicular to each other and are also perpendicular to the Z direction. Of these, the X direction corresponds to the juxtaposition direction of the two light sources 20.

[0011] 2 is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle interior lighting device 1. The vehicle interior lighting device 1 includes a substrate 10, a prism 11, a housing 12, a lens 13, a first bus bar 14, a first holder 15, a console 16, and a bezel 17.

[0012] The substrate 10 includes a light source 20, an electrode pad 21, a control unit 22, and a connector unit 23. The light source 20 is, for example, an LED (light-emitting diode) that emits light for illumination. In this embodiment, there are two light sources 20, for example. The electrode pad 21 contacts a portion of the substrate connection portion 14b of the first bus bar 14. In this embodiment, a first bus bar 14 is provided for each light source 20, and therefore two electrode pads 21 are provided on the same surface of the substrate 10 as the light source 20. The control unit 22 controls the overall functions of the interior lighting device 1 and includes at least a microcomputer that controls electrostatic touch. The control unit 22 is electrically connected to the electrode pad 21. When a part of the human body, such as a fingertip F (see FIG. 6 ), touches the light irradiation surface 13c of the lens 13, the control unit 22 detects a change in capacitance between the electrode portion 14a of the first bus bar 14 and the human body and switches the light source 20 on and off. The connector portion 23 is connected to a connector on the side of a wire harness routed inside a vehicle in which the vehicle interior lighting device 1 is installed.

[0013] The prisms 11 are optical elements provided directly above the light sources 20, respectively, and configured to bend the light emitted from the light sources 20 in any direction. The prisms 11 are integrally molded from an insulating and optically transparent synthetic resin or the like.

[0014] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the housing 12. Here, if the side facing the lens 13 in the Z direction is the front side of the housing 12, Fig. 3 depicts the housing 12 so that the back side, which is the side facing the substrate 10, can be seen. In the following description of the housing 12, in addition to Fig. 3, Fig. 1, Fig. 6, or Fig. 7 will be referenced as appropriate.

[0015] The housing 12 is a structure disposed opposite the surface of the substrate 10 on which the light source 20 is provided. The housing 12 is also sometimes referred to as an inner cover. The housing 12 is integrally molded from an insulating, light-impermeable synthetic resin or the like. The housing 12 has two reflector portions 12a spaced apart from each other to match the positions of the two light sources 20 on the substrate 10. The two reflector portions 12a are symmetrical to each other and each has a reflective portion 12b, a support frame portion 12c, and a lens-facing portion 12j.

[0016] The reflecting portion 12b is a wall portion that reflects light emitted from the light source 20 and transmitted through the prism 11 and guides the light to the light transmitting portion 13a of the lens 13. The reflecting portion 12b has, for example, a truncated quadrangular pyramid shape that widens from a first opening to a second opening along the Z direction. In this case, the first opening at the apex of the reflecting portion 12b connects to the light exit portion of the prism 11. Meanwhile, the second opening at the base of the reflecting portion 12b opens toward the light transmitting portion 13a.

[0017] The support frame 12c is a collection of walls surrounding a first space S1, which includes an optical path through which light emitted from the light source 20 passes before reaching the light-transmitting portion 13a of the lens 13. Specifically, the support frame 12c is configured by a combination of two walls that are approximately parallel to the XZ plane and two walls that are approximately parallel to the YZ plane. The support frame 12c supports the reflecting portion 12b via the lens-facing portion 12j on the side closer to the light-transmitting portion 13a in the Z direction. Since the two reflector portions 12a of the housing 12 are spaced apart from each other in the X direction, a second space S2 is defined between the two reflector portions 12a. In the second space S2, at least the side of the housing 12 where the bezel 17 is attached is open.

[0018] The lens facing portion 12j is located at the top of the housing 12 in the Z direction and is a wall portion parallel to the light transmitting portion 13a of the lens 13. The shape of the lens facing portion 12j is annular when viewed in the Z direction and is set to match the shape of the outer periphery of the light receiving surface 13d of the light transmitting portion 13a. The surface of the lens facing portion 12j that faces the light transmitting portion 13a is the lens contact surface 12d, and the surface opposite the lens contact surface 12d is the busbar contact surface 12i. A first main plane 14c, which is one of the main planes of the electrode portion 14a of the first busbar 14, comes into contact with the busbar contact surface 12i.

[0019] The housing 12 also has, for example, first protrusions 12g at multiple locations on the wall that constitutes the support frame 12c, which function as a locking mechanism when the lens 13 is attached to the housing 12. The housing 12 also has, for example, first protrusions 12f at multiple locations on the wall that constitutes the support frame 12c, which protrude in the Z direction toward the console 16 and function as a locking mechanism when the housing 12 is attached to the console 16. The first protrusions 12f are each formed with a first engagement hole 12h that engages with a second protrusion 16b that is provided in advance on the console 16.

[0020] The lens 13 is an optical component that transmits at least a portion of the light emitted from the light source 20 and guides the light into the vehicle interior. The lens 13 is integrally molded from an insulating and light-transmitting synthetic resin or the like. However, the lens 13 is not limited to a transparent material and may be a so-called translucent material. A lens 13 is provided for each reflector portion 12a provided in the housing 12, i.e., for each light source 20. Therefore, in this embodiment, two lenses 13 are provided, spaced apart from each other and aligned with the positions of the two reflector portions 12a. The two lenses 13 are symmetrical to each other and each have a light-transmitting portion 13a and a bus bar contact portion 13b.

[0021] The light-transmitting portion 13a is a flat portion that transmits light irradiated from the reflector portion 12a side toward the interior of the vehicle. One of the main planes of the light-transmitting portion 13a is a light-irradiating surface 13c that faces the interior of the vehicle. The light-irradiating surface 13c is a design surface because it faces the interior of the vehicle, and also serves as a touch surface that an occupant touches with a fingertip F or the like when switching the light on or off. The other main plane of the light-transmitting portion 13a is a light-receiving surface 13d, located opposite the light-irradiating surface 13c, that receives light irradiated from the reflector portion 12a side. The light-transmitting portion 13a also has a frame portion 13e that is continuous with the outer peripheries of the light-irradiating surface 13c and the light-receiving surface 13d.

