JP2004268690A - Lighting system for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting system for a vehicle using a light emitting diode as a light source, saving electric power, increasing longevity and capable of miniaturizing a lamp body. <P>SOLUTION: A front winker 20 having the light emitting diode 25 in the lamp body 23 as the light source and a resistant circuit 30 to adjust voltage to apply to the light emitting diode 25 are furnished, and the resistant circuit 30 is provided separately outside of the lamp body 23. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle lighting device using a light emitting diode.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, among vehicle lighting devices, those using light emitting diodes as light sources are increasing. In such a lighting device, a plurality of light emitting diodes are used in one lighting device in order to secure an amount of light, but each light emitting diode is power saving and has a long life, and the degree of freedom of the shape of the lamp body is high. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for those having limited space for arranging lamps, such as door mirrors with built-in turn signals and motorcycles.
By the way, since the forward voltage required to light the light emitting diode is sufficiently lower than the vehicle power supply voltage, the voltage applied to the light emitting diode is usually reduced by decreasing the vehicle power supply voltage by a series resistor provided for each light emitting diode. It is adjusted (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-63-222984
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional vehicle lighting device, the temperature of the light-emitting diode tends to increase due to the heat generated by the series resistance. When the temperature of the light emitting diode increases, the forward voltage decreases, and as a result, a large amount of forward current flows through the light emitting diode, thereby increasing power consumption and shortening the operating life of the light emitting diode. In addition, if the interval between the components is increased in order to enhance the heat radiation, the size of the lamp increases, and this is a major problem when the space for disposing the lamp is limited.
Therefore, the present invention provides a vehicular lighting device that uses a light emitting diode as a light source, saves power, has a long life, and can reduce the size of a lamp body.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the invention described in claim 1 is based on a light-emitting diode (for example, the light-emitting diode 25 in the embodiment) as a light source in a lamp (for example, the lamps 23, 37a, 50a, 51a in the embodiment). (For example, the front blinker 20, tail lamp 37, rear blinker 50, license lamp 51 in the embodiment) and voltage adjusting means (for example, the resistance circuits 30, 60 in the embodiment) for adjusting the voltage applied to the light emitting diode. , 61), wherein the voltage adjusting means is provided separately outside the lamp body.
[0006]
According to this vehicle lighting device, by adjusting the voltage applied to the light emitting diode by the voltage adjusting means separated outside the lamp body, the temperature of the light emitting diode in the lamp body can be controlled even if the voltage adjusting means generates heat. Without increasing, the forward voltage can be stabilized and the lighting forward current can be kept in an appropriate range.
Further, since the amount of heat generation is small, each component can be densely arranged in the lamp body, and the weight of the lamp can be reduced by separating the voltage adjusting means outside the lamp body.
[0007]
The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that the voltage adjusting means is attached to a support member (for example, the lamp bracket 10 and the license bracket 40 in the embodiment) that supports the lighting device.
[0008]
According to this lighting device for a vehicle, the supporting member for supporting the lighting device and the voltage adjusting means can be integrally formed, and the components for supporting the voltage adjusting means and the assembling work thereof can be reduced. Further, if the support member is made of a material having a high heat transfer property such as a metal, the support member can be used as a heat sink, and the heat radiation of the voltage adjusting means can be improved.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes a body frame of the motorcycle 1, and a head pipe 3 is provided at a front end of the body frame 2. A stem pipe 5 fixed integrally with the bottom bridge 4 is mounted through the head pipe 3 so as to be rotatable around an axis, and a top bridge 6 is attached to a protruding portion of the stem pipe 5 from the head pipe 3 by a stem nut 6A. Is fixed by A steering stem 7 pivotally supported by the head pipe 3 is constituted mainly of the top bridge 6, the stem pipe 5, and the bottom bridge 4. In addition, front forks (not shown) are fitted and fixed to fitting holes formed at both left and right ends of the top bridge 6 and the bottom bridge 4, respectively.
[0010]
A circular single-lamp headlamp 8 is arranged in front of the headpipe 3. The headlamp 8 is held so as to be sandwiched between the left and right lamp brackets 10 and 10 and is attached to the steering stem 7 via the lamp brackets 10.
At the front end of each lamp bracket 10, an insertion hole 11 is provided on an axis parallel to the left and right direction, and fixing bolts 12 inserted into each of the insertion holes 11 are fixed to fixing nut holes 9, 9 on the left and right sides of the headlamp 8. Respectively, the head lamp 8 and each lamp bracket 10 are integrally fixed. By loosening each fixing bolt 12, the headlamp 8 can be tilted up and down, and the optical axis can be adjusted vertically.
