WO2022260066A1

WO2022260066A1 - Vehicle lighting

Info

Publication number: WO2022260066A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/023079
Authority: WO
Inventors: 武史近江
Original assignee: 株式会社小糸製作所
Priority date: 2021-06-11
Filing date: 2022-06-08
Publication date: 2022-12-15

Abstract

Vehicle lighting includes: a lamp body (2) a front surface of which opens; a lamp cover (4) that is made of a light-transmitting member and that is attached to an opening section of the lamp body (2) to form a light room; a heat-emitting member (21) that is laid on an inner surface of the lamp cover (4) and that emits heat by being powered; an electrical contact (22) that is provided at an end of the heat-emitting member (21) and that is provided on an interior surface of the lamp cover (4) so as to have a predetermined area; a locking member (239) that is fixed to a surface of the electrical contact (22) so as to be in surface contact with at least a section of the electrical contact (22); a connector housing (31) that is attached to a side wall (2b) of the lamp body (2), in the light room; and a connecting member (32) that connects the connector housing (31) and the locking member (239). The heat-emitting member (21) is configured so as to be powered via the locking member (239) and the connecting member (239). Since the locking member (239) is fixed to the surface of the electrical contact (22), sulfurization is suppressed.

Description

vehicle lamp

The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp, particularly a vehicle lamp having a snow melting function.

　Snow on the lamp cover of the vehicle lamp interferes with proper light irradiation. For this reason, a vehicular lamp has been disclosed that has a function of melting snow with the heat generated by the heat generating member attached to the lamp cover (for example, Patent Document 1). A conductive film, conductive ink, or the like is used as the heat generating member, and is provided in close contact with or integrally with the inside of the lamp cover. Since the heat-generating member generates heat when power is supplied, an electrical contact for power supply is provided at the end of the heat-generating member.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-86067

However, electrical contacts are often provided exposed, and when exposed,
Electrical deterioration due to sulfuration is a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of this, and provides a vehicle lamp having a snow melting function that suppresses deterioration of the connection mechanism and facilitates electrical connection between the heat generating member and the power supply mechanism.

According to the present disclosure, the following are provided.
(1) a lamp body with an open front;
a lamp cover made of a translucent member and attached to the opening of the lamp body to form a lamp chamber;
a heat-generating member laid on the inner surface of the lamp cover and generating heat when supplied with power;
an electrical contact provided at the end of the heat-generating member and provided with a predetermined area on the inner surface of the lamp cover;
a locking member fixed to the surface of the electrical contact in surface contact with at least part of the electrical contact;
a connector housing attached to a side wall of the lamp body within the lamp chamber;
a connection member that connects the connector housing and the locking member;
with
power is supplied to the heat generating member via the locking member and the connecting member;
A vehicle lamp characterized by:

(2) the connection member is a flexible printed circuit;
The flexible printed circuit has a contact portion where the circuit is exposed,
The flexible printed circuit is fixed by bringing the contact portion into surface contact with the electrical contact and partially laminating the surface of the electrical contact.
The vehicle lamp according to (1), characterized by:

(3) the locking member has a conductive portion exposed on the surface and an engaging opening that can be engaged with the connecting member;
The locking member is fixed to the surface of the electrical contact with the conductive portion in surface contact with the electrical contact and the engagement opening directed toward the side wall.
The vehicle lamp according to (1) and (2), characterized by:

(4) A male terminal is crimped to the distal end of the connection member,
The locking member is a female terminal that engages with the male terminal,
the female terminal is fixed to the surface of the electrical contact with a conductive adhesive;
The vehicle lamp according to (1) to (3), characterized by:

(5) the locking member is a resin housing integrally formed with the conducting portion made of a metal member;
The conductive portion is brought into surface contact with the electrical contact and fixed to the surface of the electrical contact;
The conducting portion and the locking member are electrically coupled by engaging the end portion of the locking member with the engagement opening,
power is supplied to the heat generating member via the conducting portion of the locking member and the connecting member;
The vehicle lamp according to (1) to (4), characterized by:

(6) a lamp body;
a lamp cover made of translucent resin and attached to the opening of the lamp body to form a lamp chamber;
a heat-generating member laid inside the lamp cover and generating heat when supplied with power;
an electrical contact provided at an end portion of the heat generating member and having a predetermined area near an edge portion inside the lamp cover;
a connector housing attached to a side wall of the lamp body within the lamp chamber behind the electrical contacts;
a terminal configured to be elastically deformable, mounted on the connector housing, biased toward the electrical contact, and electrically connected to the electrical contact by abutting on the electrical contact;
A vehicle lamp comprising:

(7) The electrical contact is made of a conductive paste or conductive ink, is formed by being applied to the inside of the lamp cover, and has a width that is at least equal to or greater than the width of the terminal.
The vehicle lamp according to (6), characterized by:

(8) The terminal is configured so as to be swingable in the direction of the electrical contact with the attachment portion to the connector housing as a fixed point.
The vehicle lamp according to (6) or (7), characterized by:

(9) The terminal is led out in an inverted L shape from the inner wall of the lamp cover and configured in the shape of a leaf spring biased toward the electrical contact.
The vehicle lamp according to any one of (6) to (8), characterized by:

(10) The terminal has a width of at least 1 mm.
The vehicle lamp according to (6) to (9), characterized by:

(11) A receiving member for the terminal is attached to the surface of the electrical contact at a position corresponding to the terminal with a conductive adhesive.
The vehicle lamp according to any one of (6) to (10), characterized by:

(12) The lamp cover has a bent portion that bends toward the lamp body, and the electrical contact is provided near the bent portion.
The vehicle lamp according to any one of (6) to (11), characterized by:

According to this aspect, the heat-generating member receives power from the electrical contact through the locking member and the connecting member, generates heat, and melts the snow adhering to the lamp cover. At least a part of the electrical contact is covered with the locking member so that it is not exposed in the lamp chamber, sulfuration is prevented, and deterioration of the connection mechanism is suppressed. In addition, the contact area is large due to the surface contact, and the stability of the connection is high. The housing is fixed to the side wall of the vehicle, and the L-shaped connecting portion is led out from the side wall and connected to the electrical contact, so that the design of the lamp cover is not disturbed.

