Illuminated emblem

Abstract

To provide a light emitting emblem of which design is improved by controlling light emitting states of a plurality of light sources with time.SOLUTION: A light emitting emblem includes a light emitting part, a light guide plate which guides and emits light emitted from the light emitting part, a control system which controls the light emitting part, and a cover member which is arranged on a light emitting surface side of the light guide plate. The cover member includes a light transmitting part which transmits the light emitted from the light guide plate, and a light shielding part which shields the light emitted from the light guide plate. The light emitting part includes a first light emitting part in which a plurality of light sources are arrayed in an acr shape, and the first light emitting part emits light so that the light appears to flow when the control system sequentially turns on the plurality of light sources with time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lighting device for a vehicle, and more specifically, to a vehicle emblem having a light-emitting function.

Background Art

[0002] Vehicles such as automobiles are equipped with various lighting devices. In recent years, with the development of light emitters with low power consumption such as LEDs, in addition to conventional lighting devices having practical functions, lighting devices for decorative purposes are also used. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a lighting device installed on a door trim of an automobile, which includes a light guide and first and second light sources whose lighting states are controlled according to the opening and closing of the door, and a plurality of first light sources arranged along the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped or plate-shaped light guide are controlled to light up in order from one end to the other end when the door is opened and to go out in order when the door is closed.

[0003] An emblem is provided as a decoration for the exterior of an automobile, indicating the manufacturer and the model name. The emblem exhibits a decorative function in terms of materials, designs, etc., and adding decorative lighting to it has also been considered. For example, Patent Document 2 describes a configuration including an LED light source installed on the inner peripheral surface of a casing on which an emblem is placed, and the directivity of the LED light source is installed parallel to the bottom surface of the casing or facing the bottom surface side of the casing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which multiple LEDs (first light sources) are placed opposite a long rod-shaped or plate-shaped light guide and the lighting state is controlled, but it does not describe a configuration in which the light sources are arranged in an arc. Patent Document 2 describes a light-emitting emblem in which the directivity of the LED light source is directed in a direction parallel to or toward the bottom surface of the casing, and the reflected light from the casing is emitted through a diffuser plate installed on the top surface to mitigate the directivity of the LED and obtain uniform light emission, but it does not describe individually controlling the light emission state of the LEDs.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide an luminous emblem with improved design by controlling the luminescence state of multiple light sources over time, in an emblem for a vehicle such as an automobile that combines an illumination function with the emblem. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The luminescent emblem of the present invention is Light-emitting part, A light guide plate that guides the light emitted by the light-emitting unit and causes it to emit light, A control system for controlling the light-emitting unit, The light guide plate includes a cover member positioned on the light-emitting surface side, The cover member has a light-transmitting portion that transmits light emitted from the light guide plate, It has a light-shielding portion that blocks the light emitted from the light guide plate, The light-emitting section includes a first light-emitting section in which a plurality of light sources are arranged in an arc shape, The control system sequentially lights up the plurality of light sources over time, In the first light-emitting portion, light is emitted in a flowing manner.

[0008] According to the above-described luminous emblem, by utilizing a light guide plate, the luminous emblem can be made thinner, and the illumination effect can be obtained with a small number of light sources. Furthermore, by having the light sources arranged in an arc shape in the first luminous section emit light in a flowing manner, the luminous emblem can be given an unprecedented and innovative design.

[0009] In the illuminated emblem with the above configuration, The light guide plate may have recesses formed in it at positions facing each of the multiple light sources, and an incident surface may be formed in the recess where light emitted from the light sources is incident.

[0010] According to the above configuration of the luminescent emblem, it is possible to prevent the light emitted from the light source from escaping outside the light guide, and the incident surface formed in the recess controls the direction of light guidance of the light incident on the light guide plate, thereby enabling efficient illumination.

[0011] In the luminescent emblem with the above configuration, the control system may sequentially light up the plurality of light sources over time, and then light them up simultaneously, so that the first luminescent portion emits light in a flowing manner, and then the entire emblem emits light uniformly.

[0012] According to the above configuration of the luminous emblem, by keeping multiple light sources constantly illuminated, the illuminated state can be made visible even during the daytime.

[0013] In the illuminated emblem with the above configuration, The light-emitting section further comprises a second light-emitting section in which multiple light sources are arranged to emit light uniformly. The light guide plate may have a first light guide region facing the first light-emitting portion and a second light guide region facing the second light-emitting portion, and a light-shielding region may be provided between the first light guide region and the second light guide region.