[0022] In this embodiment, the planar shapes of the light irradiation surface 13c and the light receiving surface 13d are approximately rectangular, with two short sides along the X direction and two long sides along the Y direction. Furthermore, when the lens 13 is attached to the housing 12, the outer periphery of the light receiving surface 13d faces the lens contact surface 12d of the housing 12, and therefore the outer periphery of the lens contact surface 12d also becomes approximately rectangular in shape to match the outer periphery of the light receiving surface 13d.

[0023] The busbar contact portion 13b is a structural portion that is provided at a position facing the board connection portion 14b of the first busbar 14 when the lens 13 is installed in the console 16, and that comes into contact with a part of the board connection portion 14b. The busbar contact portion 13b has a protruding wall portion 13f and a locking portion 13n (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

[0024] The protruding wall portion 13f is supported by the light transmitting portion 13a so that one end in the Z direction is continuous with a part of the frame portion 13e of the light transmitting portion 13a and protrudes from the light transmitting portion 13a side toward the substrate 10 along the Z direction. When the lens 13 is attached to the housing 12, the protruding wall portion 13f is located in the second space S2 in the housing 12. In addition, the protruding wall portion 13f supports the locking portion 13n at the other end opposite in the Z direction from the side continuous with the frame portion 13e of the light transmitting portion 13a.

[0025] The locking portion 13n is a flat plate portion parallel to the substrate 10, and comes into contact with a part of the substrate connecting portion 14b on the surface facing the substrate 10, thereby locking the part of the substrate connecting portion 14b so as to press the part of the substrate connecting portion 14b toward the substrate 10. To ensure rigidity, the locking portion 13n may be reinforced by a reinforcing plate 13p provided on the side opposite to the side facing the substrate 10.

[0026] Furthermore, the lens 13 has second protruding pieces 13r that protrude toward the console 16 in the Z direction at multiple locations on the frame portion 13e of the light-transmitting portion 13a and function as a locking mechanism when the lens 13 is attached to the housing 12. The second protruding pieces 13r are formed with second engaging holes 13s that engage with first protrusions 12g that are provided in advance on the housing 12.

[0027] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the first bus bar 14. In Fig. 4, the first bus bar 14 is drawn so that the first main plane 14c of the electrode portion 14a that contacts the bus bar contact surface 12i of the housing 12 can be seen.

[0028] The first bus bar 14 is a conductive metal member that contacts both the housing 12 and the electrode pads 21 on the substrate 10. The first bus bar 14 may be formed by appropriately processing a thin metal plate, such as pressing, cutting, drilling, or bending. A first bus bar 14 is provided for each reflector portion 12a provided on the housing 12, i.e., for each light source 20. Therefore, in this embodiment, there are two first bus bars 14 that are spaced apart to match the positions of the two reflector portions 12a. The two first bus bars 14 are symmetrical to each other and each has an electrode portion 14a and a substrate connection portion 14b that are integrated with each other.

[0029] The electrode portion 14a is a flat plate that is annular as a whole, conforming to the shape of the busbar contact surface 12i of the housing 12. The planar shape of the electrode portion 14a can be set based on the planar shapes of the light-irradiating surface 13c and the light-receiving surface 13d of the light-transmitting portion 13a of the lens 13. In this embodiment, the planar shape of the electrode portion 14a is a rectangular annular shape formed by a total of four consecutive elongated flat plate portions: two first flat plate portions 14j extending in the X direction and two second flat plate portions 14k extending in the Y direction. The outer peripheral shape of the electrode portion 14a is also substantially rectangular, conforming to the outer peripheral shapes of the light-irradiating surface 13c and the light-receiving surface 13d. Therefore, the length in the extension direction of the second flat plate portion 14k is longer than the length in the extension direction of the first flat plate portion 14j.

[0030] Furthermore, the electrode portion 14a has a first main plane 14c that is one of the main planes, and a second main plane 14d (see FIG. 7) that is the other main plane opposite to the first main plane 14c. When the first bus bar 14 is installed in the console 16, the first main plane 14c comes into contact with the bus bar contact surface 12i of the housing 12, as described above. When the first bus bar 14 is installed in the console 16, the second main plane 14d comes into contact with a part of the first holder 15.

[0031] Furthermore, the electrode portion 14a has four first urging portions 14e as multiple urging portions arranged at intervals from one another in the circumferential direction. Each first urging portion 14e is provided for each flat plate portion that makes up the electrode portion 14a. Since the four first urging portions 14e each have the same configuration, the following description will focus on one first urging portion 14e.

[0032] First, in the first biasing portion 14e, a portion of the first flat plate portion 14j or the second flat plate portion 14k is divided in the extension direction of the flat plate portion itself, and one end, a first end portion 14f, and the other end, a second end portion 14g, face each other in the extension direction with a gap between them. Here, a portion of the flat plate portion on the first end portion 14f side and a portion of the flat plate portion on the second end portion 14g side are connected via a connecting portion 14h that is continuous with each other's side portions, thereby maintaining the structural continuity of the flat plate portion on which the first biasing portion 14e is provided. From the perspective of compacting the entire first biasing portion 14e or ensuring rigidity, the connecting portion 14h may be an elongated flat plate having a main plane that is approximately perpendicular to the first main plane 14c and the second main plane 14d.

[0033] The first biasing portion 14e has two first spring portions 14i. One first spring portion 14i is an elastic piece that is continuous with the first end portion 14f, and the other first spring portion 14i is an elastic piece that is continuous with the second end portion 14g. In other words, the two first spring portions 14i face each other. The free end of each first spring portion 14i is bent from the first main flat surface 14c toward the second main flat surface 14d. With this structure, the first spring portion 14i can apply a biasing force to a member that comes into contact with it from the side facing the second main flat surface 14d.

[0034] In this embodiment, the first biasing portions 14e are provided at the middle of the length range of the first flat plate portion 14j or the second flat plate portion 14k in the extension direction. Here, the two first flat plate portions 14j and the two second flat plate portions 14k are the same length, so the two first biasing portions 14e face each other in the X direction or the Y direction. Therefore, the rectangular annular electrode portion 14a as a whole is advantageous in that the multiple first biasing portions 14e can apply a balanced biasing force to a member that contacts the electrode portion 14a from the side facing the second main plane 14d. However, depending on the shape of the light transmitting portion 13a of the lens 13, the shape of the electrode portion 14a is not necessarily limited to a rectangular annular shape. In this case, the position at which the first biasing portions 14e are provided on the electrode portion 14a may be changed as appropriate.

