Lighting unit

Abstract

A lighting unit (10) comprises a light source (101) that is turned on and off on the basis of driving operations or the travel environment, a housing (102) that houses the light source (101) and has an opening (1021) in the direction of light irradiation from the light source (101), and a light adjustment member (103) provided so as to receive light emitted from the light source (101) toward the opening (1021). The lighting unit (10) changes the light transmittance rate of the light adjustment member (103) on the basis of driving operations or the travel environment so that when the light source (101) is turned off, the visibility of the inside of the housing (102) from outside the lighting unit (10) through the light adjustment member (103) decreases, and when the light source (101) is turned on, the visibility of the inside of the housing (102) from the outside of the lighting unit (10) through the light adjustment member (103) increases.

Description

Lighting unit

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

[0002] A known lighting device mounted on a vehicle is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1. The lighting device of Patent Document 1 is used as a tail lamp and a brake lamp. In this lighting device, a tail lamp light source and a brake lamp light source are provided within a housing. A tail lamp hologram film is provided in the direction of illumination of the tail lamp light source so as to receive light from the tail lamp light source. When the tail lamp light source is turned on, a third party outside the vehicle can see an illuminating shape formed on the tail lamp hologram film. A brake lamp hologram film is provided in the direction of illumination of the brake lamp light source so as to receive light from the brake lamp light source. When the brake lamp light source is turned on, a third party outside the vehicle can see an illuminating shape formed on the brake lamp hologram film.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-185907

[0004] According to Patent Document 1, conventional brake lamps have the same light-emitting shape as tail lamps, so they are configured to be distinguishable from tail lamps by making the light output of the brake lamps greater than that of tail lamps. In contrast, the lighting device in Patent Document 1 is configured so that the light-emitting shape of the brake lamps is different from that of tail lamps. This makes it easier to distinguish between tail lamps and brake lamps. In this way, it is important to improve the distinguishability of the various lamps emitted by lighting devices. On the other hand, lighting devices have the function of informing vehicle conditions such as braking. Therefore, lighting devices are also required to notify third parties that the various lamps are on and off.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a lighting unit that is mounted on a vehicle and can attract the attention of third parties when the lamp is turned on or off.

[0006] The inventors have considered ways to make a lamp visible to a third party other than by differences in the amount of light emitted and the shape of the light emitted. Here, a vehicle brake lamp will be described as an example. Brake lamps generally emit red light. Therefore, a lighting device that emits brake lamp light is provided with a red outer lens or a light source that emits red light. In this case, when the brake lamp is off, a third party sees the red of the outer lens, and when the brake lamp is on, a third party sees the lamp emitting red light. In other words, a third party sees red both when the brake lamp is on and when it is off.

[0007] Even if the color seen by a third party when the lamp is on and off is the same, it is possible to attract the third party's attention by varying the amount of light emitted or the shape of the light emitted. However, the inventors of the present invention have discovered that if the color seen by a third party when the lamp is on and off is changed or the color contrast is increased, it would be possible to attract the third party's attention in a different way than conventional methods. For example, suppose that when a brake lamp is off, a dark black outer lens is visible, and when it is on, a bright red light is visible. In this case, the color change is greater and the contrast is stronger than when red is seen both when the lamp is on and off, or when a transparent outer lens is visible when the lamp is off and a red light is visible when it is on.

[0008] The inventors conceived of attaching a film with low light transmittance to the outer lens of a lighting fixture. This allows for greater color change and enhanced contrast when the brake lamp is on and off. However, in this case, the light source must be increased in light intensity to ensure that the lamp emits a predetermined amount of light when the brake lamp is on. To reduce the vehicle's power consumption, it is desirable to reduce the amount of light emitted by the light source. In particular, reducing power consumption is desirable in saddle-type vehicles, such as motorcycles. The reasons for this are as follows: Saddle-type vehicles are vehicles that turn by the driver's steering and weight shift, so saddle-type vehicles are required to be highly responsive to the driver's operating intentions. Mobility, agility, and convenience are important factors for saddle-type vehicles. Therefore, saddle-type vehicles are desired to be small and lightweight, making it difficult to install a large battery.

[0009] The inventors have studied ways to increase the color change or contrast between when the lamp is on and when it is off, while keeping power consumption at a minimum, and as a result, have come up with the following idea for the present invention.

[0010] (1) A lighting unit of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle. The lighting unit includes a light source that is turned on and off based on driving operations or the driving environment, and a housing that houses the light source and has an opening in the direction of light emitted from the light source. The lighting unit further includes a dimming member that is arranged to receive light from the light source toward the opening. The lighting unit changes the light transmittance of the dimming member based on driving operations or the driving environment so that when the light source is turned off, visibility of the interior of the housing through the dimming member from outside the lighting unit is reduced, and when the light source is turned on, visibility of the interior of the housing through the dimming member from outside the lighting unit is increased.