[0011]
Referring to FIG. 2, each lamp bracket 10 is made of aluminum die-cast, and a mounting arm 14 extends from the upper front side of the substantially triangular main body 13 to the upper rear side and inward in the vehicle width direction. The connecting stay 15 extends from the upper rear side of the main body 13 toward the upper rear side and inward in the vehicle width direction. A support arm 16 extends downward from the lower rear side of the main body 13 and inward in the vehicle width direction.
The insertion hole 11 for supporting the headlamp 8 is formed in the front part of the main body 13, and the insertion hole 17 for attaching the front blinker 20 is formed substantially in the center.
[0012]
A connection seat surface 15a and a connection hole 15b are formed at the upper end of each connection stay 15, and corresponding bosses 6a, 6a are provided on the front surface of the top bridge 6, respectively. Then, the connection bolts 15c are inserted into the connection holes 15b from the front and fastened to the corresponding boss portions 6a, whereby the upper portion of the lamp bracket 10 is fixed to the top bridge 6. On the other hand, at the lower end of each support arm 16, a receiving seat surface 16a formed substantially parallel to the upper surface of the bottom bridge 4 and a projecting shaft 16b projecting downward from the receiving seat surface 16a are provided, respectively. Boss portions 4a are provided on both sides of the front portion of the bottom bridge 4, respectively. Then, the lamp bracket 10 is supported by the bottom bridge 4 from below, with the protruding shaft 16b fitted into the corresponding boss portion 4a and the receiving seat surface 16a in contact with the upper surface of the boss portion 4a. As described above, each lamp bracket 10 is attached to the steering stem 7. At the upper end of each mounting arm 14, a mounting seat surface 14a is provided in a slightly inclined state, and a meter unit (not shown) is mounted on each mounting seat surface 14a.
[0013]
Each of the insertion holes 11 and 17 of each of the lamp brackets 10 is formed at the bottom of a seat surface recessed in the vehicle width direction on the outer surface of the main body 13. Here, the inside of the main body 13 of each lamp bracket 10 in the vehicle width direction is lightened except for the outer wall 18 and its outer peripheral wall 19 and the cylindrical walls 11a and 17a forming the respective seating surfaces. . The same lightening is performed on the inside of the support arm 14 and the mounting arm 14 in the vehicle width direction.
[0014]
Each front blinker 20 has a plurality of light emitting diodes (so-called LEDs) 25 mounted on a substrate 24 as a light source in a lamp 23 formed by a lens 21 and a lamp case 22. A connecting shaft portion 26 is provided inside the lamp body 23 in the vehicle width direction, and a screw portion 27 protruding from a tip of the connecting shaft portion 26 is inserted into the insertion hole 17 of the lamp bracket 10, and from the inside of the lamp bracket 10. By screwing the nut 28 to the screw portion 27, the front turn signal 20 is fixed integrally to the lamp bracket 10. Note that the screw portion 27 is hollow and serves as an outlet for a harness 29 connected to each light emitting diode 25.
A resistance circuit (voltage adjusting means) for adjusting a voltage applied to each light emitting diode 25 of the front blinker 20 on the same side is provided in a space formed by lightening at a rear portion of each lamp bracket 10. 30 are each attached.
[0015]
Referring also to FIG. 3, a standing wall 31 projecting inward in the vehicle width direction from the outer wall 18 is provided at a position spaced a predetermined distance forward from the outer peripheral wall 19 on the rear side of the lamp bracket 10. The area surrounded by the upright wall 31 and the outer peripheral wall 19 is used as a housing 32 of the resistance circuit 30. Here, since the resistance circuit 30 is smaller than the lamp bracket 10, the housing portion 32 has only a substantially rectangular range along the inside of the outer peripheral wall 19 on the rear side. After the resistance circuit 30 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 32, the accommodation portion 32 is sealed with, for example, a urethane-based mold resin M or the like, so that the lamp bracket 10 and the resistance circuit 30 are integrally formed. In this state, the resistance circuit 30 is close to the outer wall 48 of the lamp bracket 10. Further, the harness 33 extending from the resistance circuit 30 and the harness 29 of the front turn signal 20 are electrically connected. The outer wall 18 of the lamp bracket 10 is formed with a step 18a serving as a reinforcement and an accent in appearance, and a part of the outer wall 18 is displaced inward in the vehicle width direction via the step 18a. 2 and 3 show the lamp bracket 10 and the resistance circuit 30 on the left side, and the right side is subject to left-right difference.
[0016]
According to the above embodiment, the left and right front blinkers 20, 20 each having a plurality of light emitting diodes 25 as a light source are supported by the pair of left and right lamp brackets 10, 10, respectively. Since the resistance circuits 30 corresponding to the front blinkers 20 on the same side are respectively accommodated, the light emitting diodes 25 of the front blinkers 20 and the resistance circuits 30 are spatially separated and provided. Thereby, the temperature rise of the light emitting diode 25 due to the heat generated by the resistance circuit 30 is suppressed, the forward voltage can be stabilized, the lighting forward current can be kept in an appropriate range, and the light emitting diode 25 can have low power consumption and long life. .
[0017]
Further, since each lamp bracket 10 is made of an aluminum die-cast product and is hollowed out in the vehicle width direction, the weight can be significantly reduced, and the internal space of the lamp bracket 10 accommodates the resistance circuit 30. It can be effectively used as the unit 32. Here, since the resistance circuit 30 is smaller than the lamp bracket 10 and the housing portion 32 can be secured without increasing the size of the lamp bracket 10, the design flexibility of the lamp bracket 10 is not impaired. In addition, the lamp bracket 10 can be effectively used as a heat sink of the resistance circuit 30, and the heat generated by the resistance circuit 30 close to the outer wall 18 of the lamp bracket 10 can be radiated well.
[0018]
Further, since the lamp bracket 10 and the resistance circuit 30 are integrally formed, the cost can be reduced without requiring any parts or work for attaching the resistance circuit 30 to the vehicle body. Further, since the resistance circuit 30 is housed inside the lamp bracket 10, the appearance is advantageous without deteriorating the appearance, and it is particularly suitable for a vehicle such as the motorcycle 1 in which the periphery of the lamp bracket 10 is exposed. is there.
Furthermore, since the resistance circuit 30 is separately provided outside the lamp body 23, the amount of heat generated in the lamp body 23 is reduced, and the components can be arranged densely. For this reason, the size of the front blinker 20 can be reduced, and the degree of design freedom can be increased.
It should be noted that the stepped portion 18a formed on the outer wall 18 of the lamp bracket 10 and the standing wall 31 are adapted to each other, thereby preventing sink marks on the outer surface of the lamp bracket 10 due to the formation of the standing wall 31. .
[0019]
Next, an example in which the present invention is applied to the rear portion of the motorcycle 1 will be described as a second embodiment with reference to FIGS.
4, reference numeral 35 denotes a rear cowl of the motorcycle 1. The rear cowl 35 covers the periphery of a seat rail (not shown) connected to a rear portion of the vehicle body frame 2. A seat 36 is provided above the rear cowl 35, and a tail lamp 37 is provided at the rear end. A pair of left and right license brackets 40, 40 extending downward and rearward are provided below the rear cowl 35.
[0020]
Referring to FIG. 5, each license bracket 40 is made of aluminum die-cast, and is long in the extending direction and tapered in a side view. Each of the license brackets 40 is disposed apart from each other in the left-right direction, and the upper end thereof passes through the lower portion of the rear cowl 35 and is fixed to the seat rail. A rear blinker 50 is attached to an upper part of each license bracket 40 using an insertion hole 41, and a license lamp 51 is attached to a lower end part so as to be sandwiched from right and left. Note that a license plate holder 52 is provided at an irradiation position of the license lamp 51. The tail lamp 37, the left and right rear blinkers 50, and the license lamp 51 are configured as a vehicular lighting device having a light emitting diode as a light source in each of the lamp bodies 37a, 50a, and 51a.
[0021]
Here, the inside of each license bracket 40 in the vehicle width direction is lightened except for the outer wall 42 and the outer peripheral wall 43 thereof. A cover 44 is attached between the outer peripheral walls 43 on the rear side. A resistance circuit 60 for adjusting the voltage applied to the light emitting diode of the rear blinker 50 on the same side is mounted in the space formed by the lightening of each license bracket 40. Is provided with a resistor circuit 61 for the license lamp 51.
[0022]
Referring also to FIG. 6, a step portion 42a is formed on the outer wall 42 of the license bracket 40, and a part of the outer wall 42 changes inward in the vehicle width direction via the step portion 42a. Two displacement parts 45 and 46 are provided. The displacement portions 45 and 46 are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the license bracket 40, and an upright wall 47 protruding inward in the vehicle width direction is provided at the bottom of the upper displacement portion 45. The area surrounded by the upright wall 47 is a housing section 62 for the resistance circuit 60. In addition, only the left license bracket 40 is provided with a vertical wall 48 protruding inward in the vehicle width direction at the bottom of the lower displacement portion 46, and a range surrounded by the vertical wall 48 is a resistance circuit 61 for the license lamp 51. And a storage unit 63 that stores therein.