[0035] The substrate connection portion 14b is a so-called leg portion, with a portion continuing to the electrode portion 14a and another portion contacting the electrode pad 21 on the substrate 10. The substrate connection portion 14b is a flat plate body formed by bending a long, narrow flat plate portion or the like, and includes a first base portion 14m, a second base portion 14n, and a contact portion 14p.

[0036] The first base portion 14m is a flat plate portion having one end continuous with the electrode portion 14a and the other end continuous with the second base portion 14n, and supports the second base portion 14n near the electrode pad 21 on the substrate 10. Here, assuming that the electrode portion 14a is maintained in a position along the XY plane, the first base portion 14m may be inclined so as to gradually move away from the electrode portion 14a in the X direction as it moves away from the electrode portion 14a in the Z direction.

[0037] The second base portion 14n is a flat plate portion having one end connected to the first base portion 14m and the other end connected to the contact portion 14p, and is maintained in a position approximately parallel to the substrate 10.

[0038] The contact portion 14p is a curved plate portion whose end opposite the side connected to the second base portion 14n is a free end, and is bent so as to convex from the second base portion 14n side toward the substrate 10. Supported by the second base portion 14n in this shape, the contact portion 14p functions as a whole in the same manner as a coil spring. A hemispherical indent 14q that directly contacts the electrode pad 21 may be formed at the top of the contact portion 14p. The indent 14q makes point contact with the electrode pad 21 and allows the contact portion 14p to slide on the electrode pad 21 when pressed against the electrode pad 21, which can be advantageous in ensuring contact reliability.

[0039] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of first holder 15. In Fig. 5, first holder 15 is depicted so that contact end 15j that contacts first biasing portion 14e of first bus bar 14 can be seen.

[0040] The first holder 15 is a structure that holds the electrode portion 14a of the first bus bar 14 so that it faces the lens-opposing portion 12j of the housing 12. The first holder 15 is integrally molded from an insulating, light-opaque synthetic resin or the like. A first holder 15 is provided for each reflector portion 12a provided in the housing 12, i.e., for each light source 20. Therefore, in this embodiment, two first holders 15 are provided, spaced apart to match the positions of the two reflectors 12a. The two first holders 15 are symmetrical to each other and each is configured as a box or cylinder composed of multiple walls. In this embodiment, the first holder 15 is a box formed by combining four side walls, namely, a first side wall portion 15a, a second side wall portion 15b, a third side wall portion 15c, and a fourth side wall portion 15d, with a bottom wall portion 15e.

[0041] The first side wall 15a and the second side wall 15b are wall portions each having a main plane parallel to the YZ plane and facing each other in the X direction. The lengths of the first side wall 15a and the second side wall 15b in the Y direction approximately match the length in the extension direction of the second flat plate portion 14k of the electrode portion 14a of the first bus bar 14, i.e., the length in the Y direction. On the other hand, the third side wall 15c and the fourth side wall 15d are wall portions each having a main plane parallel to the XZ plane and facing each other in the Y direction. The lengths of the third side wall 15c and the fourth side wall 15d approximately match the length in the extension direction of the first flat plate portion 14j of the electrode portion 14a, i.e., the length in the X direction. The first side wall portion 15a, the third side wall portion 15c, the second side wall portion 15b, and the fourth side wall portion 15d are arranged continuously in a ring shape on the XY plane, thereby forming a rectangular cylinder whose axial direction is the Z direction and whose cross section is a rectangular ring shape.

[0042] Furthermore, in the rectangular cylinder formed by four side walls including the first side wall 15a, one end in the Z direction is a rectangular annular opening end, and this opening end is a contact end 15j that comes into contact with a part of the electrode portion 14a of the first bus bar 14. The contact end 15j has a size that allows it to face the second main plane 14d of the electrode portion 14a, which is also rectangular annular.

[0043] Bottom wall 15e has a main plane parallel to the XY plane, and is a wall covering a portion of the rectangular cylinder constituted by first side wall 15a, etc. that is opposite in the Z direction from the side where contact end 15j is provided. In other words, by combining bottom wall 15e with the rectangular cylinder constituted by first side wall 15a, etc., first holder 15 becomes a box-like body with an opening on the inner circumferential region of contact end 15j and an internal space serving as third space S3.

[0044] The first holder 15 having such a general shape is disposed in the first space S1 of the reflector portion 12a of the housing 12 and placed on the substrate 10 facing the first space S1 in the Z direction (see FIGS. 6 and 7). The reflecting portion 12b of the reflector portion 12a is disposed in the third space S3 of the first holder 15. The bottom wall portion 15e has a through-hole 15f penetrating between the third space S3 and the space on the side where the substrate 10 is located. The through-hole 15f passes through the prism 11 provided on the substrate 10 in alignment with the position of the light source 20. Therefore, the first holder 15 does not obstruct the optical path from the light source 20 to the reflecting portion 12b via the prism 11. Furthermore, a plurality of support legs 15g, each of which has a tip that contacts the substrate 10, may be provided on the outer surface of the bottom wall portion 15e, and the first holder 15 may be supported on the substrate 10 by the plurality of support legs 15g.

[0045] The first holder 15 may also have a guide portion 15h that is provided on a portion of the outer surface of the first sidewall portion 15a and that guides the first base portion 14m of the board connection portion 14b of the first busbar 14 in the extension direction when the first holder 15 is installed in the console 16. As described above, the first base portion 14m is inclined so as to gradually move away from the electrode portion 14a in the X direction as it moves away from the electrode portion 14a in the Z direction. Therefore, the guide portion 15h has a guide groove 15i that accommodates a portion of the first base portion 14m in accordance with the inclination of the first base portion 14m. Note that the first base portion 14m may or may not be in contact with the guide portion 15h when accommodated in the guide groove 15i.

[0046] The console 16 has an accommodation opening 16d that is open in the Z direction, for example, and is a housing that accommodates the substrate 10, the prism 11, the housing 12, the lens 13, the first bus bar 14, and the first holder 15 through the accommodation opening 16d. The interior lighting device 1 is installed inside the vehicle cabin by attaching the console 16 to an inner wall of the vehicle cabin or the like. The console 16 is integrally molded from an insulating, light-impermeable synthetic resin or the like.

