JP2004349154A - Lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a space-saving lighting system used as a room lamp of a vehicle or the like, and simply manufactured. <P>SOLUTION: A relay terminal 22 is housed in a housing 21 of a light-source side connector 20. A connector part 29 facing a first contact piece 24 of the relay terminal 22 is formed at one end side of the housing 21, and a socket part 33 facing a second contact piece 25 is formed at the other end side of the housing 21. A control module 50 is formed by molding resistors and diodes constructing a lighting circuit. A lead terminal 12 of an LED 10 is inserted into the socket part 33 of the housing 21 and connected to the second contact piece 25, and prevented from fall-off by a retainer 35. One side of the control module 50 is fitted into the connector part 29, and a connection terminal 55 is connected to the first contact piece 24. A power source side connector 40 is fitted into the other side of the control module 50, and a connection terminal 56 is connected to a female terminal 42. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a lighting device such as a vehicle interior light.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been used as light sources instead of bulbs such as bulbs with bases and wedge-based bulbs for some of the interior lights of vehicles. On the other hand, in the lighting circuit of this type of LED, it is essential to provide a resistor and a diode for brightness control and protection. Therefore, in a lighting device using a conventional LED, the above resistor and diode are provided. A structure in which LED lead terminals are soldered and mounted on a printed circuit board has been common (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-294079 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional method, the work of soldering the LED to the printed circuit board is troublesome, and the heat at that time may cause the LED to fail, and the printed circuit board takes up space for installation. There were a number of problems, such as hating too much, and further improvements were eagerly awaited.
The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to simplify manufacturing and save space.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a means for achieving the above object, the lighting device of the invention according to claim 1 is provided with a light emitting element, a terminal fitting, and a lead terminal of the light emitting element by facing both ends of the terminal fitting. A light source side connector provided with a socket portion into which a light emitting element is inserted and connected, a light emitting control electronic component of the light emitting element is resin-molded, a connector portion of the light source side connector, and a power supply side connector And a control module provided with connection terminal sections respectively connected to the control module.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a retainer that detachably engages with a lead terminal of the light emitting element is detachably attached to a socket portion of the light source side connector. It has features.
[0006]
Function and effect of the present invention
<Invention of claim 1>
The lead terminal of the light emitting element is inserted and connected to the socket of the light source side connector, and one connection terminal of the control module is connected to the connector of the light source side connector. The assembly is completed when the other connection terminal of the control module is connected to the power connector.
Since the light emitting element can be assembled by connecting the terminals, the operation is simpler than in the case of soldering, and the failure of the light emitting element due to heat can be prevented. In addition, since components for light emission control and the like are modularized and connected to the light emitting elements, it is not necessary to use a printed circuit board, and the whole can be reduced in size and space can be saved.
[0007]
<Invention of Claim 2>
The light emitting element is firmly attached to the socket portion of the light source side connector by the retainer, and when the light emitting element breaks down, the light emitting element can be easily replaced by removing the retainer.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This embodiment exemplifies a vehicle interior light, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a light emitting diode 10 (hereinafter, referred to as an LED) serving as a light source, a light source side connector 20 to which the LED 10 is mounted, and a wire. It comprises a power supply side connector 40 connected to a terminal of the harness and a control module 50.
As shown in FIG. 5, the LED 10 has a shape in which a pair of lead terminals 12 protrude from the lower surface of the light emitting unit 11. Have been.
[0009]
The light source side connector 20 includes a flat block-shaped housing 21 made of a synthetic resin, and accommodates a pair of right and left relay terminals 22. The relay terminal 22 has a main body 23 in the shape of a rectangular tube, and a pair of upper and lower first contact pieces 24 is disposed on one end of the main body 23 so as to be opposed to each other. As shown in FIG. 5, the second contact piece 25 is formed on the other end of the main body 23 from one of the right and left ends of the rear edge of the upper surface thereof, and then is bent upward. Have been. The second contact pieces 25 are formed at opposite ends of the respective relay terminals 22 on the left and right sides.
[0010]
As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of left and right cavities 27 into which the relay terminal 22 can be inserted are formed in the housing 21. On the front surface of the housing 21 (the right side in FIGS. 1 and 2), a concave portion communicating with the front surfaces of both cavities 27 is formed, and thereby a connector portion 29 is formed. Lock protrusions 30 each having a hook-like cross section are formed on the left and right inner walls of the connector portion 29.
