JP2006044329A - Light emission device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a constitution forming a mark of expensive-looking with high design property. <P>SOLUTION: This light emission device comprises a mark body, a substrate arranged on a rear face side of the mark body, an LED mounted on the face opposite to the mark body of the substrate, and a light-guiding element, whose top face is a light-guiding face for guiding the light of the LED, whose side face is a light emission face, and whose rear face is subjected to light diffusion reflection processing to diffuse and reflect the light on the rear face. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a light emitting device for decorating a mark with light. The present invention is applied to, for example, an automobile emblem.

  Conventionally, various devices have been made to improve the appearance and luxury of the appearance of vehicles and the like. As one of them, a mark (emblem) attached to the rear part of the body of an automobile is emitted or illuminated. For example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 disclose a configuration in which a plurality of LEDs are arranged on the back side of a mark body made of a light-transmitting material and the mark is caused to emit light by taking out light from the LED through the mark body.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-1597 JP-A-9-202178

In the above-described conventional configuration, the visibility of the mark at night or the like is improved by the light emission display of the mark. However, since the light of the LED, which is a point light source, is directly used for light emission of the mark, the light emission mode of the mark has a region with extremely high brightness corresponding to the position of the LED. In other words, it becomes a light emission mode with a grainy feeling, is inferior in design properties, and lacks a high-class feeling.
Then, an object of this invention is to provide the structure used as a mark with high design property and rich in a high-class feeling.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration. That is,
The mark body,
A substrate disposed on the back side of the mark body;
An LED mounted on the surface of the substrate opposite to the mark body;
Light diffuse reflection treatment on the back surface side so as to be disposed on the LED side of the substrate, the upper surface is a light introduction surface for introducing light of the LED, the side surface is a light emitting surface, and diffusely reflects light on the back surface. A light guide with
It is set as the light-emitting device provided with.

  In the above configuration, first, LED light is emitted toward the light guide behind the mark body. This light is taken into the light guide from the upper surface of the light guide, and finally emitted from the side surface of the light guide. Here, since the back side of the light guide is subjected to the light diffusion reflection process, the diffusion of light in the light guide is promoted and the leakage of light from the back side is prevented. As a result, light with high luminance and little luminance unevenness is emitted from the side surface of the light guide, and the mark body is indirectly illuminated from behind. In such an illumination state, the effect of improving the visibility of the mark by light is obtained, and of course, a high production effect is achieved, and the mark portion has a high design and a high-class feeling. . In addition, since a three-dimensional effect can be obtained as if the mark has been lifted by the generation of light behind the mark main body, it is possible to produce unexpectedness in addition to the points of design and luxury.

Hereinafter, components of the light emitting device according to the present invention will be described in detail.
(Mark body)
The light emitting device of the present invention is applied to marks that can be attached to, for example, a PC (personal computer), a mobile phone, and the like, including an automobile emblem. Therefore, the shape of the mark body is not particularly limited. For example, it becomes the shape of a character or symbol representing a trademark such as a character or symbol representing a manufacturer of a product or the like in which it is used. As the material of the mark, for example, a material obtained by plating a resin such as ABS resin, polypropylene resin, or polycarbonate can be used.

(Substrate and LED)
A substrate is disposed on the back side of the mark body. The shape and size of the substrate are not particularly limited as long as they are not visible from the observation surface side (surface side) of the mark body. For example, a mark similar to the shape of the mark body in plan view and slightly smaller than the mark body can be adopted.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a cover disposed between the mark body and the substrate is used. The cover is used for the purpose of waterproofing and / or dust-proofing effects on the substrate and the light guide described later.

In the present invention, the substrate surface opposite to the mark body is the LED mounting surface. The type of LED is not particularly limited, and various types such as a shell type and an SMD type can be adopted. The number of LEDs to be used and their arrangement can be determined in consideration of the shape of the mark main body, the required light quantity, and the like. When using several LED, it is preferable to arrange | position LED with a suitable space | interval so that the light of LED may spread as much as possible of the light guide mentioned later. This is because uneven brightness of the emitted light can be reduced. Depending on the shape of the mark body, for example, LEDs can be arranged at substantially equal intervals. The emission color of the LED is not particularly limited, and an LED that generates light in the visible region such as white, red, green, and blue can be employed in consideration of the visibility of the mark and the decoration effect.
The lighting control of the LED may be performed in conjunction with another device, or may be performed manually with a switch. For example, in the case of a mark attached to an automobile, the lighting control thereof can be performed in conjunction with the lighting control of the vehicle width lamp.