In one aspect, the connection member is a flexible printed circuit, the flexible printed circuit has a contact portion from which a printed circuit is exposed, and the flexible printed circuit connects the contact portion to the electrical contact portion. It is configured such that it is brought into surface contact with the contact and is partially laminated and fixed on the surface of the electrical contact.

According to this aspect, at least part of the electrical contact is covered with the flexible printed circuit having the contact portion, so sulfuration is suppressed. Electric current is supplied to the heat-generating member from electrical contacts via the flexible printed circuit. Since they are laminated and fixed, the connection stability is high.

Further, according to another aspect, the locking member has an exposed conductive portion and an engagement opening that can be engaged with the connecting member, and the locking member connects the conductive portion to the electrical contact. It is configured to be fixed to the surface of the electrical contact with surface contact and the engagement opening directed toward the side wall.
Sulfurization of the portion covered with the locking member is suppressed.

Further, according to one aspect, a male terminal is crimped to the distal end of the connecting member, the locking member is a female terminal that engages with the male terminal, and the female terminal is the It was configured to be fixed to the surface of the electrical contact with a conductive adhesive. Since they are connected by terminals, they are easy to engage/disengage.

The locking member is a resin housing integrally formed with the conductive portion made of a metal member, and the conductive portion is brought into surface contact with the electrical contact, and the surface of the electrical contact is and the engaging member is engaged with the engaging opening, thereby electrically coupling the conducting portion and the engaging member, and the heat generating member is connected to the conducting portion of the engaging member and the connection It is configured so that power is supplied through the member. The housing is fixed with the conductive portion in surface contact with the electrical contact, thereby suppressing sulfurization of the electrical contact. Moreover, by providing the conductive portion, it is possible to diversify the connection method and the form of the locking member.

According to another aspect, the heat-generating member is supplied with power through a terminal, generates heat, and melts snow adhering to the lamp cover. The connector housing is fixed to the side wall of the vehicle, is arranged behind the electrical contacts, does not interfere with the design of the lamp cover, and is easy to install. Since the electrical contact provided on the lamp cover side and the terminal provided on the body side are connected while being energized,
The connection is highly stable, no special process is required for connection, and assembly is easy.

In one aspect, the electrical contact is formed by applying conductive paste or conductive ink to the inside of the lamp cover, and has a width equal to or greater than the width of the terminal. Configured. According to this aspect, the margin for dimensional difference during assembly is large, the contact area is large, and the connection is stable.

In one aspect, the terminal is configured so as to be swingable in the direction of the electrical contact with the attachment portion to the connector housing as a fixed point.

In one aspect, the terminal is led out in an inverted L shape from the inner wall of the lamp cover, and configured in the shape of a leaf spring biased toward the electrical contact.

Also, in one aspect, the width of the leaf spring-shaped terminal is configured to be at least 1 mm or more. These aspects can ensure the same biasing force as when biased from the front to abut, and can increase the contact area.

In one aspect, a receiving member for the terminal is attached to the surface of the electrical contact at a position corresponding to the terminal with a conductive adhesive. According to this aspect,
Improves contact stability. In addition, since the electrical contacts are covered with the receiving member, sulfuration of the electrical contacts is suppressed and durability is improved.

In one aspect, the lamp cover has a bent portion that bends toward the lamp body, and the electrical contact is provided near the bent portion. This is the junction between the lamp cover and the lamp body, and the connector housing is more inconspicuous and hidden.

As is clear from the above description, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a vehicle lamp having a snow melting function that suppresses sulfurization of the connection mechanism and facilitates electrical connection.

1 is a perspective view of a vehicle lamp according to a first embodiment; FIG. It is a front view explaining schematic structure of the same vehicle lamp. This is the vehicle lamp with the lamp cover removed (the lamp cover and lamp body are opened). 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 2; FIG. It mainly shows the configuration of electrical connections. It is a figure which shows the modification of 1st embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of a vehicle lamp according to a second embodiment; It corresponds to FIG. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of a vehicle lamp according to a third embodiment; It corresponds to FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a vehicle lamp according to a fourth embodiment; It is a front view explaining schematic structure of the same vehicle lamp. This is the vehicle lamp with the lamp cover removed (the lamp cover and lamp body are opened). FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 9; It mainly shows the configuration of electrical connections. It is a figure which shows the modification of 4th embodiment. It is a figure which shows the modification of 4th embodiment. It is a figure which shows the modification of 4th embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of a vehicle lamp according to a fifth embodiment; It corresponds to FIG.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments are illustrative rather than limiting, and not all features or combinations thereof described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention. In addition, in the following description of the embodiment and modifications, the same configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions are omitted as appropriate. In each figure, the dimensions and ratios do not reflect actual numerical values, but the configuration is schematically shown to show the features in an easy-to-understand manner.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle lamp 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the vehicle lamp 1. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle lamp 1 is a headlamp and is mounted on both left and right sides of the front part of the vehicle. A vehicle lamp 1 includes a lamp body 2 and a lamp cover 4. - 特許庁

The lamp body 2 is a housing with an open front, and has a rear surface and side walls 2b integrally extending forward from the entire peripheral edge of the rear surface. A flange portion 2a for welding is provided along the entire circumference of the opening.