[0011] In the above-described lighting unit, when the light source is turned off, it is difficult for third parties to see inside the housing, so the lighting unit appears dark. On the other hand, when the light source is turned on, it is easy for third parties to see inside the housing, so the lamp emitted by the lighting unit appears bright and clear. Therefore, the contrast of the lamp emitted by the lighting unit is strong when an off-light source is turned on and when an on-light source is turned off. Furthermore, if the lighting unit emits a colored lamp, the color changes greatly when the light source is turned on and off. Therefore, the above-described lighting unit can attract the attention of third parties when the lamp is turned on and off.

[0012] (2) The lighting unit of (1) above may have a lower light transmittance of the dimming member based on driving operation or the driving environment so that visibility inside the housing is reduced when the light source is turned off, and may have a higher light transmittance of the dimming member based on driving operation or the driving environment so that visibility inside the housing is increased when the light source is turned on.

[0013] In the lighting unit of (2) above, when the light source is turned off, the light transmittance of the dimming member is low, making the inside of the housing appear dark to third parties. When the light source is turned on, the light transmittance of the dimming member is high, making it easier for third parties to see the light emitted from the light source inside the housing. Therefore, the lighting unit can attract the attention of third parties when the lamp is turned on and off.

[0014] (3) The lighting unit of (1) or (2) above may change the light transmittance of the dimming component based on the driving operation or the driving environment so that when the light source is turned off, the visibility inside the housing is reduced and at least one of the hue angle, saturation, brightness, and glossiness of the dimming component becomes closer to the value of the exterior material surrounding the housing than when the light source is turned on, and so that when the light source is turned on, the visibility inside the housing is increased and at least one of the hue angle, saturation, brightness, and glossiness of the dimming component becomes farther from the value of the exterior material surrounding the housing than when the light source is turned off.

[0015] In the lighting unit of (3) above, when the light source is turned off, the lighting unit appears to third parties to blend in with the surrounding exterior materials, making it appear as if it does not exist. On the other hand, when the light source is turned on, the lighting unit appears to third parties to stand out from the surrounding exterior materials. Therefore, the color change or contrast becomes greater when the lamp is turned on and off. Therefore, the lighting unit can attract the attention of third parties when the lamp is turned on and off.

[0016] (4) The lighting units of (1) to (3) above may change the light transmittance of the dimming member based on driving operations or the driving environment so that when the light source is turned off, the visibility of the inside of the housing through the dimming member and the lighting cover from outside the lighting unit is reduced, and when the light source is turned on, the visibility of the inside of the housing through the dimming member and the lighting cover from outside the lighting unit is increased. The lighting cover may be disposed in front of the dimming member in the direction of light irradiation, constitute the exterior of the vehicle, and transmit a portion of the light that has passed through the dimming member.

[0017] In the lighting unit of (4) above, when the light source is turned off, the lighting cover, in addition to the dimming component, also contributes to reducing the visibility of the interior of the housing. Furthermore, for example, by coloring the lighting cover (e.g., by coloring it the same color as the exterior components surrounding the lighting unit), the color, brightness, presence, etc. of the lighting unit as seen by third parties when the light source is turned on and off can be varied. This results in a greater color change or stronger contrast when the lamp is turned on and off. Therefore, the lighting unit described above can attract the attention of third parties when the lamp is turned on and off.

[0018] (5) The lighting unit of any of (1) to (4) above may include a plurality of light sources including a first light source and a second light source. In this case, the lighting unit may be configured as follows (A) or (B): (A) The dimming member includes a first-light-source dimming member that receives light from the first light source, and a second-light-source dimming member that receives light from the second light source. The lighting unit independently changes the light transmittance of the first-light-source dimming member and the light transmittance of the second-light-source dimming member based on driving operations or the driving environment. (B) The dimming member receives light from both the first light source and the second light source. The lighting unit changes the light transmittance of the dimming member when the first light source is turned on and off, or changes the light transmittance of the dimming member when the second light source is turned on and off, based on driving operations or the driving environment.