(Light guide)
The light guide is disposed on the LED side of the substrate. The material of the light guide is not particularly limited as long as it is light transmissive, and synthetic materials such as acrylic resin, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate resin, silicone resin, and epoxy resin, and inorganic materials such as glass can be adopted. it can.
The shape of the light guide is preferably similar to the shape of the mark body in plan view. Since the side surface (light emitting surface) of the light guide body is along the outer periphery of the mark body, uniform light emission along the shape of the mark body can be obtained behind the mark body. Thereby,
This is because the entire mark body is observed as if it is lifted, and a high performance effect is produced. More preferably, the planar view shape of the light guide is substantially the same as the planar view shape of the mark body. Since the side surface (light emitting surface) of the light guide is formed immediately below the outer periphery of the mark body, high luminance and uniform light emission is obtained along the outer periphery of the mark body at the rear of the mark body. As a result, the entire mark body is observed as if it has been lifted, and a higher production effect is produced.

The upper surface of the light guide is opposed to the LED and serves as a light introduction surface for introducing the light of the LED. It is preferable to provide a recess at a position corresponding to the LED on the upper surface side (light introduction surface side) of the light guide. According to this configuration, the light guide can be installed so as to enclose (include) the LED. Thereby, substantially all the light of the LED is directed to the light guide. In this case, a light transmissive material can be filled between the LED and the light guide. According to such a configuration, the light of the LED can be satisfactorily introduced into the light guide. As the material of the light transmissive material to be filled, a material whose refractive index is close to or substantially the same as the refractive index of the light guide is preferable. By doing so, the light of the LED is refracted and / or reflected at the interface between the filled light transmissive material and the light guide. Therefore, the light from the LED is better incident on the light guide.
On the other hand, you may comprise LED and a light guide integrally. In such a configuration, there is substantially no gap between the LED and the light guide. As a result, the light from the LED is efficiently incident on the light guide.

  Light diffusion reflection processing is performed on the back side of the light guide. As the light diffusing and reflecting treatment for the back surface side, a known method such as formation of a light diffusing and reflecting layer or embossing can be employed. The light diffusive reflective layer can be formed by applying a light diffusive reflective tape, applying a light diffusive reflective paint or resin, or depositing a metal material such as aluminum. In particular, it is preferable to form the light diffusive reflection layer from a white material. For example, it is preferable to form the light diffusive reflection layer by applying a white tape, applying a white paint, or applying a white resin. This is because the white material has a good balance between the light diffusion effect and the light reflection effect, and the received light can be diffusely reflected well. Further, when the mark is observed obliquely in a bright place such as daytime, the light diffusive reflection layer can be seen from the side surface of the light guide through the light guide. Therefore, when a light diffusing reflection layer made of a white material is used, the appearance is improved and a high-class feeling is increased.

Moreover, you may use a light-diffusion reflective double-sided tape as a kind of light-diffusion reflective tape. A light diffusive reflective layer can be formed by sticking one surface of a light diffusive reflective double-sided tape to a light guide. At the same time, the light guide can be fixed to the attachment site by the other surface of the light diffusive reflective double-sided tape.
On the other hand, for example, a white paint or a fluorescent paint can be employed as the type of the light diffusive reflective paint. Moreover, as a kind of light-diffusion reflective resin, what mixed the light-diffusion reflector in synthetic resins, such as an acrylic resin, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a polycarbonate resin, a silicone resin, an epoxy resin, is employable, for example. . As the light diffusing reflector, for example, silica, titanium oxide or the like, glass having a predetermined particle diameter, metal such as aluminum, resin having a light refractive index different from that of the light guide, and the like can be used.