The lamp cover 4 is a so-called outer cover, and is a substantially transparent lens made of translucent resin such as polycarbonate, glass, or the like. Similar to the lamp body 2, the lamp cover 4 has a substantially planar front surface and side walls 4b integrally extending slightly rearward from the front surface. A flange portion 4a is formed along the circumference. The lamp cover 4 is attached to the opening of the lamp body 2, and the flanges (2a, 4a) are welded together to form a lamp chamber S inside.

Within the defined lamp chamber S, a high beam lamp unit Hi and a low beam lamp unit Lo are housed side by side in the vehicle width direction. The high-beam lamp unit Hi and the low-beam lamp unit Lo are optical units configured to irradiate the front of the vehicle with light emitted from the light source to form a high-beam light distribution/low-beam light distribution. Each lamp unit (Hi, Lo) has a conventionally well-known configuration, for example, a lamp unit of a reflection type, a projector type, or the like, and the type thereof does not matter. In addition, the light sources used in the lamp units Lo and Hi are light sources that do not generate heat, such as incandescent bulbs such as halogen bulbs, LED (Light Emitting Diode), LD (Laser Diode), and EL (Electro Luminescence) elements. can be used.

On the inner surface of the lamp cover 4 is laid a heat generating member 21 that generates heat when supplied with power. The heat-generating member 21 is formed in a linear shape and is provided on substantially the entire inner surface of the lamp cover 4 in a predetermined wiring pattern. The heat generated by the heat-generating member 21 melts snow and ice adhering to the lamp cover 4 and eliminates fogging that has occurred inside and outside, ensuring proper light distribution. The heat generating member 21 implements a snow melting function in the vehicle lamp 1 .

For example, a resistance heating wire is used as the heating member 21, and is fixed to the inner surface of the lamp cover 4 in a desired wiring pattern with an adhesive or an adhesive. The pressure-sensitive adhesive or adhesive may be of a thermosetting type or an ultraviolet curable type, and is preferably light-transmissive. The resistance hot wire may be wired by transfer or screen printing using conductive paste or conductive ink.
The resistance heating wire includes a material with relatively low conductivity such as tungsten, molybdenum, nickel chromium. The resistance heating wire is resistance-heated by power supply to the resistance heating wire, thereby raising the temperature of the resistance heating wire to a temperature at which snow can be melted. Since the wire diameter of the heat-generating member 21 is extremely small, it is not conspicuous, and the decrease in the transmittance of the lamp cover 4 due to the wiring is suppressed, so that the light irradiation function of the vehicle lamp 1 is not impaired.

Also, a transparent film heater may be used as the heat generating member 21 . A transparent film heater is a light-transmitting thin-film heating element, and consists of a transparent member such as a transparent PET film, on which ultra-fine metal wires that cannot be seen are arranged in a mesh pattern, or fine particles of metal are placed. It is vapor deposited. A very thin layer of metal is placed on the surface of a film-like transparent member,
Very high light transmittance. The transparent film heater is adhered to the inner surface of the lamp cover 4 with the pressure sensitive adhesive or adhesive.

The transparent film heater is not limited to the above configuration, and a transparent heating film made of an ITO film (indium tin oxide film) may be used. A flexible printed circuit (FPC) using conductive ink for a transparent film may also be used. A transparent film heater may be formed directly on the inner surface of the lamp cover 4 .

The outer surface of the lamp cover 4 may be coated with a volatile film (water-repellent coating). As a result, snow and ice adhering to the outer surface of the lamp cover 4 are quickly removed by melting the interface with the lamp cover 4 .

Power supply to the heat generating member 21 may be performed at an appropriate timing. For example, power may be supplied at a time desired by the driver, such as when the lamp units Hi and Lo are energized, or when the engine is started.
Moreover, in the present embodiment, the heat generating member 21 is arranged over substantially the entire inner surface of the lamp cover 4, but it may be arranged only in a necessary area.

The heat-generating member 21 is laid in a substantially parallel continuous wiring pattern while meandering zigzag in the left-right direction, and both ends thereof are located at the lower left corners. The wiring pattern of the heat-generating member 21 is not limited to this, and the heat-generating member 21 may be laid comprehensively on the inner surface of the lamp cover 4 mainly in the light passing portion (front of the lamp unit) of the lamp cover 4 .

An electrical contact 22 is formed at the end of the heat generating member 21 , and power is supplied to the heat generating member 21 from a vehicle battery connected via the electrical contact 22 . One of the two

electrical contacts

22, 22, which are the ends of the heating member 21, is a positive electrode and the other is a negative electrode. The two

electrical contacts

22, 22 are provided close to each other near the side wall 2b on the inner surface of the lamp cover 4 at a position that does not interfere with light distribution.

The electrical contacts 22 are conductive paste or conductive ink, and metal pastes such as silver paste, gold paste, copper paste, and aluminum paste are used, for example. An electrical contact 22 having a predetermined area is formed by applying copper wire paste or copper wire ink to the inner surface of the lamp cover 4 on which the heat generating member 21 is laid.

(Power supply mechanism 30)
Next, the power supply mechanism 30 that supplies power to the electrical contacts 22 will be described. The power supply mechanism 30 is provided inside the lamp chamber S.

FIG. 3 shows the vehicle lamp 1 with the lamp cover 4 removed (the lamp cover 4 and the lamp body 2 are opened). 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 2. FIG.

　As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the power feeding mechanism 30 includes a connector housing 31 and a connecting member 32. As shown in FIGS.

The connector housing 31 is a resin connector having a connector opening 31a capable of locking a terminal, and the connector opening 31a is directed toward the lamp cover 4 and fixed by a conventional method (not shown) such as lance engagement or concave-convex engagement. , are fixed to the side wall 2 b of the lamp body 2 .