[0019] As an example of a lighting unit including multiple light sources, consider a lighting unit that emits tail lamps and brake lamps. The tail lamps, for example, are always on when the vehicle's power is on and off when the power is off. The brake lamps, for example, are on when the driver applies the brakes and off when the driver does not apply the brakes. In this manner, when the multiple light sources of a lighting unit emit different types of lamps, the triggers for turning on and off each light source may differ. In the lighting unit of configuration (A) of (5) above, the light transmittance of the dimming member provided for each of the multiple light sources can be independently changed. Therefore, when the first light source is turned on and off, the color change or contrast can be increased for only the lamp emitted by the first light source, regardless of the second light source. The same applies when the second light source is turned on and off. Therefore, with the lighting unit described above, even when the lighting unit emits multiple types of lamps, the turning on and off of each lamp can attract the attention of third parties. Furthermore, vehicles (especially saddle-type vehicles) generally have limited space for arranging lighting devices. Since lighting devices are also required to have a good design, the degree of freedom in the technical design of lighting devices is not very high. In the lighting device unit of configuration (B) in (5) above, one dimming member receives light from multiple light sources. This reduces the number of dimming members, increasing the degree of freedom in the design of the lighting device unit. Therefore, the above lighting device unit can attract the attention of third parties when each lamp is turned on or off, for lighting devices of various shapes and applications.

[0020] (6) The lighting units of (1) to (5) above may be vehicle visibility lighting units that emit light to enable people around the vehicle to recognize the vehicle, or running lighting units that emit light to enable the driver of the vehicle to recognize the situation in the direction the vehicle is traveling. Examples of vehicle visibility lighting units include tail lamp units, turn signal units, positioning lamp units, and daytime running lamp units. Examples of running lighting units include head lamp units and cornering lamp units.

[0021] According to the lighting unit of (6) above, when the lamp for making the vehicle visible is turned on or off, it can attract the attention of third parties outside the lighting unit. Furthermore, the lamp that illuminates the direction of travel of the vehicle can also attract the attention of oncoming vehicles and third parties at a distance.

[0022] (7) A vehicle of the present invention includes a lighting unit including a light source that turns on and off based on driving operations or the driving environment, and a housing that houses the light source and has an opening in the direction of light irradiation from the light source, and a control device that controls the lighting unit. The lighting unit further includes a dimming member that is arranged to receive light from the light source toward the opening. The control device changes the light transmittance of the dimming member based on driving operations or the driving environment so that when the light source is turned off, visibility of the inside of the housing through the dimming member from outside the lighting unit is reduced, and when the light source is turned on, visibility of the inside of the housing through the dimming member from outside the lighting unit is increased.

[0023] (8) A light control system of the present invention adjusts the light emitted by a vehicle lighting unit. The light control system includes a light control element that receives light from a light source that is turned on and off based on driving operations or the driving environment, and a control device that controls the light control element. The control device changes the light transmittance of the light control element based on driving operations or the driving environment so that when the light source is turned off, visibility of the interior of the housing through the light control element from outside the lighting unit is reduced, and when the light source is turned on, visibility of the interior of the housing through the light control element from outside the lighting unit is increased.

[0024] (9) A light control member of the present invention receives light from a light source housed in a housing of a vehicle lighting unit and adjusts the light. The light control member changes light transmittance based on driving operations or the driving environment so that visibility of the interior of the housing through the light control member from outside the lighting unit is reduced when the light source is turned off, and visibility of the interior of the housing through the light control member from outside the lighting unit is increased when the light source is turned on.

[0025] Hereinafter, each configuration and terminology of the present invention will be explained.

[0026] The "light source" emits light that forms a lamp emitted by the lighting unit, for example. The type of light source is not particularly limited. Examples of light sources include light-emitting diodes, halogen bulbs, and HID (High-Intensity Discharge) lamps. The light source is mounted on an electronic board attached to a housing, for example. The light source is mounted such that its optical axis faces an opening in the housing. However, the orientation of the light source is not particularly limited. For example, the light source may be mounted such that light from the light source faces the opening in the housing via a reflector. In the present invention, the direction of light ultimately emitted by the lighting unit to the outside is referred to as the irradiation direction of light from the light source. The housing is fixed to a vehicle body, for example. The housing is mounted on the vehicle body so that its posture relative to the vehicle body does not change, for example, both when the light source is turned on and when it is turned off. When the lighting unit includes multiple light sources (a first light source and a second light source), the first light source emits light that forms a lamp of a different type from the second light source, for example.

[0027] "Driving operations" refer to, for example, operations performed by a driver to give instructions to a vehicle. Driving operations include, for example, turning on / off a main switch, braking, operating an accelerator, and turning on / off various switches. Turning on / off various switches includes, for example, a turn signal switch and a high beam switch. "Driving environment" refers to, for example, the environment around the vehicle. The driving environment is an indicator of, for example, brightness around the vehicle, obstacles around the vehicle (including people and vehicles), and the state of the vehicle (including speed, acceleration, turning state, etc.). When a light source is turned on and off based on the driving environment, the light source is controlled by, for example, a control device.