On the other hand, the rear surface of the housing 21 has an outer periphery formed to be slightly smaller, and a portion corresponding to a region connecting the rear surfaces of the two cavities 27 is recessed in the back side. 31 are formed.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 3, each of the relay terminals 22 is inserted into the corresponding cavity 27 from the rear in a posture in which the second contact pieces 25 are adjacent to each other. In this case, the second contact piece 25 projects from the rear surface of the cavity 27 and is located in the annular protruding wall 31 (see FIGS. 1 and 2).
An insertion hole 32 through which the lead terminal 12 of the LED 10 can be inserted penetrates the upper wall of the annular protruding wall 31 at a position immediately above the second contact piece 25 when the relay terminal 22 is inserted into the cavity 27. It is formed. As shown in FIG. 5, the insertion hole 32 is formed to have a narrow lower end side to abut against the stopper portion 13 of the lead terminal 12 to restrict insertion, and is also formed to be open to the rear side. I have.
The rear side of the housing 21 forms a socket 33.
[0012]
A retainer 35 is detachably mounted on a socket 33 provided on the rear surface of the housing 21. The retainer 35 is also made of a synthetic resin, and is formed in a rectangular cap shape having a cylindrical portion 36 at one end side. The retainer 35 is fitted on the outer side of the annular protruding wall 31 so that the peripheral surface is in contact with the peripheral surface of the housing 21. The engagement protrusions 37 formed on the left and right inner walls of the cylindrical portion 36 are fitted to the engagement recesses 34 formed on the left and right outer walls of the annular protrusion wall 31 so as to be secured. It has become so.
[0013]
On the upper surface of the cylindrical portion 36 of the retainer 35, two locking grooves 38 are formed by cutting from the front edge. When the retainer 35 is attached to the socket portion 33 as described above, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the portion immediately above the stopper portion 13 in each lead terminal 12 of the LED 10 inserted into the insertion hole 32 is , And relatively enter the locking groove 38. In addition, a partition wall 39 that protrudes between the second contact pieces 25 protrudes from the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 36 of the retainer 35.
[0014]
The power supply side connector 40 connected to the terminal of the wire harness includes a housing 41 also made of synthetic resin. The housing 41 is formed by combining the housing 21 of the light source side connector 20 and the retainer 35 described above. It is formed in the same external shape. The housing 41 accommodates two female terminals 42 on the left and right sides. The female terminal 42 has a rectangular cylindrical main body 43, and a pair of upper and lower elastic contact pieces 44 are disposed on the front end side thereof in a folded manner so as to face each other, and a barrel 45 provided on the rear end side is provided. Is crimped to the end of the electric wire 46.
[0015]
A pair of left and right cavities 47 are formed in the housing 21, and the female terminals 42 are inserted into the corresponding cavities 47 from the rear (the right side in FIGS. 1 and 2). It is designed to be stopped by the locking means. A fitting recess 48 communicating with the front surfaces of both cavities 47 is formed on the front surface of the housing 41, and a lock projection 49 having a hook-like cross section is formed on the left and right inner walls.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 7, the control module 50 has a resistor 52 and a diode 53 that function for brightness control and protection in order to form a lighting circuit of the LED 10 and are embedded in the main body 51 by molding.
The front and rear halves of the main body 51 can be fitted into the connector portion 29 of the light source side connector 20 and the fitting recess 48 of the power supply side connector 40. From the front and rear surfaces of the main body 51, a pair of tab-shaped connection terminals 55 and 56 project from each other, and the pair of connection terminals 55 on one side is the first of the relay terminals 22 mounted on the light source side connector 20. The pair of the contact piece 24 and the connection terminal 56 on the other side can be connected to the elastic contact piece 44 of the female terminal 42 mounted on the power supply side connector 40, respectively.
[0017]
Locked protrusions 57 and 58 are formed on the left and right side surfaces of the main body 51 of the control module 50 to be locked to the lock protrusion 30 of the light source side connector 20 or the lock protrusion 49 of the power supply side connector 40, respectively. . A rib 59 for preventing reverse fitting is provided on one end of the upper surface of the main body 51 in the left-right direction, and an upper wall of the connector portion 29 of the housing 21 of the light source side connector 20 and a power supply Relief grooves 61 and 62 are formed at corresponding positions on the upper wall of the fitting recess 48 in the housing 21 of the side connector 40 so that the rib 59 can be inserted.
[0018]
Subsequently, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
When assembling the light source side connector 20, first, the relay terminal 22 is housed in the cavity 27 of the housing 21. Next, as shown by arrows in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the two lead terminals 12 of the LED 10 are inserted into the insertion holes 32 formed in the socket portion 33, the lead terminals enter the second contact pieces 25 of the respective relay terminals 22. 6, when the stopper 13 hits the stepped surface 32A of the insertion hole 32, the insertion is stopped, and the connection between the lead terminal 12 of the LED 10 and the relay terminals 22 is established.