The connection member 32 is a flexible printed circuit (FPC), and has a layered structure in which a circuit is formed with a conductive foil on a base that is a thin-film insulator, and is further covered with an insulating film. It is a film-like wiring having

A terminal 33 is provided at one end of the connection member 32 elongated in one direction, and the terminal 33 is inserted into the connector opening 31a of the connector housing 31 and locked.

A contact portion 34 is provided at the other end of the connection member 32 . The contact portion 34 is an electrical contact of a flexible printed circuit in which the conductor foil of the circuit is exposed without being covered with an insulating film. The contact portion 34 has a predetermined area. It is fixed with adhesive (see Fig. 4).

A lead wire L connected to the vehicle battery is attached to the rear side of the connector housing 31 and coupled to the terminal 33 . The current supplied from the vehicle battery passes through the lead wire L, the terminal 33 , the connection member 32 , the contact portion 34 and the electrical contact 22 in order, and is supplied to the heat generating member 21 .

(Effect)
The contact portion 34 has a predetermined area, is in surface contact with the electrical contact 22, and has a large contact area. Therefore, the stability of electrical connection is high.

Since the electrical contact 22 is covered with a film-like flexible printed circuit, the surface is not exposed to the inside of the lamp chamber S, and the decrease in conductivity due to sulfurization is suppressed.

A flexible printed circuit is used for the connection member 32, and it has high vibration resistance without peeling, disconnection, or instantaneous interruption due to vibrations during vehicle travel.

A connector housing 31 is fixed to the side wall 2b on the back of the electrical contact 22, and the power feeding mechanism 30 does not interfere with the design of the lamp cover 4.

The connection member 32 is led out from the connector housing 31 in an L-shape, arranged along the inner wall of the lamp chamber S, and connected to the electrical contact 22, so that it is difficult to see from the front. Therefore, there is no need to provide a blindfold member that shields the mechanism such as the extension. The electrical contact 22 is provided near the side wall 4b of the lamp cover 4, that is, near the bent portion of the lamp cover 4, and the power supply mechanism 30 arranged behind the electrical contact 22 is also difficult to see from the front. It is configured.

When assembling the vehicle lamp 1 , first, the contact portion 34 is brought into contact with the electrical contact 22 of the lamp cover 4 , and the end portion of the connecting member 32 is fixed to the electrical contact 22 . One end (contact portion 34) of the connection member 32 is fixed to the lamp cover 4, and the terminal 33 at the other end is left unlocked, and the lamp body 2 and the lamp cover 4 are attached to both flange portions. They are welded or adhered at 2a and 4a. After the welding, the terminal 33 is inserted into the connector opening 31a of the connector housing 31 in the lamp chamber S by inserting the worker's hand through a hole (not shown) of the lamp body 2, for example.

(Modification)
FIG. 5 shows a power feeding mechanism 30A as a modified example of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, the power supply mechanism 30A includes a substrate 35. The board 35 is fixed along the side wall 2b, and the connector housing 31 is fixed on the surface of the board 35. As shown in FIG. Thus, the connector housing 31 is not limited to being directly fixed to the side wall 2b, and may be fixed via the substrate 35 or the like. A control circuit CON of the heat-generating member 21 and a lead wire L from the vehicle battery are also attached to the board 35, and functions are consolidated.

Since the substrate 35 is arranged along the side wall 2b, it does not interfere with the design of the lamp cover 4, and the minimum configuration suppresses the deterioration of the illumination effect and secures the stability of the connection. The board 35 assembled in advance can be installed on the side wall 2b in the lamp chamber S, and assembly is easy.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle lamp 101 according to the second embodiment, and mainly shows the form of the power supply mechanism 130 to the electrical contact 22. As shown in FIG. FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG.

The power supply mechanism 130 includes a connecting member 132, a connector housing 31, and a female terminal 134.

A conductive adhesive (not shown) having the same metal composition as the electrical contact 22 is applied to the surface of the electrical contact 22, and the female terminal 134 is mounted thereon. At this time, the engagement opening 134a of the female terminal 134 is directed toward the side wall 2b to which the connector housing 31 is fixed. With the female terminal 134 mounted, the conductive adhesive is cured to secure the female terminal 134 onto the surface of the electrical contact 22 .

The connection member 132 is an electric wire. A terminal 33 is crimped to one end of the connecting member 132 , and the terminal 33 is inserted into the connector opening 31 a of the connector housing 31 . A male terminal 136 that engages with a female terminal 134 is crimped to the other end of the connecting member 132 , and the male terminal 136 is inserted into and engaged with the female terminal 134 .

A lead wire L is attached to the back side of the connector housing 31 and coupled to the terminal 33 . The current supplied from the vehicle battery passes through the lead wire L, the terminal 33 , the connection member 132 , the male terminal 136 , the female terminal 134 and the electrical contact 22 in order, and is supplied to the heat generating member 21 .

Since the metal female terminal 134 is fixed to the surface of the electrical contact 22, the contact area is large. Therefore, the stability of electrical coupling is high. Further, since the electrical contact 22 is not exposed in the lamp chamber S and the connection is continued, deterioration of the electrical connection due to sulfurization is suppressed. Electrical connection can be achieved simply by inserting and removing the male terminal 136 from the female terminal 134, which is a locking member, and connection/disconnection is easy.

As in the first embodiment, the connection member 32 is led out from the side wall 2b in an L-shape, and the connection member 132 is arranged along the inner wall in the lamp chamber S, so that it is inconspicuous and interferes with the design of the lamp cover 4. do not do.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle lamp 201 according to a third embodiment, and mainly shows a form of a power feeding mechanism 230 to an electrical contact 22. As shown in FIG. FIG. 7 corresponds to FIG.