[0028] The "light control component" is, for example, a liquid crystal light control component that uses liquid crystal. The light control component is, for example, a liquid crystal light control film. The light control component includes, for example, a liquid crystal cell and electrodes that apply a voltage to the liquid crystal cell. The liquid crystal cell includes, for example, liquid crystal and polarizing plates that sandwich the liquid crystal. The light transmittance of the light control component is changed, for example, by changing the voltage applied to the light control component. The light transmittance of the light control component increases when a voltage is applied to the light control component and decreases when no voltage is applied. The light transmittance of the light control component may decrease when a voltage is applied to the light control component and increase when no voltage is applied. The light control component may become colored, for example, when the light transmittance decreases. The light control component becomes a color other than transparent, for example, when the light transmittance decreases. The light control component changes the light transmittance electrochemically, for example. The light control component does not change the light transmittance mechanically, for example. The light control component is visible from outside the lighting unit, for example, both when the light source is on and when it is off.

[0029] The shape of the dimming member is not particularly limited. The dimming member has a shape that follows the shape of the opening of the housing, for example. A gap may or may not be provided between the dimming member and the opening. The dimming member is provided, for example, so as to cover at least a portion of the opening of the housing. The dimming member is attached, for example, to an outer lens that closes the opening of the housing. The dimming member is provided, for example, in a space surrounded by the housing and the outer lens. The dimming member is disposed, for example, in front of the light source in the direction of irradiation of light from the light source. The dimming member is provided, for example, so as to intersect with the optical axis of the light source. The dimming member is provided, for example, between the light source and the outer lens. The dimming member is attached, for example, to the inner surface of the outer lens.

[0030] An "exterior member" is an exterior member of a vehicle that is arranged around a lighting unit, for example. The exterior member is arranged, for example, above, below, left, or right of the lighting unit. The exterior member is arranged so as to overlap with the lighting unit in a side view, for example. The exterior member is arranged so as to overlap with the lighting unit in a top view, for example. At least a part of the exterior member is visible, for example, together with the lighting unit, when the lighting unit is viewed from the front. As an example, if the lighting unit is a tail lamp unit, the exterior member is, for example, a rear cowl, a seat cowl, etc. The exterior member may be, for example, an assembly integrated with the lighting unit, or may be a separate member.

[0031] The "lamp cover" is, for example, a decorative film, paint, etc. The lamp cover is disposed in front of the dimming component, for example, in the direction of light emitted from the light source. The lamp cover is provided, for example, on the outer surface of the outer lens of the lamp unit. The lamp cover may be included, for example, in an exterior member or in the lamp unit. When the lamp cover is included in the exterior member, the lamp unit is attached to the exterior member, for example, so as to correspond to the lamp cover. When the lamp cover is included in the lamp unit, the lamp unit is attached, for example, by fitting into an opening provided in the exterior cover. The lamp cover is, for example, optically transparent. However, the lamp cover does not, for example, transmit all of the received light. The lamp cover, for example, transmits part of the received light. The lamp cover is, for example, colored. The lamp cover is not, for example, transparent. When the light source is turned off, the lamp cover, together with the dimming component, reduces the transmittance of light emitted from the light source to the outside of the lamp unit. The lamp cover reduces the visibility of the inside of the housing through the dimming member and the lamp cover from outside the lamp unit, for example, when the light source is turned off, compared to when the light source is turned on. The lamp cover makes at least one of the hue angle, saturation, brightness, and gloss of the lamp unit, as seen from outside the lamp unit, when the light source is turned off, closer to the value of the exterior member than when the light source is turned on.

[0032] In the lighting unit, for example, the light transmittance of the dimming member is lower when the light source is turned off than when the light source is turned on. In the lighting unit, for example, the light transmittance of the dimming member is higher when the light source is turned on than when the light source is turned off. In the lighting unit, for example, the light transmittance of the dimming member is lowered so that the inside of the housing cannot be seen from outside the lighting unit when the light source is turned off. In the lighting unit, for example, the light transmittance of the dimming member is increased so that the inside of the housing can be seen from outside the lighting unit when the light source is turned on. In the lighting unit, for example, the light transmittance of the dimming member is lowered so that the transmittance of light emitting from the light source to the outside of the lighting unit when the light source is turned off (light transmittance of the lighting unit) is 50% or less. The light transmittance of the lighting unit refers, for example, to the light transmittance of the lighting unit as a whole. In the case where a lighting cover is provided on the vehicle, the light transmittance of the lighting unit refers, for example, to the transmittance of light passing through the dimming member and the lighting cover and emitting to the outside of the lighting unit. The light transmittance of the lamp unit when the light source is off may be, for example, 20% or less. The light transmittance of the lamp unit when the light source is off may be, for example, 5% or less. On the other hand, the lamp unit increases the light transmittance of the dimming member so that the transmittance of light escaping from the light source to the outside of the lamp unit when the light source is on is greater than 50%, for example. The light transmittance of the lamp unit when the light source is on may be, for example, 80% or more. The light transmittance of the lamp unit when the light source is on may be, for example, 95% or more.