[0047] The console 16 also has a base structure 16a therein that includes a base on which the circuit board 10 is placed, or pins for positioning the circuit board 10 on the base. The console 16 also has second protrusions 16b at multiple locations inside the console 16 that function as a locking mechanism when the housing 12 is attached to the console 16. The console 16 also has third protrusions 16c at multiple locations on the wall of the console 16 that function as a locking mechanism when the bezel 17 is attached to the console 16.

[0048] The bezel 17 is a flat lid attached to the console 16, which houses the various components, so as to cover the storage opening 16d of the console 16. In other words, the bezel 17 is also a design component that faces the interior of the vehicle. The bezel 17 is integrally molded from an insulating, light-opaque synthetic resin or the like.

[0049] The bezel 17 also has multiple openings 17a that expose the light irradiation surfaces 13c of the lenses 13 toward the interior of the vehicle. In this embodiment, there are two lenses 13, so there are two openings 17a. The bezel 17 also has third protruding pieces 17b at multiple locations on the frame edge that protrude toward the console 16 in the Z direction and function as a locking mechanism when the housing 12 is attached to the console 16. The third protruding pieces 17b are each formed with a third engagement hole 17c that engages with a third protrusion 16c that is previously provided on the console 16.

[0050] 6 and 7 are partial cross-sectional views of the vehicle interior lighting device 1. Fig. 6 corresponds to the VI-VI cross section in Fig. 1, and is a view taken along the XZ plane so as to pass through the entire board connection portion 14b of the first bus bar 14, with respect to the side of one lens 13. Fig. 7 corresponds to the VII-VII cross section in Fig. 1, and is a view taken along the XZ plane so as to pass through the contact end portion 15j on the third side wall portion 15c of the first holder 15 and the two first spring portions 14i of the first bus bar 14, with respect to the side of one lens 13.

[0051] In this embodiment, the first bus bar 14 is disposed within the console 16 so that the first main plane 14c of the electrode portion 14a contacts the bus bar contact surface 12i of the lens facing portion 12j of the housing 12, the bus bar contact surface 12i facing the first space S1. The second main plane 14d of the electrode portion 14a faces the contact end portion 15j of the first holder 15 placed on the substrate 10 in the Z direction. The first spring portion 14i, which is a part of the first biasing portion 14e provided in advance on the electrode portion 14a, contacts the contact end portion 15j while applying a biasing force to the contact end portion 15j. Therefore, the first main plane 14c of the electrode portion 14a is pressed against and closely adheres to the bus bar contact surface 12i.

[0052] Here, the height dimension in the Z direction of each part of the first holder 15 is set in advance so that the first main plane 14c can be brought into close contact with the busbar contact surface 12i by the biasing force of the first spring portion 14i against the contact end portion 15j. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first biasing portion 14e is provided for each flat plate portion, such as the first flat plate portion 14j of the electrode portion 14a, so that the first main plane 14c, which has a rectangular ring shape, can be brought into close contact with the busbar contact surface 12i, which also has a rectangular ring shape, evenly.

[0053] Furthermore, when the first bus bar 14 is placed in the console 16, the locking portion 13n provided in advance on the bus bar contact portion 13b comes into contact with the second base portion 14n on the board connection portion 14b of the first bus bar 14 near the electrode pad 21 on the board 10, as shown in FIG. 6 . Here, the housing 12 is formed in advance with a through-portion 12e that penetrates between the second space S2 and the back surface side on which the board 10 is placed. As a result, when the lens 13 is attached to the housing 12, a portion of the board connection portion 14b and a portion of the guide portion 15h of the first holder 15 that guides the board connection portion 14b are exposed from the second space S2 side to the board 10 side. In this state, when the housing 12 with the lens 13 attached is assembled into the console 16, the contact portion 14p on the board connection portion 14b comes into contact with the electrode pad 21 on the board 10. The contact portion 14p is connected to the substrate connection portion 14b in a state where it is bent in advance so as to be convex from the second base portion 14n side to the substrate 10 side, and is therefore constantly pressed onto the electrode pad 21 by elastic force.

[0054] The lens contact surface 12d of the lens facing portion 12j of the housing 12 is in contact with the light receiving surface 13d of the light transmitting portion 13a of the lens 13. In other words, the first main plane 14c of the electrode portion 14a and the light receiving surface 13d of the light transmitting portion 13a are adjacent to each other and communicate with each other via the lens facing portion 12j. This results in a capacitive touch switch structure in which the light irradiating surface 13c of the lens 13 serves as a touch surface, and the light is turned on and off when the occupant touches the light irradiating surface 13c.

[0055] In this type of capacitive touch switch structure, first, in an initial state, the light source 20 is off and the interior lighting device 1 is turned off, but the control unit 22 continues to monitor the capacitance. When an occupant in the vehicle interior touches the light-irradiated surface 13c of the lens 13 from this state, the capacitance generated between the occupant's fingertip F and the electrode portion 14a of the first bus bar 14 changes. The control unit 22 then detects the change in capacitance via the board connection portion 14b of the first bus bar 14 and the electrode pad 21, and switches the light source 20 on based on this detection. This causes the interior lighting device 1 to light up.

[0056] When the occupant subsequently touches the light irradiation surface 13c, the capacitance generated between the fingertip F and the electrode portion 14a changes again, and the control portion 22 detects the change in capacitance in the same manner as above and switches off the light source 20 based on the detection, thereby turning off the interior lighting device 1.

[0057] Next, the effects of the vehicle interior lighting device 1 will be described.

[0058] The vehicle interior lighting device 1 includes a light source 20 and a lens 13 having a light-transmitting portion 13a that transmits light emitted from the light source 20 toward the vehicle interior. The vehicle interior lighting device 1 includes a housing 12 having an annular lens contact surface 12d that is in surface contact with the outer circumferential shape of the light-receiving surface 13d of the light-transmitting portion 13a and a busbar contact surface 12i that is the opposite surface of the lens contact surface 12d. The vehicle interior lighting device 1 includes a conductive first busbar 14 having an annular electrode portion 14a that conforms to the shape of the busbar contact surface 12i. The vehicle interior lighting device 1 also includes a first holder 15 that has an annular contact end portion 15j that conforms to the shape of the electrode portion 14a and holds the first busbar 14 by bringing the contact end portion 15j into contact with the electrode portion 14a. The vehicle interior lighting device 1 also includes a control unit 22 that switches the light source 20 on and off in response to a change in capacitance between the electrode portion 14a and a part of the human body that touches the light-irradiating surface 13c of the light-transmitting portion 13a. The electrode portion 14a is a flat plate having a first main plane 14c that is one of the main planes and is in surface contact with the busbar contact surface 12i, and a second main plane 14d that is the other of the main planes and faces the contact end portion 15j. One of the electrode portion 14a and the contact end portion 15j has a biasing portion that applies a biasing force to the other.