The power supply mechanism 230 includes a connector housing 31, a connecting member 132, and a locking member 239. Terminals 33 and male terminals 136 are crimped to both ends of the connecting member 132 .

The locking member 239 is a housing made of a resin member, such as a connector housing, and is integrated with the metal member 234 by two-color molding or fitting. A portion of the metal member 234 is exposed on the surface of the locking member 239 and acts as a conducting portion of the locking member 239 . The locking member 239 has an engaging opening 239a with which the male terminal 136 can be locked.

A conductive adhesive (not shown) having the same metal composition as the electrical contact 22 is applied to the surface of the electrical contact 22, and the locking member 239 is mounted thereon. At this time, the exposed portion of the metal member 234 is in contact with the electrical contact 22, and the engagement opening 239a is arranged with the side wall 2b directed to the side. The conductive adhesive is cured while the locking member 239 is mounted to fix the locking member 239 on the surface of the electrical contact 22 .

The male terminal 136 is configured to be electrically coupled with the metal member 234 when the male terminal 136 is inserted into the engagement opening 239a. A lead wire L is attached to the back side of the connector housing 31 and connected to a terminal 33 . The current supplied from the vehicle battery passes through the lead wire L, the terminal 33 , the connection member 132 , the male terminal 136 , the metal member 234 and the electrical contact 22 in order, and is supplied to the heat generating member 21 .

By fixing the locking member 239 to the surface of the electrical contact 22 while the conductive portion is in contact with the electrical contact 22, the electrical contact 22 is prevented from sulfurization while ensuring connection. In addition, just like the female terminal 134, the male terminal 136 can be electrically connected simply by inserting and withdrawing it from the engagement opening 239a of the locking member 239, and the connection is easy. By integrating the metal member 234 with the locking member 239 formed of a resin member, the shape of the locking member 239 can be diversified.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a vehicle lamp 1001 according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 9 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the vehicle lamp 1001. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, vehicle lamps 1001 are headlamps and are mounted on the left and right sides of the front of the vehicle. A vehicle lamp 1001 includes a lamp body 1002 and a lamp cover 1004 .

The lamp body 1002 is a housing with an open front, and includes a rear surface and side walls 1002b integrally extending forward from the entire peripheral edge of the rear surface. A flange portion 1002a for welding is provided on the periphery of the opening.

The lamp cover 1004 is a so-called outer cover, and is a substantially transparent lens made of translucent resin such as polycarbonate, glass, or the like. The lamp cover 1004 has a side wall 1004b extending slightly rearward and a flange portion 1004a formed around the entire periphery of the end of the side wall 1004b. By welding the flange portion 1002a of the lamp body 1002 and the flange portion 1004a of the lamp cover 1004, the lamp cover 1004 is attached to the opening of the lamp body 1002, and the lamp chamber S is formed inside.

A lamp unit Hi for high beam and a lamp unit Lo for low beam are accommodated in the defined lamp chamber S. The high-beam lamp unit Hi and the low-beam lamp unit Lo are optical units configured to irradiate forward light emitted from the light source to form a high-beam light distribution and a low-beam light distribution in front of the vehicle. Each lamp unit (Hi, Lo) has a conventionally well-known configuration, for example, a lamp unit of a reflection type, a projector type, or the like, and the type thereof does not matter. In addition, the light sources used for each lamp unit Lo and Hi are light sources that do not generate heat, such as incandescent bulbs such as halogen bulbs, LED (Light Emitting Diode), LD (Laser Diode), and EL (Electro Luminescence) elements. It is possible to use

On the inner surface of the lamp cover 1004 is laid a heat generating member 1021 that generates heat when supplied with power. The heat-generating member 1021 is formed in a linear shape, and is provided on substantially the entire inner surface of the lamp cover 1004 in a predetermined wiring pattern. Snow adhering to the outer surface of the lamp cover 1004 interferes with proper light irradiation of the lamp units (Hi, Lo). The heat generated by the heat-generating member 1021 melts the snow and ice adhered to the lamp cover 1004 and eliminates fogging that has occurred inside and outside, ensuring proper light distribution. The heat generating member 1021 implements the snow melting function of the vehicle lamp 1001 .

A resistance heating wire, for example, is used as the heat generating member 1021, and is fixed to the inner surface of the lamp cover 1004 in a desired wiring pattern with an adhesive or an adhesive. The pressure-sensitive adhesive or adhesive may be of a thermosetting type or an ultraviolet curable type, and preferably has optical transparency. The resistance hot wire may be wired by transfer or screen printing using conductive paste or conductive ink. The resistance heating wire is composed of materials with relatively low electrical conductivity, such as tungsten, molybdenum, nickel-chromium, and the like. The resistance heating wire is resistance-heated by power supply to the resistance heating wire, thereby raising the temperature of the resistance heating wire to a temperature at which snow can be melted. Since the wire diameter of the heat-generating member 1021 is extremely small, it is not conspicuous, and the decrease in transmittance of the lamp cover 1004 is suppressed, so that the light irradiation function of the vehicle lamp 1001 is not impaired.

Also, a transparent film heater may be used as the heat generating member 1021 . A transparent film heater is a light-transmitting thin-film heating element, and consists of a transparent member such as a transparent PET film, on which ultra-fine metal wires that cannot be seen are arranged in a mesh pattern, or fine particles of metal are placed. It is vapor deposited. A very thin metal layer is placed on the surface of the film-like transparent member, and the light transmittance is very high. Alternatively, a transparent heat generating film made of an ITO film (indium tin oxide film) may be used. An FPC using conductive ink on a transparent film may also be used. The transparent film heater is adhered to the inner surface of the lamp cover 1004 by the pressure sensitive adhesive or adhesive.
A transparent film heater may be directly deposited on the inner surface of the lamp cover 1004 .