[0033] The lighting unit reduces the light transmittance of the dimming member so that the color of the dimming member when the light source is off differs from that when the light source is on. The lighting unit increases the light transmittance of the dimming member so that the color of the dimming member when the light source is on differs from that when the light source is off. The color when the light source is off differs from the color when it is on, for example, by a hue angle of 90 degrees or more and 270 degrees or less. The color when the light source is off differs from the color when it is on, for example, by a saturation of 30 or more. The color when the light source is off differs from the color when it is on, for example, by a brightness of 50 or more. The glossiness when the light source is off is, for example, 98% or less of the glossiness when it is on. Preferably, the glossiness when the light source is off is, for example, 50% or less of the glossiness when it is on.

[0034] The "vehicle" on which the lighting unit is mounted is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a motorcycle, a three-wheeled motor vehicle, or a four-wheeled motor vehicle. The vehicle may be a vehicle driven by a person or an autonomous vehicle. The vehicle may be, for example, a saddle-ride vehicle. A saddle-ride vehicle is, for example, a vehicle in which a driver sits astride on a seat. In a saddle-ride vehicle, for example, the left foot of the seated driver is positioned to the left of the center in the left-right direction of the saddle-ride vehicle, and the right foot is positioned to the right of the center in the left-right direction of the saddle-ride vehicle. The saddle-ride vehicle is, for example, a motorcycle or a three-wheeled motor vehicle. The type of saddle-ride vehicle is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a scooter type, a moped type, an off-road type, or an on-road type.

[0035] The vehicle includes, for example, a control device electrically connected to the lighting unit. The control device controls, for example, the lighting unit. The control device is, for example, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit). The control device includes, for example, a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The control device may include, for example, a non-volatile memory in which one or more programs including part or all of the arithmetic processing executed by the control device are recorded. The control device controls the lighting unit, for example, by a processor reading and executing one or more programs recorded in a non-volatile memory inside or outside the control device. The control device, for example, turns on and off a light source. The control device controls the lighting unit in response to, for example, a driving operation by a driver. The control device controls the lighting unit in response to, for example, a driving environment. The control device controls the lighting unit based on, for example, a detection result from a detection device that detects the driving environment.

[0036] According to the present invention, in a lighting device mounted on a vehicle, it is possible to attract the attention of third parties when the lamp is turned on and off.

[0037] Fig. 1(A) is a left side view of a vehicle equipped with a lighting unit of a first embodiment, Fig. 1(B) is a cross-sectional view of the lighting unit of the first embodiment, Fig. 1(C) is a schematic diagram showing how the lamp looks when the light transmittance of the dimming member is changed in the lighting unit of the first embodiment, Fig. 2(A) is a schematic diagram showing how the lamp looks when the light transmittance of the dimming member is changed in the lighting unit of a second embodiment, and Fig. 2(B) is a schematic diagram showing how the lamp looks when the light transmittance of the dimming member is changed in the lighting unit of a third embodiment, Fig. 3(A) is a cross-sectional view of a lighting unit of another embodiment, and Fig. 3(B) is a cross-sectional view of a lighting unit of another embodiment different from Fig. 3(A).

[0038] Hereinafter, a lighting unit according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment described below is merely an example. The present invention should not be construed as being limited in any way by the embodiment described below.

[0039] <First embodiment> Fig. 1(A) is a left side view of a vehicle equipped with a lighting unit according to a first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the vehicle 1 is a motorcycle, which is a type of saddle-ride type vehicle. The lighting unit 10 is a tail lamp unit. The lighting unit 10 emits a tail lamp and a brake lamp. The letters F, B, U, D, L, and R in the drawing refer to front, rear, top, bottom, left, and right, respectively.

[0040] FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the lighting unit of the first embodiment. The lighting unit 10 includes multiple light sources 101, a housing 102, and a dimming member 103. The multiple light sources 101 include a first light source 1011 that emits taillights and a second light source 1012 that emits brake lights. The first light source 1011 is turned on when a main switch is turned on and is turned off when the main switch is turned off. The second light source 1012 is turned on while the brake lever or brake pedal is operated and is turned off while it is not operated. In other words, the first light source 1011 and the second light source 1012 are turned on and off based on driving operations by the driver. The first light source 1011 and the second light source 1012 are mounted on an electronic circuit board. The first light source 1011 and the second light source 1012 are mounted with their optical axes facing rearward.

[0041] The housing 102 has a box-like shape. The housing 102 accommodates a first light source 1011 and a second light source 1012 therein. The housing 102 has an opening 1021 in the direction of irradiation of light from the first light source 1011 and the second light source 1012. In other words, the rear surface of the housing 102 is open.

[0042] The light control element 103 is a liquid crystal light control film. The light control element 103 is disposed in front of the first light source 1011 and the second light source 1012 in the direction of light irradiation from the first light source 1011 and the second light source 1012. The light control element 103 is disposed to receive light from both the first light source 1011 and the second light source 1012. A pair of electrodes (not shown) is attached to the light control element 103. The light control element 103 is configured to have low light transmittance when no voltage is applied from the pair of electrodes and high light transmittance when a voltage is applied. The pair of electrodes is configured to apply no voltage to the light control element 103 when the brakes are not applied, and to apply a voltage to the light control element 103 when the brakes are applied. In other words, the lighting unit 10 reduces the light transmittance of the light control element 103 while the brake lamps are off, thereby reducing visibility inside the housing 102. While the brake lamp is on, the lighting unit 10 increases the light transmittance of the dimming member 103 to increase the visibility inside the housing 102.

[0043] Fig. 1(C) is a schematic diagram showing how the lamp appears when the light transmittance of the dimming member 103 is changed in the lighting unit of the first embodiment. The left diagram in Fig. 1(C) shows a case where the light transmittance of the dimming member 103 is low, and the right diagram shows a case where the light transmittance of the dimming member 103 is high. In the following figures, the dimming member 103 with cross-hatching indicates a case where the light transmittance is low, and the dimming member 103 without cross-hatching indicates a case where the light transmittance is high. Furthermore, the hatched light sources 1011 and 1012 indicate a case where they are turned on, and the unhatched light sources 1011 and 1012 indicate a case where they are turned off.

[0044] Referring to the left diagram of FIG. 1C , when the brake lamp (second light source 1012) is not lit, the light unit 10 appears dark to a third party because the light transmittance of the dimming element 103 is low. Referring to the right diagram, when the brake lamp (second light source 1012) is lit, the light transmittance of the dimming element 103 is high, so the brake lamp appears bright and clear to a third party. Thus, the light unit 10 increases the contrast between the on and off states of the brake lamps as seen by a third party, and also increases the color change. Therefore, the light unit 10 can attract the attention of a third party when the brake lamps are on and off. Note that, as shown in the left diagram, when the light transmittance of the dimming element 103 is low, the first light source 1011 may illuminate the tail lamp. In this case, the light intensity of the first light source 1011 is appropriately adjusted.

[0045] Second Embodiment In the above-described embodiment, the light transmittance of the light adjusting member 103 is changed in response to the turning on and off of the brake lamp (second light source 1012). However, the light transmittance of the light adjusting member 103 may be changed in response to the turning on and off of the tail lamp (first light source 1011).

[0046] 2(A) is a schematic diagram showing how the lamp appears when the light transmittance of the dimming member 103 is changed in the lighting unit of the second embodiment. The dimming member 103 is set so that no voltage is applied to it while the main switch is OFF, and so that voltage is applied to it while the main switch is ON. That is, the lighting unit 10 reduces the light transmittance of the dimming member 103 while the tail lamp (first light source 1011) is off, thereby reducing the visibility inside the housing 102. The lighting unit 10 increases the light transmittance of the dimming member 103 while the tail lamp (first light source 1011) is on, thereby increasing the visibility inside the housing 102.

[0047] Third Embodiment In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which one light adjusting member 103 is provided in the lighting unit 10. However, a plurality of light adjusting members 103 may be provided in the lighting unit 10.

[0048] 2(B) is a schematic diagram showing how the lamp appears when the light transmittance of the dimming member is changed in the lighting unit of the third embodiment. The dimming member 103 includes a first-light-source dimming member 1031 and multiple second-light-source dimming members 1032. The first-light-source dimming member 1031 receives light from the first light source 1011 that irradiates the tail lamp. The first-light-source dimming member 1031 is configured so that no voltage is applied to it when the main switch is OFF, and so that a voltage is applied to it when the main switch is ON. The second-light-source dimming member 1032 receives light from the second light source 1012 that irradiates the brake lamp. The second-light-source dimming member 1032 is configured so that no voltage is applied to it when the brake is not applied, and so that a voltage is applied to it when the brake is applied. In this way, the lighting unit of the third embodiment changes the light transmittance of the first-light-source dimming member 1031 and the light transmittance of the second-light-source dimming member 1032 independently based on driving operations.

[0049] <Other Embodiments> Fig. 3(A) is a cross-sectional view of a lighting unit according to another embodiment. The light control member 103 may be colored while having low light transmittance. For example, the light control member 103 may have the same color as the exterior member 104 surrounding the lighting unit 10 when the light source 101 is turned off. The exterior member 104 may be, for example, a seat cowl that covers a passenger seat. The color of the light control member 103 does not have to be exactly the same color as the exterior member 104. Specifically, it is sufficient that at least one of the hue angle, saturation, brightness, and glossiness of the light control member 103 when the light source 101 is turned off be closer to the value of the exterior member 104 than when the light source 101 is turned on.