[0019]
Next, the retainer 35 is mounted on the socket portion 33 from the rear surface, and is fixed by fitting the locking projection 37 and the locking concave portion 34. During this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the locking groove 38 of the retainer 35 relatively enters the position just above the stopper 13 in the lead terminal 12 of the LED 10, that is, the stopper 13 is By locking to the side edge, the lead terminal 12 of the LED 10 is firmly prevented from falling off and held in a state of being connected to the second contact piece 25 of the relay terminal 22. Thereby, the assembly of the light source side connector 20 is completed.
[0020]
Next, one side of the control module 50 is fitted to the connector portion 29 of the light source side connector 20 while aligning the positions of the rib 59 and the relief groove 61. When the lock ridge 57 is fitted to the regular position, the locked ridge 57 is locked by the lock projection 30 and locked. In the meantime, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, both connection terminals 55 enter between the pair of first contact pieces 24 of the corresponding relay terminal 22, and the connection between the corresponding connection terminal 55 and the relay terminal 22. Is taken.
[0021]
Finally, the fitting recess 48 of the power supply side connector 40 is fitted to the other side of the control module 50 while the position of the rib 59 and the escape groove 62 are also aligned. When fitted to the regular position, the locked ridge 58 is similarly locked by the locking projection 49 and locked. During this time, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, both connection terminals 56 enter between the pair of elastic contact pieces 44 of the corresponding female terminal 42, and the connection between the corresponding connection terminal 56 and the female terminal 42 is established. Taken.
Thus, the assembling of the interior light is completed, and a lighting circuit in which the LED 10 is connected to the power supply via the resistor 52 and the diode 53 is configured as shown in FIG.
[0022]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the LED 10 can be assembled by connecting terminals such as the lead terminal 12 and the relay terminal 22. Therefore, assembling work is simpler than in the case of conventional soldering, and Failure of the LED 10 due to heat can also be prevented. In addition, since the resistor 52 and the diode 53, which are components for controlling light emission, are modularized and connected to the LED 10, the use of a printed circuit board is unnecessary, and the whole is compact and space-saving. Can be realized.
[0023]
If the LED 10 breaks down, when the retainer 35 is removed by using a jig or the like, the locking to the lead terminal 12 is released. Therefore, the LED 10 can be removed by pulling it upward, and the LED 10 can be replaced with a new one. Just fine. That is, in the event of a failure or the like, the LED 10 can be easily replaced by itself. The retainer 35 has a simple structure using the stopper portion 13 of the lead terminal 12, and is effective for firmly attaching the LED 10 to the socket portion 33 of the light source side connector 20.
[0024]
Furthermore, when adjusting the brightness of the LED 10, a plurality of types of control modules 50 having resistors 52 having different resistance values are prepared, and the brightness can be easily adjusted by replacing them.
Similarly, it is possible to easily cope with the case where the interior lights having different specifications are configured by selecting and assembling the LED 10 and the control module 50.
[0025]
<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and furthermore, besides the following, within the scope not departing from the gist. Can be implemented with various modifications.
(1) The assembling procedure described in the above embodiment is an example and can be changed as appropriate.
(2) The present invention can be widely applied not only to the interior of a vehicle or the like but also to general lighting devices using light emitting elements such as LEDs as light sources.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention before assembling. FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view thereof. FIG. 3 is an exploded plan sectional view of a light source side connector. FIG. FIG. 6 is a rear view showing the LED insertion operation. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view as viewed from the rear in a state where the LED insertion is completed. FIG. 7 is a schematic circuit diagram of a lighting circuit. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional plan view thereof.
10 LED (light emitting element)
12 Lead terminal 13 Stopper 20 Light source side connector 21 Housing 22 Relay terminal (terminal fitting)
24 first contact piece 25 second contact piece 29 connector part 33 socket part 35 retainer 38 locking groove 40 power connector 42 female terminal 46 electric wire 50 control module 51 body 52 resistance (Electronic components)
53 ... Diode (electronic parts)
55, 56 ... connection terminal (connection terminal part)

Claims (2)

A light emitting element;
A light source side connector provided with a terminal fitting, a socket portion into which a lead terminal of the light emitting element is inserted and connected by facing both ends of the terminal fitting, and a connector portion,
An electronic component for light emission control of the light emitting element is resin-molded, and a control module provided with a connector part of the light source side connector and a connection terminal part respectively connected to the power supply side connector. Lighting device characterized by the following. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein a retainer that removably engages with a lead terminal of the light emitting element is detachably attached to a socket portion of the light source side connector.

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