The outer surface of the lamp cover 1004 may be coated with a volatile film (water-repellent coating) so that snow and ice adhering to the outer surface of the lamp cover 1004 melt at the interface with the lamp cover 1004. quickly removed by

Power supply to the heat generating member 1021 may be performed at an appropriate timing. For example, power may be supplied at a time desired by the driver, such as when the lamp units Hi and Lo are energized, or when the engine is started.
Moreover, in this embodiment, the heat generating member 1021 is arranged over substantially the entire inner surface of the lamp cover 1004, but it may be arranged only in a necessary area.

An electrical contact 1022 is provided at the end of the heat-generating member 1021 , and the heat-generating member 1021 is powered by a vehicle battery connected via the electrical contact 1022 . In this embodiment, the linear heat-generating members 1021 are laid in a wiring pattern that continues substantially in parallel while meandering in the horizontal direction in a zigzag manner.

Electrical contacts

1022 and 1022 are formed at two locations, the upper left end and the lower left end, which are the ends of the heat generating member 1021, respectively.

The wiring pattern of the heat-generating member 1021 is not limited to this, and may be laid comprehensively mainly on the light-passing portion (front of the lamp unit) on the inner surface of the lamp cover 1004 . The

electrical contacts

1022, 1022 are provided near the side wall 1002b at positions that do not interfere with light distribution. The two electrical contacts 1022 may be provided on opposite side walls 1002b or may be provided adjacent to the same side wall 1002b.

The electrical contacts 1022 are conductive paste or conductive ink, and metal pastes such as silver paste, gold paste, copper paste, and aluminum paste are used, for example. These are applied to the inner surface of the lamp cover 1004 to form a thin electrical contact 1022 having a predetermined area on the inner surface of the lamp cover 1004 .

(Power supply mechanism 1030)
As shown in FIG. 9 , the vehicle lamp 1001 includes a power supply mechanism 1030 electrically connected to the electrical contact 1022 as a mechanism on the lamp body 1002 side for supplying power to the heat generating member 1021 . The power supply mechanism 1030 is provided on the side wall 1002b of the lamp body 1002 inside the lamp chamber S on the rear side of the electrical contact 1022. As shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 shows the vehicle lamp 1001 with the lamp cover 1004 removed (the lamp cover 1004 and the lamp body 1002 are opened). 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 9. FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the electrical contact 1022 is provided on the lamp cover 1004, and the power supply mechanism 1030 is provided near the opening of the lamp body 1002 corresponding to the position of the electrical contact 1022.

The power supply mechanism 1030 includes a connector housing 1031 and leaf spring-like terminals 1032 attached to the connector housing 1031 . The connector housing 1031 is a connector housing, is configured to be mountable with the terminals 1032, and is fixed to the side wall 1002b of the lamp body 1002 by a conventional method (not shown) such as lance engagement or uneven engagement.

The terminal 1032 includes a fixing portion 1033 inserted and fixed into the connector housing 1031 and a protruding portion 1034 exposed from the connector housing 1031 and protruding toward the electrical contact 1022 .
The leaf spring-like terminal 1032 is arranged with the thickness direction being the left-right direction, and one end thereof serving as a fixing portion 1033 is inserted into the connector housing 1031 from the front. It bends forward and upward continuously from the fixed portion 1033 , bends further, and projects toward the electrical contact 1022 to form a projecting portion 1034 . The exposed portion of the terminal 1032 protrudes toward the electrical contact 1022 and is generally configured in an inverted L shape as a whole. Due to this shape, the terminal 1032 is configured to be elastically deformable (swingable) in the facing direction (front-rear direction) with the electrical contact 1022 with the fixing portion 1033 as a fulcrum.

In the installed state, the protrusion 1034 is held in contact with the electrical contact 1022 and electrically coupled with the electrical contact 1022 . Since the length of protrusion 1034 protruding from connector housing 1031 is greater than the distance between connector housing 1031 and electrical contact 1022, protrusion 1034 is biased toward electrical contact 1022 (see arrow in FIG. 11). It is held in a

A lead wire terminal connected to a vehicle battery (not shown) is mounted on the rear side of the connector housing 1031 and coupled to the terminal 1032. Current supplied from the vehicle battery is transmitted through the lead wire, the terminal 1032, and the electrical contact. 1022 and supplied to the heating member 1021 .

When assembling the vehicle lamp 1001 , first, the power supply mechanism 1030 is attached to the side wall 1002 b of the lamp body 1002 in a process prior to welding the lamp cover 1004 and the lamp body 1002 together. Similarly, the heat-generating member 1021 and the electrical contact 1022 are also provided on the inner surface of the lamp cover 1004 in a pre-welding process. Then, as a step of welding the lamp cover 1004 and the lamp body 1002 together, both

flange portions

1002a and 1004a are brought together. As a result, the projecting portion 1034 contacts the electrical contact 1022 and is held in a state of being pushed from the electrical contact 1022 toward the connector housing 1031 . Electrically coupled to the terminal 1032 and the electrical contact 1022 , the heat generating member 1021 is powered via the power supply mechanism 1030 .

(Effect)
The vehicle lamp 1001 has a structure in which the electrical contact 1022 and the terminal 1032 are naturally electrically coupled in the process of welding the lamp body 1002 and the lamp cover 1004 together. work is no longer required. An additional process for electrical connection such as soldering is not required, and electrical connection can be established only by conventional assembly procedures, facilitating assembly.

Since the electrical contact 1022 having a predetermined area and the leaf spring-like terminal 1032 having a predetermined width are connected, the contact area is large and poor contact is suppressed. In addition, since the connection is not completely fixed by adhesion, fitting, or the like, the vibration resistance performance is high. Since the terminal 1032 is urged to the electrical contact 1022, the terminal 1032 is kept in contact with the electrical contact 1022 even if the vehicle vibrates.