[0023]
Here, the resistance circuits 60 and 61 are sufficiently smaller than the license bracket 40. After the resistance circuits 60 and 61 are accommodated in the corresponding accommodation sections 62 and 63, the accommodation sections 62 and 63 are sealed with the mold resin M or the like, so that the license bracket 40 and the resistance circuits 60 and 61 are connected to each other. Are integrally formed. In this state, each of the resistance circuits 60 and 61 is close to the outer wall 42 of the license bracket 40. The harness 64 extending from each resistance circuit 60 is electrically connected to the rear blinker 50, and the harness 65 extending from the resistance circuit 61 is electrically connected to the license lamp 51. 5 and 6 show the license bracket 40 and the resistance circuits 60 and 61 on the right side, and the left side is subject to a difference in right and left except that the resistance circuit 61 and the accommodating portion 63 are not provided.
[0024]
According to the above embodiment, the left and right rear blinkers 50 and 50 and the license lamp 51 using the light emitting diode as a light source are supported by the pair of left and right license brackets 40 and 40, respectively, and the accommodating portions 62 and 63 of each license bracket 40 are provided. Since the resistance circuit 60 for the rear blinker 50 and the resistance circuit 61 for the license lamp 51 are respectively accommodated therein, the light emitting diode of each lighting device and the resistance circuits 60 and 61 are provided spatially separated. . Thus, the temperature rise of the light emitting diode due to the heat generated by the resistance circuits 60 and 61 can be suppressed, and power saving and long life can be achieved.
[0025]
In addition, each license bracket 40, which is an aluminum die-cast product, is significantly reduced in weight by removing the thickness, and the internal space is effectively used as accommodation portions 62, 63 of the respective resistance circuits 60, 61. Here, each of the resistor circuits 60 and 61 is smaller than the license bracket 40, and does not impair the degree of freedom in designing the license bracket 40. Then, the license bracket 40 functions as a heat sink, so that the heat generated by each of the resistance circuits 60 and 61 can be radiated well.
Furthermore, since the license bracket 40 and each of the resistor circuits 60 and 61 are integrally formed, the number of parts and the number of man-hours can be reduced and cost can be reduced. In addition, since the resistance circuits 60 and 61 are housed in the license bracket 40, the appearance is not spoiled.
Furthermore, by arranging the components densely in the lamp body, it is possible to reduce the size of each lamp and increase the design flexibility. It is possible to prevent the sink on the outer surface of the license bracket 40 by matching the step 42a of the license bracket 40 with the standing walls 47, 48.
[0026]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a separate resistor circuit 30 'is used in place of the resistor circuit 30 and a lamp bracket 10 to which the resistor circuit 30' can be attached. ', A configuration in which these are assembled in a separate step in advance may be adopted. This is the same for the resistance circuits 60 and 61 and the license bracket 40. Further, the lamp bracket 10 and the license bracket 40 may be made of a steel plate or a press-formed product instead of an aluminum die-cast product.
[0027]
Further, the resistance circuit for the tail lamp 37 can be housed in the license bracket 40 like the other resistance circuits 60 and 61.
Further, each of the resistance circuits 30, 60, 61 may be attached to, for example, the body frame 2 or the like. Further, as the voltage adjusting means of the light emitting diode, a single resistor or an existing regulator may be used instead of the resistor circuit.
The configuration in each of the above embodiments is merely an example, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied not only to a motorcycle but also to a three-wheel or four-wheel vehicle, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. Nor.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the voltage applied to the light emitting diode is adjusted by the voltage adjusting means separated outside the lamp body, thereby preventing the temperature of the light emitting diode from rising. Power saving and long life.
In addition, since the components can be densely arranged in the lamp body, the size of the lamp can be reduced, and the voltage regulator can be separated outside the lamp to reduce the weight of the lamp and reduce the weight. it can. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the lighting device is increased, and it is particularly suitable for a case where a small and lightweight lighting device is required, such as a motorcycle or a door mirror with a built-in turn signal.
[0029]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the support member for supporting the lamp body and the voltage adjusting means can be integrally formed, and the parts for supporting the voltage adjusting means and the assembling work thereof are reduced to reduce the cost. Down can be planned. If the supporting member is made of metal, it can be effectively used as a heat sink of the voltage adjusting means. In particular, if the material of the support member is an aluminum material, the weight can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view around a head pipe and a headlamp of a motorcycle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of a lamp bracket.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view around a rear cowl of the motorcycle.
FIG. 5 is a side view of the license bracket.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 and showing a modification of the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
25 Light-emitting diodes 23, 37a, 50a, 51a Lighting bodies 30, 60, 61 Resistance circuit (voltage adjusting means)
37 Tail lamps (lights)
10 Lamp bracket (supporting member)
50 Riau Inca (lights)
51 License lamp (lights)
40 License bracket (support member)

Claims (2)

A lighting device having a light emitting diode as a light source in a lamp body, and voltage adjusting means for adjusting a voltage applied to the light emitting diode, wherein the voltage adjusting means is provided separately outside the lamp body. Vehicle lighting device. The lighting device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the voltage adjusting unit is attached to a support member that supports the lighting device.

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