  In the present invention, the side surface of the light guide is the light emitting surface. The side surface (light emitting surface) of the light guide is preferably subjected to light diffusion treatment. By doing so, the light diffusion on the side surface of the light guide is promoted, and the luminance of the light emitted from the side surface is made uniform. Furthermore, the light extraction efficiency from the side surface of the light guide is improved. The light diffusing treatment is not particularly limited, and a known method such as embossing or blasting can be employed. In addition to or instead of the light diffusion process on the side surface of the light guide, a groove may be provided on the back surface of the light guide to promote the diffusion of light within the light guide. The shape of the groove may be determined in consideration of the shape of the mark body so that a desired light diffusion effect can be obtained, such as a V-shaped groove having a dot-like hole or a surface having a predetermined inclination angle. it can. As a specific example of performing both the light diffusion treatment on the side surface and the formation of the groove on the back surface of the light guide, the side surface of the light guide is subjected to a graining process, and the light guide is further away from the light source. The structure which gives the V-shaped groove which forms the slope which has an angle with respect to the light-guide body side surface from a back surface can be mention | raise | lifted. In such a configuration, light is reflected and diffused actively in the region distal to the light source. As a result, the light extraction efficiency from the side surface of the light guide corresponding to the region is increased, and the brightness of the entire light emitted from the side surface is further uniformed.

  The light guide may contain a phosphor. Any phosphor that emits a desired fluorescent color can be appropriately selected and used, regardless of whether it is organic or inorganic, as long as it receives light from the LED and fluoresces. By using an organic phosphor, it is possible to obtain fluorescent light with a clear feeling. When an inorganic phosphor is used, fluorescent light with a matte feeling can be obtained.

  Moreover, the light emission color of LED can also be converted by using a colored transparent light guide or by forming a color conversion layer on the upper surface or side surface of the light guide. That is, according to such a configuration, it is possible to emit light having a color different from the original emission color of the LED.

  The fixing method between the above members (the mark main body, the substrate, the light guide) and the fixing method to the mounting portion of the light emitting device of the present invention are not particularly limited. Can be adopted. As described above, in order to fix the light guide, if a light diffusive reflective double-sided tape is applied to the back surface, the light diffuse reflection processing on the back surface of the light guide and the light guide attachment site Can be simultaneously performed.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples.

FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of an emblem light emitting device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. AA longitudinal sectional view of the emblem light emitting device 1 in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2, and a view of the light guide plate 5 viewed from above is shown in FIG. The emblem light emitting device 1 is attached to the rear part of the body of the automobile (for example, on the trunk lid). As shown in FIG. 1, the emblem light emitting device 1 includes a cover 3, a substrate 4, and a light guide (light guide plate) 5 arranged in this order on the back side of the mark body 2. Reference numeral 6 denotes a white double-sided tape.
The shape of the mark body 2 in plan view is a shape in which a part of two large and small ellipses are fused. The mark main body 2 is made of ABS resin, and the observation surface (surface) is plated. The planar view shape of the substrate 4 is similar to the lower half of the planar view shape of the mark body 2 and is slightly smaller. The substrate 4 has four LEDs 41 mounted on the surface opposite to the mark body 2 near the upper ends of the four protrusions. The LED 41 is a white light emitting LED of SMD type (surface mount type), and is electrically connected to a light source (not shown) of a vehicle width lamp via a wiring pattern (not shown) on the substrate 4. .

The planar view shape of the light guide plate 5 is substantially the same as the planar view shape of the mark body 2 (see FIG. 1). The light guide plate 5 includes a recess 51 and a recess 52 on the upper surface. The concave portion 51 is formed along the substrate 4 so that the substrate 4 is disposed in a manner to be fitted into the upper surface of the light guide plate 5. The recess 52 is formed at a position facing the LED 41 on the upper surface of the light guide 5. As described above, a two-step recess is formed on the upper surface of the light guide plate 5. When the substrate 4 is fitted into the recess 51, the LED 41 enters the recess 52. In this way, the LED 41 is wrapped (included) in the light guide plate 5. On the other hand, the side surface 54 of the light guide plate 5 is textured.
The shape of the cover 3 is substantially the same shape as the lower half of the light guide plate 5 in plan view (see FIG. 1). The cover 3 is disposed so as to cover the substrate 4 fitted in the light guide plate 5. On the other hand, the white double-sided tape 6 has substantially the same shape as the planar view of the light guide plate 5. The white tape 6 is adhered to substantially the entire back surface 53 of the light guide plate 5 and is also adhered to the body of the automobile. Thereby, the light guide plate 5 is fixed to the body. Further, the cover 3, the substrate 4 and the light guide plate 5 are fixed to the body by screws 7 through the screw holes 31, 42 and 55. Thereafter, the mark body 2 is fixed to the cover 3 with double-sided tape.

  Next, the light emission mode of the emblem light emitting device 1 will be described. First, the LED 41 emits light in conjunction with the lighting of the vehicle width lamp. As shown in FIG. 2, the light of the LED 41 is introduced into the light guide plate 5 from the surface of the concave portion 52 of the light guide plate 5, and finally emitted from the side surface 54 of the light guide plate 5 to the outside. Since the white double-sided tape 6 is applied to the entire back surface 53 of the light guide plate 5, the light received by the back surface 53 is diffused and reflected into the light guide plate 5 and light leakage from the back surface 53 is prevented (FIG. 2). Further, since the side surface 54 of the light guide plate 5 is subjected to a textured process, the received light is diffused and emitted to the outside and diffusely reflected to the inside of the light guide plate 5 (see FIG. 3). Therefore, the light of the LED 41 incident on the light guide plate 5 is efficiently guided in the light guide plate 5 by the back surface 53 and the side surface 54 of the light guide plate 5 and is uniformly distributed in the light guide plate 5. High brightness and uniform light with less unevenness in brightness are efficiently emitted. A part of the light emitted from the side surface 54 is applied to the body of the automobile of the emblem light emitting device 1. As a result, the mark body is indirectly illuminated. As described above, in the emblem light emitting device 1, the mark main body 2 is indirectly illuminated with the light emitted from the side surface 54 of the light guide plate 5 positioned behind the mark main body 2 with high luminance and little luminance unevenness. Thereby, the light emission aspect with high design and rich luxury is provided. In addition, there is provided an unexpected light emission mode in which a three-dimensional effect is obtained such that the mark is raised in a dark place such as at night. In addition, in the emblem light emitting device 1, the LED 41 is included in the light guide plate 5, so that the thickness of the entire device can be reduced. Thereby, the mark is not excessively conspicuous even in a bright place such as daytime.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of an emblem light emitting device 10 which is another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. In addition, in each drawing, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the member same as the above-mentioned light-emitting device 1, and the description is abbreviate | omitted. In the light guide plate 50 of this embodiment, the back surface 530 is textured. In the emblem light emitting device 10 including such a light guide plate 50, the light of the LED 41 that has entered the light guide 50 is diffusely reflected by the back surface 530 that has been subjected to the texture processing.
Therefore, since the back surface 530 has the same effect as the back surface 53 to which the white double-sided tape 6 is attached in the emblem light emitting device 1, the emblem light emitting device 10 can obtain the same light emission mode as the emblem light emitting device 1.

  Although the cover 3 is used in the emblem light emitting devices 1 and 10, the cover 3 may not be used as shown in FIG. In the emblem light emitting device 100 of this example, the same light emission mode as that of the emblem light emitting devices 1 and 10 can be obtained.

  The present invention is not limited to the description of the embodiments and examples of the invention described above. Various modifications are also included in the present invention as long as those skilled in the art can easily conceive without departing from the scope of the claims.

  The light emitting device of the present invention is applied to marks that can be attached to, for example, a PC (personal computer), a mobile phone, and the like, including an automobile emblem.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a light emitting device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an AA longitudinal sectional view of the light emitting device 1 in FIG. FIG. 3 is a view of the light guide plate 5 as viewed from above. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a light emitting device 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a BB longitudinal sectional view of the light emitting device 10 in FIG. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a light emitting device 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 10 100 Emblem light emitting device 2 Mark body 3 Cover 4 Substrate 41 LED
5 50 Light guide plate 51 Recessed portion 52 Recessed portion 53 530 Back surface 54 Side surface 6 White double-sided tape

Claims (4)

The mark body,
A substrate disposed on the back side of the mark body;
An LED mounted on the surface of the substrate opposite to the mark body;
Light diffuse reflection treatment on the back surface side so as to be disposed on the LED side of the substrate, the upper surface is a light introduction surface for introducing light of the LED, the side surface is a light emitting surface, and diffusely reflects light on the back surface. A light guide with
A light emitting device comprising:   The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein a planar view shape of the light guide is similar to or substantially the same as a planar view shape of the mark body.   The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the light diffusion reflection process is formation of a light diffusion reflection layer on the back surface of the light guide or embossing on the back surface of the light guide.   The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide includes the LED.

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