[0050] Fig. 3(B) is a cross-sectional view of a lamp unit according to another embodiment different from that of Fig. 3(A). A lamp cover 106 may be provided on the outer surface of the outer lens 105 of the lamp unit 10. The lamp cover 106 is, for example, the same color as the exterior member 104. The lamp cover 106 transmits a portion of the light that has passed through the dimming member 103. In other words, in this lamp unit 10, the light from the light source 101 is dimmed by both the dimming member 103 and the lamp cover 106.

[0051] In the above description, the lighting unit 10 is described as having a plurality of light sources. However, the lighting unit 10 may have a single light source. Furthermore, the lighting unit 10 does not have to be a tail lamp unit. The lighting unit 10 may be, for example, a turn signal unit, a headlamp unit, or the like.

[0052] In the above description, the light source is turned on and off based on the driving operation. However, the light source may be turned on and off based on the driving environment. Specifically, the light source may be turned on and off based on the brightness around the vehicle, the presence or absence of obstacles, etc. In this case, the vehicle is equipped with various sensors that detect the driving environment of the vehicle, for example. The lighting unit 10 turns the light source on and off based on signals from the sensors.

[0053] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1: Vehicle 10: Lighting device unit 101: Light source 1011: First light source 1012: Second light source 102: Housing 1021: Opening 103: Light control member 1031: Light control member for first light source 1032: Light control member for second light source 104: Exterior member 105: Outer lens 106: Lighting device cover

Claims

1. A light source that turns on and off based on driving operations or driving environments; a housing that houses the light source and has an opening in the direction of irradiation of light from the light source, The lighting unit includes: The light source further includes a light control member that is provided to receive light directed from the light source toward the opening, changing a light transmittance of the light adjusting member based on the driving operation or the traveling environment so that visibility of the inside of the housing through the light adjusting member from outside the lamp unit is reduced when the light source is turned off, and visibility of the inside of the housing through the light adjusting member from outside the lamp unit is increased when the light source is turned on; The lighting unit includes: The light source includes a plurality of light sources including a first light source and a second light source, and is configured as follows: (A) or (B). (A) The light control member is a first light source dimming member that receives light from the first light source; a second light source dimming member that receives light from the second light source, The lighting unit includes: The light transmittance of the first light-source adjusting member and the light transmittance of the second light-source adjusting member are changed independently based on the driving operation or the traveling environment. (B) The light control member is receiving both light from the first light source and light from the second light source; The lighting unit includes: Based on the driving operation or the driving environment, the light transmittance of the dimming member is changed when the first light source is turned off and on, or the light transmittance of the dimming member is changed when the second light source is turned off and on.

2. 2. The lighting unit according to claim 1, The lighting unit includes: Based on the driving operation or the driving environment, the light transmittance of the dimming member is reduced so that visibility inside the housing is reduced when the light source is turned off, and the light transmittance of the dimming member is increased so that visibility inside the housing is increased when the light source is turned on.

3. 2. The lighting unit according to claim 1, The lighting unit includes: Based on the driving operation or the running environment, the light transmittance of the dimming component is changed so that when the light source is turned off, the visibility inside the housing is reduced and at least one of the hue angle, saturation, brightness and glossiness of the dimming component becomes closer to the value of the exterior material surrounding the housing than when the light source is turned on, and so that when the light source is turned on, the visibility inside the housing is increased and at least one of the hue angle, saturation, brightness and glossiness of the dimming component becomes farther from the value of the exterior material surrounding the housing than when the light source is turned off.

4. 2. The lighting unit according to claim 1, The lighting unit includes: Based on the driving operation or the traveling environment, changing the light transmittance of the dimming member so that when the light source is turned off, visibility of the inside of the housing through the dimming member and the lamp cover from outside the lamp unit is reduced, and when the light source is turned on, visibility of the inside of the housing through the dimming member and the lamp cover from outside the lamp unit is increased; The lamp cover is disposed in front of the dimming member in the direction of light irradiation, constitutes the exterior of the vehicle, and transmits a portion of the light that has passed through the dimming member.

5. 2. The lighting unit according to claim 1, The lighting unit includes: a vehicle visibility lighting unit that emits light to allow people around the vehicle to recognize the vehicle, or a driving lighting unit that emits light to allow a driver of the vehicle to recognize a situation in the direction in which the vehicle is traveling, the vehicle visibility lighting device unit is a tail lamp unit, a turn signal unit, a positioning lamp unit, or a daytime running lamp unit, The running lighting unit is a headlamp unit and a cornering lamp unit.

6. a lighting unit including a light source that turns on and off based on a driving operation or a driving environment, and a housing that houses the light source and has an opening in the direction of irradiation of light from the light source; A vehicle including a control device that controls the lighting device unit, The lighting unit further comprises: a light control member provided to receive light directed from the light source toward the opening, The control device changing a light transmittance of the light adjusting member based on the driving operation or the traveling environment so that visibility of the inside of the housing through the light adjusting member from outside the lamp unit is reduced when the light source is turned off, and visibility of the inside of the housing through the light adjusting member from outside the lamp unit is increased when the light source is turned on; The lighting unit includes: The light source includes a plurality of light sources including a first light source and a second light source, and is configured as follows: (A) or (B). (A) The light control member is a first light source dimming member that receives light from the first light source; a second light source dimming member that receives light from the second light source, The control device The light transmittance of the first light-source adjusting member and the light transmittance of the second light-source adjusting member are changed independently based on the driving operation or the traveling environment. (B) The light control member is receiving both light from the first light source and light from the second light source; The control device Based on the driving operation or the driving environment, the light transmittance of the dimming member is changed when the first light source is turned off and on, or the light transmittance of the dimming member is changed when the second light source is turned off and on.

7. A dimming system for dimming light emitted by a vehicle lighting unit, The dimming system comprises: A light control member that receives light from a light source that turns on and off based on driving operations or driving environments; a control device that controls the light adjusting member, The control device changing a light transmittance of the light adjusting member based on the driving operation or the traveling environment so that visibility of the inside of the housing through the light adjusting member from outside the lamp unit is reduced when the light source is turned off, and visibility of the inside of the housing through the light adjusting member from outside the lamp unit is increased when the light source is turned on; The dimming system comprises: The light source includes a plurality of light sources including a first light source and a second light source, and is configured as follows: (A) or (B). (A) The light control member is a first light source dimming member that receives light from the first light source; a second light source dimming member that receives light from the second light source, The control device The light transmittance of the first light-source adjusting member and the light transmittance of the second light-source adjusting member are changed independently based on the driving operation or the traveling environment. (B) The light control member is receiving both light from the first light source and light from the second light source; The control device Based on the driving operation or the driving environment, the light transmittance of the dimming member is changed when the first light source is turned off and on, or the light transmittance of the dimming member is changed when the second light source is turned off and on.

8. A light control member that receives light from a light source housed in a housing of a vehicle lighting unit and controls the light, The light control member is changing the light transmittance based on a driving operation or a driving environment so that visibility of the inside of the housing through the light control member from outside the lamp unit is reduced when the light source is turned off, and visibility of the inside of the housing through the light control member from outside the lamp unit is increased when the light source is turned on; The lighting unit includes: the housing is configured to accommodate a plurality of the light sources including a first light source and a second light source; The light adjusting member is configured as follows (A) or (B). (A) a first light source dimming member that receives light from the first light source; a second light source dimming member that receives light from the second light source, The light transmittance of the first light-source adjusting member and the light transmittance of the second light-source adjusting member are changed independently based on the driving operation or the traveling environment. (B) receiving both light from the first light source and light from the second light source; Based on the driving operation or the driving environment, the light transmittance of the dimming member is changed when the first light source is turned off and on, or the light transmittance of the dimming member is changed when the second light source is turned off and on.

9. A lighting unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The first light source and the second light source are configured to satisfy any one of the following (1) to (4). (1) The light from the first light source and the light from the second light source serve different functions. (2) The light from the first light source is used to function as a tail lamp, and the light from the second light source is used to function as a brake lamp. (3) The number of first light sources and the number of second light sources are different from each other. (4) The first light source and the second light source emit light at different times.

10. A vehicle as claimed in claim 6, The first light source and the second light source are configured to satisfy any one of the following (1) to (4). (1) The light from the first light source and the light from the second light source serve different functions. (2) The light from the first light source is used to function as a tail lamp, and the light from the second light source is used to function as a brake lamp. (3) The number of first light sources and the number of second light sources are different from each other. (4) The first light source and the second light source emit light at different times.

11. The dimming system of claim 7, The first light source and the second light source are configured to satisfy any one of the following (1) to (4). (1) The light from the first light source and the light from the second light source serve different functions. (2) The light from the first light source is used to function as a tail lamp, and the light from the second light source is used to function as a brake lamp. (3) The number of first light sources and the number of second light sources are different from each other. (4) The first light source and the second light source emit light at different times.

12. The dimming element according to claim 8, The first light source and the second light source are configured to satisfy any one of the following (1) to (4). (1) The light from the first light source and the light from the second light source serve different functions. (2) The light from the first light source is used to function as a tail lamp, and the light from the second light source is used to function as a brake lamp. (3) The number of first light sources and the number of second light sources are different from each other. (4) The first light source and the second light source emit light at different times.