The power supply mechanism 1030 is attached to the lamp body 1002 and does not interfere with the design of the lamp cover 1004. The connector housing 1031 is attached to the side wall 1002b of the lamp body 1002, and the terminal 1032 in the shape of a leaf spring attached thereto is led out in an inverted L shape from the side wall 1002b. Arranged in a limited configuration. With this configuration, the contact area is ensured, the contact is continued continuously, and the influence on design and visibility is minimized.

Since the power supply mechanism 1030 is fixed to the side wall 1002b, the electrical contact 1022 is provided in the vicinity of the side of the vehicle lamp 1001, so that the power supply mechanism 1030 arranged behind the electrical contact 1022 is also inconspicuous and difficult to be seen. , do not disturb the light distribution. There is no need to provide a blindfold member for shielding mechanisms such as extensions, and assembly is easy.

The lamp cover 1004 has a side wall 1004b, and the electrical contact 1022 is provided in the vicinity of the portion extending rearward from the front of the lamp cover 1004, that is, the bent portion. This makes the connector housing 1031 and the terminals 1032 less conspicuous. The electrical contact 1022 may be provided on the inner side of the front surface through which light passes, and the configuration of the present disclosure can also be applied to a lamp cover that does not have a side wall 1004b (without a bent portion) and has a curved or planar shape. be.

The electrical contact 1022 is provided with a predetermined area, and its width is preferably equal to or greater than the width of the terminal 1032 . The contact area is increased and the electrical connection is stabilized. The width of leaf spring-shaped terminal 1032 is preferably at least 1 mm or more. The contact area is increased while ensuring the biasing force.

In the vehicle lamp 1001, the power supply mechanism 1030 and the electrical contact 1022 are provided at two locations, upper and lower, on the left side of the vehicle lamp 1001, but the arrangement of the electrical contact 1022 is not limited to this. , the two

electrical contacts

1022, 1022 may be provided close to each other without being spaced apart. Alternatively, a single connector housing may be used, and two leaf spring-like terminals 1032 may be attached to the single connector housing while being separated from each other.

Also, the lamp body 1002 and the lamp cover 1004 are joined by welding, but in consideration of the replacement of the light source, the two may be detachably joined by screwing with a sealing material such as packing interposed therebetween. .

In this embodiment, the terminal 1032 is configured in the shape of a leaf spring. may

(Modification)
12, 13A, and 13B show

power supply mechanisms

1030A, 1030B, and 1030C, respectively, as modifications of the fourth embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 12, the power supply mechanism 1030A includes a substrate 1039. A substrate 1039 is fixed along side wall 1002b and a connector housing 1031 is fixed to the surface of substrate 1039. As shown in FIG. In this way, the connector housing 1031 is not limited to being fixed directly to the side wall 1002b, but may be fixed via the board 1039 or the like. The board 1039 may be provided with a control circuit for the heat-generating member 1021 and lead wires from the vehicle battery, so that the functions may be consolidated.

Since the substrate 1039 is arranged along the side wall 1002b, it does not interfere with the design of the lamp cover 1004, and the minimal configuration suppresses the deterioration of the illumination effect and ensures the stability of connection. The board 1039 assembled in advance can be installed on the side wall 1002b in the lamp chamber S, and assembly is easy.

As shown in FIG. 13A , the power supply mechanism 1030B includes a connector housing 1031 and leaf spring-like terminals 1032B inserted into the connector housing 1031 . The terminal 1032B is configured in a substantially triangular shape when viewed from the side, and one end is inserted into the connector housing 1031 as a fixing portion 1033 from below and fixed, and a slant portion that is bent and continues from the fixing portion 1033 so as to be folded back. is shaped to extend toward the electrical contact 1022 as part of the protrusion 1034 . Due to the elastic properties of metal, the protruding portion 1034 is configured to be swingable in the front-rear direction around the bending point with respect to the fixed portion 1033 as a fulcrum. Protrusion 1034 is held against and electrically coupled to electrical contact 1022 while being biased toward electrical contact 1022 .

Thus, the terminal electrically coupled to the electrical contact 1022 is configured to be elastically deformable toward the electrical contact 1022 and abuts the electrical contact 1022 while being biased toward the electrical contact 1022 . Any form is acceptable as long as it is held by

For example, two or more terminals 1032 may be used for one electrical contact 1022 . Using a plurality of terminals 1032 increases the contact area and improves the stability of electrical coupling. It is preferable to hold a plurality of terminals 1032 in the same connector housing 1031 in order to save space. In addition, it is more preferable to use terminals 1032 having different forms because the vibration resistance performance is improved and the stability of electrical connection is improved. For example, in a power supply mechanism 1030C shown in FIG. 13B, two terminals 1032B are attached to one connector housing 1031C. One terminal 1032B is inserted into the connector housing 1031C from below and fixed, and the other terminal 1032B is inserted into the connector housing 1031C from above and fixed. Both are configured to be elastically deformable in the direction of the electrical contact 1022 (back and forth direction), but since the fulcrum positions are different, the two main anti-vibration directions are different, so the anti-vibration performance is high.

(Fifth embodiment)
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle lamp 1101 according to a fifth embodiment, and mainly shows the forms of an electrical contact 1022 and a power supply mechanism 1130. As shown in FIG. FIG. 14 corresponds to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 14 , the power supply mechanism 1130 includes a connector housing 1131 and terminals 1132 attached to the connector housing 10131 . The terminal 1132 is a pogo pin having a projectable tip, and is electrically connected to the vehicle battery by a lead wire (not shown).
The terminal 1132 is arranged to face the electrical contact 1022 and is configured to be elastically deformable in the direction toward the electrical contact 1022 (front-rear direction).