[0014] According to the luminous emblem with the above configuration, the combination of a first region where the luminescence state changes and a second region that emits light uniformly can broaden the range of lighting designs. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, by dynamically controlling the light emission state of a light-emitting portion in which light sources are arranged in an arc shape, the design property of the light-emitting emblem can be enhanced, and a visual high-class feeling of a vehicle equipped with the emblem can be produced.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0016] [Figure 1] It is a front view of a light-emitting emblem according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a perspective view showing the components of the light-emitting emblem of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a front view showing a state in which a substrate and a back cover are assembled to a light guide plate. [Figure 4] In FIG. 3, it is an enlarged view of the portion indicated by frame IV. [Figure 5] It is a conceptual diagram for explaining a control unit of a light-emitting emblem according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, a light-emitting emblem (hereinafter referred to as an emblem) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a front view of the emblem 1. The design of the emblem 1 is basically arbitrary. In this example, a cover member 10 constituting the outer surface of the emblem 1 includes a semi-circular upper portion 10a, a substantially rectangular central portion 10b, and a semi-circular lower portion 10c in a front view, and a logo mark M is displayed in the central portion 10b. In this example, the logo mark M and the arc-shaped light-transmitting portions 100 formed in the upper portion 10a and the lower portion 10c, respectively, are formed by cutouts or transparent members, and transmit light emitted from a light guide plate (refer to reference numeral 11 in FIG. 2) disposed on the back side of the cover member 10. Portions other than the logo mark M and the light-transmitting portions 100 are light-shielding portions 101 made of opaque members.

[0019] In the above explanation and the following description, "upper" and "lower" refer to the upper and lower sides when Emblem 1 is attached to a vehicle (not shown), "front" refers to the outside of the vehicle, and "back" refers to the side facing the vehicle body.

[0020] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the basic components of emblem 1. A light guide plate 11 is positioned on the back side of the cover member 10 of emblem 1, and a substrate 12 is positioned on the back side of the light guide plate 11. A back cover 13 is positioned on the back side of the substrate 12, and screws 14 fix the light guide plate 11 and the substrate 12 to the cover member 10.

[0021] The light guide plate 11 has multiple notches (slit-shaped openings) 110 formed therein, and is almost completely separated from the approximately semicircular upper part 11a, the approximately rectangular central part 11b, and the approximately semicircular lower part 11b except for a narrow joint 11d. Approximately semicircular openings 111 are formed in the upper part 11a and the lower part 11c of the light guide plate, and an approximately rectangular opening 112 is formed near the center of the central part 11b. Multiple recesses R are formed on the arc-shaped inner circumference 111a that forms the edge of the openings 111 in the upper part 11a and the lower part 11b.

[0022] The substrate 12 has a shape in which a semicircular upper part 12a, a roughly rectangular central part 12b, and a semicircular lower part 12c are joined at a joint 12d, and notches 120 are formed at the top and bottom of the central part from the outer circumference 12e toward the joint 12d. Multiple light sources P are arranged on the front side 12f of the substrate, and a circuit (not shown) is formed on the back side 12g, constituting a light-emitting section 15. Multiple light sources P are arranged in an arc shape on the upper part 12a and the lower part 12b, respectively, constituting the first light-emitting sections 15a and 15c, and multiple light sources P are arranged in two linear rows in the central part, constituting the second light-emitting section 15b. The substrate 12 is connected to a control unit 18 that forms a control system via a harness 16 and connector 17 inserted through the back cover 13.

[0023] The front surface 13a of the back cover 13 is provided with a spacer 13b that contacts the substrate 12, and a plurality (4) of wall plates 13c.

[0024] Figure 3 is a front view showing the substrate 12 and the back cover 13 assembled to the light guide plate 11. Multiple approximately semicircular recesses R are formed on the arc-shaped inner circumferential surfaces of the upper 11a and lower 11c of the light guide plate 11. Multiple light sources P of the first light-emitting sections 15a and 15c are each positioned in a 1:1 ratio opposite to the individual recesses R of the light guide plate 11. The light source P of the second light-emitting section 15b is positioned opposite the wall of the opening 112 in the central part 11b of the light guide plate 11. The wall plates 13c of the back cover 13 are inserted into the notches 110 and 120 of the light guide plate 11 and the substrate 12. In this case, the upper 11a and lower 11c regions of the light guide plate facing the first light-emitting portions 15a and 15c, and the central 11b region of the light guide plate facing the second light-emitting portion 15b, are shielded by the region formed by the notch 110 and the wall plate 13c. Therefore, the light that enters the upper 11a, central 11b, and lower 11c regions of the light guide plate does not mix, and each portion is illuminated individually.

[0025] Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the portion shown in IV of Figure 3. In this embodiment, an LED is used as the light source P, and the wall surface R1 of the recess R forms the incident surface of light that enters the light guide plate 11 from the light-emitting element P1 of the light source P. The direction of light guidance of the light L that enters the light guide plate 11 can be controlled by the shape of the recess R. Here, since light from adjacent light sources P enters the region between adjacent recesses R, the emission from the light guide plate 11 can be made smooth by using a small number of light sources P.

[0026] Figure 5 is a conceptual diagram showing the components of the control unit 18. The control unit 18 includes a light source illumination control circuit 18a, a microcontroller (MCU) 18b, and a power supply circuit 18c. It is connected to the connector 17 on the circuit board 12 via harness 18d and connector 18e, and to a power supply (not shown) via harness 18f. In this example, it is also connected via harness 18h to an activation switch 18g installed on the in-vehicle control panel (not shown).

[0027] The control unit 18 can independently control the first light-emitting sections 15a and 15c and the second light-emitting section 15b on the upper and lower sides of Figure 2. For example, by sequentially turning the light source P on and off along an arc in the first light-emitting sections 15a and 15c, a lighting effect can be created where light appears to flow. In this case, the fade-in and fade-out times may be adjusted using a capacitor (not shown) installed in the lighting control circuit 18a. Alternatively, by progressively increasing the time required for the fade-in, when the light source (e.g., LED) gradually brightens, a lighting effect can be obtained in which the first light-emitting sections 15a and 15c light up in a flowing manner, and then the entire structure emits light in an arc. Furthermore, the speed of the light flow can be adjusted by adjusting the time required for the fade-in. The second light-emitting section 15b can be kept lit at all times to display the logo mark M.

[0028] According to the emblem 1 described above, the flowing illumination enhances the design of the emblem 1, and when continuously illuminated, the use of multiple light sources P ensures that the emblem is visible even during the daytime.

[0029] In the emblem 1 with the above configuration, an LED can be used as the light source P. The LED may be a monochromatic light emitter, or it may have a color conversion function. The cover member 10 may be a lightweight metal such as aluminum, but an engineering plastic such as polycarbonate may also be used. In this case, light-diffusing material such as silicone particles may be dispersed in the logo mark M and the arc-shaped light-transmitting part 100 in Figure 1. Metal plating may also be applied to a part of the light-shielding part 101 for decoration. The light guide plate 11 in Figure 2 may be an acrylic resin such as PMMA, and if necessary, a light-diffusing material such as silicone particles may be dispersed in it. The substrate 12 constituting the light-emitting part 15 may be made of an insulating material, for example, FR4 made of glass fiber and epoxy resin may be used. The back cover can also be made of DR4, an engineering plastic such as polycarbonate, aluminum, an aluminum alloy or other metal. The shape of the emblem 1 is not particularly limited, and the arc-shaped light-emitting parts (corresponding to 15a and 15c) may be circular or elliptical. The placement of Emblem 1 is not particularly limited; it may be placed on the hood, on the radiator grille, or on the rear door or trunk, depending on the vehicle's design. [Industrial applicability]

[0030] The luminous emblem of the present invention can enhance the aesthetic appeal of the vehicle to which it is attached. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0031] 1. Illuminated Emblem 10 Cover component 100 Translucent part 101 Light-shielding part 11 Light guide plate 11a Upper part of the light guide plate (first light guide region) 11b Central part of the light guide plate (second light guide region) 11c Lower part of light guide plate (No. 1 (Light guide region) 110 Cutouts (light-shielding area) 12 circuit boards 13 Back cover 15 Light-emitting part 15a, 15c First light-emitting part 15b Second light-emitting part 18 Control Unit

Claims

1. Light-emitting part, A light guide plate that guides the light emitted by the light-emitting unit and causes it to emit light, A control system for controlling the light-emitting unit, The light guide plate includes a cover member positioned on the light-emitting surface side, The cover member has a light-transmitting portion that transmits light emitted from the light guide plate, It has a light-shielding portion that blocks the light emitted from the light guide plate, In a front view, the light guide plate includes an upper part having an arc-shaped inner surface, a lower part having an arc-shaped inner surface, and a central part positioned between the lower part and the upper part. The light-emitting portion includes a first light-emitting portion in which a plurality of light sources are arranged in an arc shape along the inner circumferential surface of the upper and lower parts, facing each other on the inner circumferential surface. The control system sequentially lights up the plurality of light sources over time, A light-emitting emblem in which light is emitted in a flowing manner in the first light-emitting portion.

2. In the light-emitting emblem according to claim 1, Recesses are formed on the upper and lower inner surfaces of the light guide plate at positions facing each of the multiple light sources, and an incident surface is formed in the recess into which light emitted from the light sources is incident. Illuminated emblem.

3. In the light-emitting emblem according to claim 1 or 2, The control system sequentially lights up the multiple light sources over time, and then lights them up simultaneously, thereby controlling the first light-emitting section to emit light in a flowing manner, and then to emit light uniformly throughout. Illuminated emblem.

4. In the light-emitting emblem according to claim 1 or 2, The light-emitting section further comprises a second light-emitting section in which multiple light sources are arranged to emit light uniformly. The light guide plate is composed of an upper part and a lower part and has a first light guide region facing the first light-emitting portion, and a second light guide region composed of a central part and facing the second light-emitting portion, and a light-shielding region is provided between the first light guide region and the second light guide region. Illuminated emblem.

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