[0059] In this vehicle interior lighting device 1, first, the annular lens contact surface 12d of the housing 12 is in surface contact with the light-receiving surface 13d of the light-transmitting portion 13a of the lens 13, along the outer circumferential shape of the light-receiving surface 13d. At the same time, the first main flat surface 14c of the annular electrode portion 14a of the first busbar 14 is in surface contact with the busbar contact surface 12i, which is the opposite surface of the housing 12 from the lens contact surface 12d, along the shape of the busbar contact surface 12i. In other words, the light-transmitting portion 13a of the lens 13 and the electrode portion 14a of the first busbar 14 are in close surface-to-surface contact with each other via a portion of the housing 12, specifically, the lens-facing portion 12j in the above example. Therefore, the vehicle interior lighting device 1 can realize a capacitive touch switch structure in which the light-irradiating surface 13c of the lens 13 functions as a touch surface that can be touched by, for example, a fingertip F as part of the human body.

[0060] Furthermore, in the vehicle interior lighting device 1, one of the electrode portion 14a and the contact end 15j has a biasing portion that applies a biasing force to the other. In this embodiment, the biasing portion is a plurality of first biasing portions 14e provided on the electrode portion 14a and applying a biasing force to the contact end 15j. When the first biasing portions 14e on the electrode portion 14a apply a biasing force to the contact end 15j, the first main plane 14c of the electrode portion 14a is pressed against the busbar contact surface 12i by a reaction force of the biasing force. Therefore, even if, for example, there is a dimensional error in the housing 12 between different vehicle interior lighting devices 1, the close contact between the housing 12 and the electrode portion 14a is easily maintained. Therefore, in the vehicle interior lighting device 1, it is unlikely that the capacitance between the electrode portion 14a and the human body will not change sufficiently when a part of the human body touches the light irradiation surface 13c.

[0061] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a vehicle interior lighting device 1 that stably detects a change in capacitance when switching between lighting and extinguishing.

[0062] In the vehicle interior lighting device 1, the biasing portion may include an elastic piece that is formed on a part of the electrode portion 14a and applies a biasing force to the contact end portion 15j.

[0063] In the above example, the first biasing portion 14e includes two first spring portions 14i each consisting of an elastic piece. These elastic pieces are formed at the same time as the entire first bus bar 14 is formed by performing various processes on a thin metal plate. Therefore, this vehicle interior lighting device 1 can be advantageous in that the first biasing portion 14e can be easily provided on the electrode portion 14a.

[0064] Furthermore, in the vehicle interior lighting device 1, the first holder 15 may be a box or cylinder having at least a side wall portion, the inside of which defines a third space S3 including an optical path of light. In this case, the contact end portion 15j may be a tip end portion of the side wall portion.

[0065] In the above example, the first holder 15 is a box having four side walls, namely, a first side wall 15a, a second side wall 15b, a third side wall 15c, and a fourth side wall 15d. According to this vehicle interior lighting device 1, the first holder 15 can hold the electrode portion 14a at the contact end 15j without blocking the optical path from the light source 20 to the light transmitting portion 13a.

[0066] The cross-sectional shape of the box or cylinder serving as the first holder 15 is not limited to the rectangular ring shape exemplified above, but may be a polygonal ring shape other than a rectangular ring or a substantially circular ring shape.

[0067] (Second embodiment) In the vehicle interior lighting device 1 according to the second embodiment, a second bus bar 24, which will be exemplified below, can be employed instead of the first bus bar 14 in the first embodiment.

[0068] 8 is a perspective view of the second bus bar 24 in the second embodiment. In the second bus bar 24, the same parts as those in the first bus bar 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0069] In board connection portion 14b of first bus bar 14, the free end of contact portion 14p is not generally expected to come into contact with second base portion 14n. In contrast, in board connection portion 14b of second bus bar 24, the free end of contact portion 14p is curved end 24a that comes into contact with second base portion 14n via a curved surface.

[0070] That is, the vehicle interior lighting device 1 according to the second embodiment includes a substrate 10 on which an electrode pad 21 electrically connected to a control unit 22 is mounted. The second bus bar 24 has a substrate connection portion 14b as a flat plate body integral with the electrode portion 14a. The substrate connection portion 14b may have a first base portion 14m, a second base portion 14n, and a contact portion 14p. One end of the first base portion 14m is continuous with the electrode portion 14a and extends toward the substrate 10. One end of the second base portion 14n is continuous with the first base portion 14m and is maintained in a position parallel to the substrate 10. One end of the contact portion 14p is continuous with the second base portion 14n and the other end is a free end, and is formed in a convex shape toward the substrate 10 so as to come into contact with the electrode pad 21. In this case, the free end of the contact portion 14p may be a curved end 24a that comes into contact with the second base portion 14n when a part of the contact portion 14p comes into contact with the electrode pad 21.

[0071] In the vehicle interior lighting device 1 according to the second embodiment, the free end of the contact portion 14p, which functions as a coil spring as a whole, is curved at the end 24a, thereby preventing excessive displacement of the contact portion 14p. Therefore, the second bus bar 24 can appropriately maintain the contact pressure of the board connection portion 14b against the electrode pad 21.

[0072] (Third embodiment) In the vehicle interior lighting device 1 according to the third embodiment, a third bus bar 34, which will be exemplified below, can also be employed in place of the first bus bar 14 in the first embodiment.

[0073] 9 is a perspective view of a third bus bar 34 in the third embodiment. In the third bus bar 34, the same parts as those in the first bus bar 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0074] In the third bus bar 34, a part of the first base portion 14m may have an elastically deformable bent portion 34a. In the example shown in Fig. 9, the bent portion 34a has a convex shape on the side opposite to the side facing the guide portion 15h provided on the first holder 15 so that the third bus bar 34 does not come into excessive contact with the guide portion 15h when the third bus bar 34 is installed in the console 16.

[0075] According to the vehicle interior lighting device 1 of the third embodiment, the bent portion 34a functions as an elastic portion and allows deformation of the first base portion 14m, so that, for example, deformation of the electrode portion 14a continuous with the first base portion 14m can be suppressed.

[0076] (Fourth embodiment) In the vehicle interior lighting device 1 according to the fourth embodiment, a second holder 25, which will be exemplified below, can be employed instead of the first holder 15 in the first embodiment.

[0077] 10 is a perspective view of the second holder 25 in the fourth embodiment. In the second holder 25, the same parts as those in the first holder 15 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0078] In the second holder 25, the contact end 15j may have an engagement groove 25a that is cut out in the thickness direction of the side wall and engages with a part of the first biasing portion 14e. Here, the second holder 25 is a box-shaped body having four side walls, namely, a first side wall 15a, a second side wall 15b, a third side wall 15c, and a fourth side wall 15d, similar to the first holder 15. Therefore, the engagement groove 25a is provided in the contact end 15j for each of the four side walls, in alignment with the position of the first spring portion 14i of each first biasing portion 14e.

[0079] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the XZ plane, showing, as an example, an engagement groove 25a provided in the contact end 15j of the third side wall portion 15c and two first spring portions 14i that engage with the engagement groove 25a.

[0080] The two first spring portions 14i shown in FIG. 11 face each other in the X direction. The free ends of the first spring portions 14i are bent toward the engagement groove 25a. Therefore, the two first spring portions 14i each come into contact with a corner 25b of the engagement groove 25a. Here, the engagement groove 25a has two corners 25b that face each other in the X direction, so one first spring portion 14i comes into contact with one corner 25b, and the other first spring portion 14i comes into contact with the other corner 25b. In other words, the two first spring portions 14i apply biasing forces in opposite directions to the corresponding corners 25b, and therefore engage with one engagement groove 25a in a state where their positions are restricted in the facing directions.

[0081] In the vehicle interior lighting device 1 according to the fourth embodiment, the two first spring portions 14i maintain the function of pushing the electrode portion 14a toward the busbar contact surface 12i of the housing 12 to bring the electrode portion 14a into close contact with the busbar contact surface 12i. Furthermore, the two first spring portions 14i are positioned in one direction relative to the engagement grooves 25a. In the example of the second holder 25, the engagement grooves 25a are provided on each of the four sidewall portions, so the first spring portions 14i for each of the four first biasing portions 14e are positioned in either the X direction or the Y direction. Therefore, in the vehicle interior lighting device 1 employing the second holder 25, for example, it is possible to prevent misalignment of the light irradiation surface 13c, which serves as the touch surface, with respect to the electrode portion 14a.

[0082] (Fifth embodiment) In the vehicle interior lighting device 1 according to the fifth embodiment, the first bus bar 14 in the first embodiment can be replaced by a fourth bus bar 44 as exemplified below, and the first holder 15 in the first embodiment can be replaced by a third holder 35 as exemplified below.

[0083] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a fourth bus bar 44 according to the fifth embodiment. The fourth bus bar 44 has an electrode portion 44a and a board connecting portion 44b. Each electrode portion 44a is a flat plate body having a first main plane 44c and a second main plane 44d, each of which is formed by connecting two first and second flat plate portions 44j and 44k in a circular shape. The board connecting portion 44b has a first base portion 44m, a second base portion 44n, and a contact portion 44p including an indent 44i. These portions basically correspond to the respective portions of the first bus bar 14.

[0084] Here, the fourth bus bar 44 is provided with a second biasing portion 44e instead of the first biasing portion 14e provided on the first bus bar 14. Like the first biasing portion 14e, the second biasing portion 44e includes an elastic piece formed on a part of the electrode portion 44a and applying an urging force to the contact end portion 15j. However, the elastic piece of the second biasing portion 44e is a second spring portion 44g provided in a notch portion 44f formed on a part of the first flat plate portion 44j or the second flat plate portion 44k. The second spring portion 44g is a cantilever spring with one end fixed and the other end free along the extension direction of either the first flat plate portion 44j or the second flat plate portion 44k.

[0085] 13 is a perspective view of the third holder 35 in the fifth embodiment. In the third holder 35, the same parts as those in the first holder 15 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0086] In the third holder 35, the contact end 15j may have a wide surface 35c with which the second biasing portion 44e comes into contact, the wide surface 35c having a dimension in the thickness direction of the side wall portion set to be thicker than the thickness of the side wall portion. Here, like the first holder 15, the third holder 35 is a box-shaped body having four side wall portions, namely, a first side wall portion 15a, a second side wall portion 15b, a third side wall portion 15c, and a fourth side wall portion 15d. Therefore, the wide surface 35c is provided on the contact end 15j for each of the four side wall portions in accordance with the position of the second spring portion 44g of each second biasing portion 44e.

[0087] In this case, the wide surface 35c is a surface parallel to the XY plane and may be provided as part of the wide portion 35a. The wide portion 35a is a structural portion that protrudes outward from each side wall portion and includes a protruding portion 35b and a reinforcing portion 35d. One surface of the protruding portion 35b forms the wide surface 35c. The reinforcing portion 35d reinforces the protruding portion 35b from the side opposite the wide surface 35c to ensure its rigidity.

[0088] Fig. 14A is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the XZ plane, showing, as an example, the wide portion 35a provided at the contact end 15j of the third side wall 15c and the second spring 44g in contact with the wide surface 35c of the wide portion 35a. Fig. 14B is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the XZ plane, showing, as an example, the wide portion 35a provided at the contact end 15j of the second side wall 15b and the second spring 44g in contact with the wide surface 35c of the wide portion 35a.

[0089] According to the vehicle interior lighting device 1 of the fifth embodiment, the portion of the second biasing portion 44e other than the notched portion 44f where the second spring portion 44g is provided remains as a flat plate portion that is flush with the entire electrode portion 44a in the fourth bus bar 44. Therefore, the surface area of ​​the first main plane 44c of the electrode portion 44a is larger than the surface area of ​​the first main plane 14c of the electrode portion 14a of the first bus bar 14, and therefore the accuracy with which the control unit 22 detects a change in capacitance is improved.

[0090] On the other hand, with regard to the third holder 35, the wide surface 35c with which the second spring portion 44g comes into contact is set to be thicker than the thickness of the side wall portion other than the portion where the wide portion 35a is provided, thereby preventing the second spring portion 44g from coming off the contact end portion 15j.

[0091] (Sixth embodiment) In the vehicle interior lighting device 1 according to the sixth embodiment, a fifth bus bar 54, which will be exemplified below, can be employed instead of the first bus bar 14 in the first embodiment.

[0092] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a fifth bus bar 54 according to the sixth embodiment. The fifth bus bar 54 has an electrode portion 54a and a board connecting portion 54b. Each electrode portion 54a is a flat plate having a ring shape formed by two continuous first and second flat plate portions 54j and 54k, and has a first main plane 54c and a second main plane (not shown). The board connecting portion 54b has a first base portion 54m, a second base portion 54n, and a contact portion 54p including an indent 54i. These portions basically correspond to the respective portions of the first bus bar 14.

[0093] Here, the fifth bus bar 54 is provided with a third biasing portion 54e instead of the first biasing portion 14e provided on the first bus bar 14. The third biasing portion 54e may be a curved plate portion formed by forming a part of the electrode portion 54a into a convex shape toward the contact end 15j, and applying a biasing force to the contact end 15j. In other words, the third biasing portion 54e can function as a doubly supported spring portion.

[0094] According to the vehicle interior lighting device 1 of the sixth embodiment, the reaction force of the spring force generated by the third spring portion 54e can be further increased, thereby preventing a decrease in adhesion between the housing 12 and the electrode portion 54a due to a decrease in the reaction force caused by, for example, vibration or heat.

[0095] Seventh embodiment In the vehicle interior lighting device 1 according to the seventh embodiment, the first bus bar 14 in the first embodiment can be replaced by a sixth bus bar 64 as exemplified below, and the first holder 15 in the first embodiment can be replaced by a fourth holder 45 as exemplified below.

[0096] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a sixth bus bar 64 according to the seventh embodiment. The sixth bus bar 64 has an electrode portion 64a and a board connecting portion 64b. Each electrode portion 64a is a flat plate having a ring shape formed by two continuous first and second flat plate portions 64j and 64k, and having a first main plane 64c and a second main plane 64d. The board connecting portion 64b has a first base portion 64m, a second base portion 64n, and a contact portion 64p including an indent 64i. These portions basically correspond to the respective portions of the first bus bar 14.

[0097] Here, the sixth bus bar 64 is provided with a fourth biasing portion 64e instead of the first biasing portion 14e provided on the first bus bar 14. Like the first biasing portion 14e, the fourth biasing portion 64e is formed on a part of the electrode portion 64a and includes an elastic piece that applies a biasing force to the contact end portion 15j. However, the elastic piece serving as the fourth biasing portion 64e is formed by folding back a flat portion that protrudes from a side portion of the first flat plate portion 44j or the second flat plate portion 44k, and is a third spring portion that can function as a cantilevered helical spring.

[0098] 17 is a perspective view of the fourth holder 45 in the seventh embodiment. In the fourth holder 45, the same parts as those in the first holder 15 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0099] In the fourth holder 45, similar to the third holder 35, the contact end 15j may have a wide surface 45c with which the fourth urging portion 64e comes into contact, the dimension of which in the thickness direction of the side wall portion is set to be thicker than the thickness of the side wall portion. Also, in the fourth holder 45, similar to the second holder 25, the contact end 15j may have an engagement groove 45e that is cut out in the thickness direction of the side wall portion and with which a part of the fourth urging portion 64e engages. In this case, the wide surface 45c becomes the bottom surface of the engagement groove 45e.

[0100] Figure 18 is, as an example, a partial cross-sectional view taken along the XZ plane, showing the wide portion 45a provided at the contact end 15j of the first side wall portion 15a and the fourth urging portion 64e that contacts the wide surface 45c of the wide portion 45a.

[0101] According to the vehicle interior lighting device 1 of the seventh embodiment, for the sixth bus bar 64, the fourth biasing portion 64e is an elastic piece that functions as a cantilevered coil spring, and therefore a coplanar annular flat plate portion remains over almost the entire electrode portion 44a. Therefore, the surface area of ​​the first main plane 64c of the electrode portion 64a is larger than the surface area of ​​the first main plane 14c of the electrode portion 14a of the first bus bar 14, and therefore the accuracy with which the control unit 22 detects changes in capacitance is improved.

[0102] On the other hand, with regard to the fourth holder 45, the wide surface 45c with which the fourth urging portion 64e comes into contact is set to be thicker than the thickness of the side wall portion other than the portion where the wide portion 45a is provided, so that it is possible to prevent the fourth urging portion 64e from coming off the contact end portion 15j.

[0103] (Eighth embodiment) In the vehicle interior lighting device 1 according to the eighth embodiment, the seventh bus bar 74 illustrated below can be used instead of the first bus bar 14 in the first embodiment, and the fifth holder 55 illustrated below can be used instead of the first holder 15 in the first embodiment.

[0104] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a seventh bus bar 74 according to the eighth embodiment. The seventh bus bar 74 has an electrode portion 74a and a board connection portion 74b. Each electrode portion 74a is a flat plate having a ring shape formed by two continuous first and second flat plate portions 74j and 74k, and having a first main plane 74c and a second main plane 74d. The board connection portion 74b has a first base portion 74m, a second base portion 74n, and a contact portion 74p including an indent 74i. These portions basically correspond to the respective portions of the first bus bar 14. In this embodiment, the biasing portion is provided on the fifth holder 55, but not on the seventh bus bar 74.

[0105] 20 is a perspective view of the fifth holder 55 in the eighth embodiment. In the fifth holder 55, the same parts as those in the first holder 15 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0106] The biasing portion in this embodiment is a plurality of fifth biasing portions 55a that are provided on the contact end portion 15j of the fifth holder 55 and apply a biasing force to the electrode portion 74a. Here, the fifth holder 55 is a box body having four side walls, namely, a first side wall portion 15a, a second side wall portion 15b, a third side wall portion 15c, and a fourth side wall portion 15d, similar to the first holder 15. Therefore, a fifth biasing portion 55a is provided for each of the four side walls.

[0107] That is, the fifth holder 55 is a box or cylinder having at least a side wall portion, the inside of which defines a third space S3 including the optical path of light. The contact end 15j is the tip of the side wall portion. In this case, the fifth biasing portion 55a has a protrusion 55b that protrudes from the tip of the side wall portion toward the electrode portion 74a, and an elongated hole 55c that penetrates the side wall portion in the thickness direction and allows displacement of the protrusion 55b in the direction opposite to the protrusion direction of the protrusion 55b.

[0108] 21 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the XZ plane, showing, as an example, fifth biasing portion 55a provided on contact end portion 15j of third side wall portion 15c. The height of protrusion 55b relative to the tip of the side wall portion is set in advance so that, when protrusion 55b contacts second main flat surface 74d of electrode portion 74a, it is displaced toward the inside of elongated hole portion 55c as shown in FIG. 21. This allows fifth biasing portion 55a to function as a doubly supported spring in which a portion of contact end portion 15j where protrusion 55b is provided is deformed, and a force generated by the deformation of contact end portion 15j becomes a biasing force.

[0109] According to the vehicle interior lighting device of the eighth embodiment, the entire first main plane 74c of the electrode portion 74a contacts the bus bar contact surface 12i, so that the control unit 22 can detect changes in capacitance most efficiently.

[0110] The fifth biasing portion 55a can function as a double-arm spring due to the elongated hole portion 55c formed in each side wall portion, but it may also function as a cantilever spring, for example, by having a shape in which a portion of the elongated hole portion 55c is open from the tip of the side wall portion toward the electrode portion 74a.

[0111] Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, it is assumed that the light-transmitting portion 13a of the lens 13 has a configuration in which substantially the entire light-irradiating surface 13c, which serves as the touch surface, irradiates light into the vehicle interior. However, each of the embodiments is not limited to this configuration of the light-transmitting portion 13a. For example, the light-transmitting portion 13a may have a transmitting portion consisting of only letters or symbols, and may be configured to block light from surfaces other than the letters or symbols.

[0112] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0113] 1 Vehicle interior lighting system 10 Substrate 12 Housing 12d Lens contact surface 12i Busbar contact surface 13 Lens 13a Light transmitting part 13c Light irradiation surface 13d light receiving surface 14 No. 1 bus bar 14a,44a,64a, electrode part 14b Board connection part 14c 1st principal plane 14d 2nd principal plane 14e 1st biasing section 14i First spring part 14m 1st base 14n 2nd base 14p contact part 15 First Holder 15a 1st side wall part 15b Second side wall part 15c 3rd side wall part 15d Fourth side wall 15j Contact end 20 light source 21 Electrode pads 22 Control Unit 24 Second bus bar 24a Curved end 25 Second Holder 25a,45e Engagement groove 34 3rd bus bar 34a Bent section 35 Third Holder 35c, 45c wide face 44 4th bus bar 44e Second energizing portion 44g Second spring part 45 4th Holder 54 5th bus bar 54e 3rd biasing section 55 5th Holder 55a Fifth energizing portion 55b Protrusion 55c slotted hole 64 No. 6 bus bar 64e Fourth energizing section 74 7th bus bar S3 3rd space

Claims

1. A light source and a lens having a light transmitting portion that transmits light emitted from the light source toward the interior of the vehicle; a housing having an annular lens contact surface that is in surface contact with the outer periphery of the light receiving surface of the light transmitting portion, and a bus bar contact surface that is the opposite surface of the lens contact surface; a conductive bus bar having an annular electrode portion that conforms to the shape of the bus bar contact surface; a holder having annular contact ends conforming to the shape of the electrode portions, the holder holding the bus bars by bringing the contact ends into contact with the electrode portions; a control unit that switches the light source on and off in response to a change in capacitance between the electrode unit and a part of a human body that touches the light irradiation surface of the light transmission unit, the electrode portion is a flat plate having one main surface in surface contact with the bus bar contact surface and the other main surface facing the contact end portion, One of the electrode portion and the contact end portion has a biasing portion that applies a biasing force to the other.

2. The vehicle interior lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the biasing portion includes an elastic piece formed on a part of the electrode portion and applying a biasing force to the contact end portion.

3. The vehicle interior lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the biasing portion is a curved plate portion in which a part of the electrode portion is formed in a convex shape toward the contact end portion, and which applies a biasing force to the contact end portion.

4. a substrate on which electrode pads that are electrically connected to the control unit are mounted, the bus bar has a substrate connection portion as a flat plate processed body that is integrated with the electrode portion, The substrate connection portion is a first base portion having one end continuous with the electrode portion and extending toward the substrate; a second base portion having one end continuous with the first base portion and maintained in a position parallel to the substrate; a contact portion having one end continuous with the second base portion and the other end being a free end, the contact portion being formed in a convex shape toward the substrate so as to come into contact with the electrode pad; The vehicle interior lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the free end of the contact portion is a curved end that comes into contact with the second base portion when a part of the contact portion comes into contact with the electrode pad.

5. The vehicle interior lighting device according to claim 4 , wherein a part of the first base portion has a bent portion that is elastically deformable.

6. the holder is a box or a cylinder having at least a side wall portion, the inside of which is a space including the optical path of the light, The vehicle interior lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the contact end portion is a tip end portion of the side wall portion.

7. The vehicle interior lighting device according to claim 6, wherein the contact end portion has an engagement groove that is notched in a thickness direction of the side wall portion and that engages with a part of the biasing portion.

8. The vehicle interior lighting device according to claim 6, wherein the contact end portion has a wide surface with which the biasing portion comes into contact, the wide surface having a dimension in a thickness direction of the side wall portion set to be thicker than a thickness of the side wall portion.

9. the holder is a box or a cylinder having at least a side wall portion, the inside of which is a space including the optical path of the light, the contact end portion is a tip end portion of the side wall portion, The biasing portion is a protrusion protruding from the tip of the side wall toward the electrode; The vehicle interior lighting device according to claim 1 , further comprising: an elongated hole portion that penetrates the side wall portion in a thickness direction and allows displacement of the protrusion portion in a direction opposite to the protruding direction of the protrusion portion.

Images