A connector 1126 to which a gold-plated receiving member 1125 is attached is fixed to the surface of the electrical contact 1022 with a conductive adhesive (not shown) having the same metal composition. The receiving member 1125 is a receiving member for the terminal 1132 , which is a pogo pin, and is arranged to face the tip of the terminal 1132 . In this embodiment, the receiving member 1125 is attached to the connector 1126 and secured to the electrical contacts 1022 via the connector 1126, but the receiving member 1125 is directly secured to the electrical contact 1022 with a conductive adhesive. may

The maximum projecting length of the terminal 1132 in an unloaded state is set to be longer than the distance to the receiving member 1125, and in the installed state, the terminal 1132 is held in contact with the receiving member 1125 in a loaded state to form an electrical contact. 1022 are electrically coupled.

Since the terminal 1132 is electrically coupled to the electrical contact 1022 via the receiving member 1125 while being biased toward the electrical contact 1022, the electrical connection is stabilized. Further, since the receiving member 1125 is attached to the surface of the electrical contact 1022, the electrical contact 1022 is not exposed in the lamp chamber S, and sulfuration of the electrical contact 1022 is suppressed. Therefore, the durability performance is high. Before welding the lamp body 1002 and the lamp cover 1004, the connector 1126 is attached to the electrical contact 1022, and the connector housing 1131 is also attached inside the side wall 1002b of the lamp body 1002. FIG. When the lamp body 1002 and the lamp cover 1004 are combined in the welding process, the terminal 1132 and the receiving member 1125 are arranged to face each other, and the terminals 1132 are naturally electrically coupled by the biasing force of the electrical contact 1022. Therefore, no electrical coupling work is required, and assembly is easy.

As shown in FIG. 14, in the present embodiment, the contact surface of the receiving member 1125 with the terminal 1132 is formed flat. may be configured to Further, it is preferable to configure the receiving member 1125 so as to be able to protrude into the connector 1126 and to give elastic characteristics to both the receiving member 1125 and the terminal 1132, because the connection becomes more stable.

The configuration of the present disclosure is suitable not only for headlights, but also for indicator lights and rear lamps equipped with a snow-melting function as specifications for cold regions.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the above embodiments are examples of the present invention, and it is possible to combine them based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and such forms are also within the scope of the present invention. include.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-097724 filed on June 11, 2021 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-097725 filed on June 11, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. be

Claims

A lamp body with an open front,
a lamp cover made of a translucent member and attached to the opening of the lamp body to form a lamp chamber;
a heat-generating member laid on the inner surface of the lamp cover and generating heat when supplied with power;
an electrical contact provided at the end of the heat-generating member and provided with a predetermined area on the inner surface of the lamp cover;
a locking member fixed to the surface of the electrical contact in surface contact with at least part of the electrical contact;
a connector housing attached to a side wall of the lamp body within the lamp chamber;
a connection member that connects the connector housing and the locking member;
with
power is supplied to the heat generating member via the locking member and the connecting member;
A vehicle lamp characterized by:
The connection member is a flexible printed circuit,
The flexible printed circuit has a contact portion where the circuit is exposed,
The flexible printed circuit is fixed by bringing the contact portion into surface contact with the electrical contact and partially laminating the surface of the electrical contact.
The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that:
The locking member has a conductive portion exposed on the surface and an engagement opening that can be engaged with the connection member,
The locking member is fixed to the surface of the electrical contact with the conductive portion in surface contact with the electrical contact and the engagement opening directed toward the side wall.
The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that:
A male terminal is crimped to the distal end of the connection member,
The locking member is a female terminal that engages with the male terminal,
the female terminal is fixed to the surface of the electrical contact with a conductive adhesive;
4. The vehicle lamp according to claim 3, wherein:
The locking member is a resin housing integrally formed with the conducting portion made of a metal member,
The conductive portion is brought into surface contact with the electrical contact and fixed to the surface of the electrical contact;
The conducting portion and the locking member are electrically coupled by engaging the end portion of the locking member with the engagement opening,
power is supplied to the heat generating member via the conducting portion of the locking member and the connecting member;
4. The vehicle lamp according to claim 3, characterized by:
a lamp body;
a lamp cover made of translucent resin and attached to the opening of the lamp body to form a lamp chamber;
a heat-generating member laid inside the lamp cover and generating heat when supplied with power;
an electrical contact provided at an end portion of the heat generating member and having a predetermined area near an edge portion inside the lamp cover;
a connector housing attached to a side wall of the lamp body within the lamp chamber behind the electrical contacts;
a terminal configured to be elastically deformable, mounted on the connector housing, biased toward the electrical contact, and electrically connected to the electrical contact by abutting on the electrical contact;
A vehicle lamp comprising:
The electrical contact is made of conductive paste or conductive ink, is applied to the inside of the lamp cover, and has a width that is at least equal to or greater than the width of the terminal.
7. The vehicle lamp according to claim 6, wherein:
The terminal is configured so as to be swingable in the direction of the electrical contact with an attachment portion to the connector housing as a fixed point.
8. The vehicle lamp according to claim 6, wherein:
The terminal is led out in an inverted L shape from the inner wall of the lamp cover and configured in the shape of a leaf spring biased toward the electrical contact.
8. The vehicle lamp according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that:
The width of the terminal is at least 1 mm or more,
10. The vehicle lamp according to claim 9, wherein:
a receiving member for the terminal is attached to the surface of the electrical contact at a position corresponding to the terminal with a conductive adhesive;
8. The vehicle lamp according to claim 6, wherein:
The lamp cover has a bent portion that bends toward the lamp body, and the electrical contact is provided in the vicinity of the bent portion.
8. The vehicle lamp according to claim 6, wherein: