JP2006088881A - Lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a constitution of a lighting system requiring a smaller installation space. <P>SOLUTION: This lighting system comprises a switch mechanism, including a switch and a first movable part, where the first movable part is provided with a light source lighting-controlled by the switch, and a first reflector disposed in the light advance direction of the light source, and a second reflector provided around the first movable part to receive light of the light source reflected by the first reflector, and reflect the received light forward. The first movable part is changeable to a first state and a second state. As the first movable part changes from the first state into the second state, the switch is put on or off. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighting device. The present invention is used, for example, as an automobile room lamp.

  Conventionally, in a room lamp of a vehicle, a switch for turning on / off a light source is generally provided in the vicinity of a light emitting unit (light source) provided on a ceiling.

The conventional room lamp is generally provided with a light source and a switch separately, and its size is large. Along with this, the installation space has also increased. On the other hand, there is a demand for improvement in vehicle design due to the user's desire to upgrade the vehicle. Also in this respect, it is inappropriate to provide the light source and the switch separately.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device that is small in size and excellent in design.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following configurations. That is,
A switch mechanism including a first movable part that is switched on and off by switching from the first state to the second state, the light source that is controlled to be turned on, and the light emission side of the light source. A switch mechanism in which the first reflector is provided in the first movable part;
A second reflector that is disposed around the first movable part and reflects light of the light source reflected by the first reflector forward;
Comprising
It is a lighting device.

  In the configuration of the present invention, the light source is built in the switch mechanism. That is, the switch mechanism and the light source are integrated. Therefore, the lighting device can be made compact. As a result, the installation space for the lighting device can be reduced. In addition, the design can be improved.

Hereafter, the component of the illuminating device in this invention is examined in detail.
(Switch mechanism)
The switch mechanism includes a first movable part. The switch is turned on / off when the first movable part shifts from the first state to the second state. The type of switch is not particularly limited, and a known switch can be used. For example, a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, or a rotary switch can be adopted. Of these, a tact switch is preferably used. This is because the tact switch has a relatively small stroke (distance that the switch is pushed or slid when the switch is used), so that the moving range of the first movable part can be reduced.

The first movable part includes a light source and a first reflector. The shape of the first movable part is, for example, a cylinder, a quadrangular column, a hexagonal column, or the like. The material of the first movable part is not particularly limited, but the material of the region corresponding to the path of the reflected light by the first reflector (reflected light path region) is preferably a translucent material. This is because the light from the built-in light source can be extracted from the first movable part.
The light emission color of the LED can be converted by forming a reflected light path region with a colored transparent translucent material or by forming a color conversion layer by applying a color conversion tape to the reflected light path region. . 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 first movable part may be formed of a non-translucent material. In such a case, the first movable part is configured so that the light from the light source can be taken out of the first movable part. The shape of the first movable part is preferably a shape that includes a space serving as a reflected light path region and that provides sufficient rigidity. For example, it is preferable that the shape of the first movable portion is a hollow columnar shape, and the side wall thereof is formed by 2, 3, 4 or 6 columns. This is because the light from the light source can be extracted more efficiently.
When the first movable part shifts from the first state to the second state, the switch is turned on and off. For example, when a tact switch is used as a switch, the first movable part and the switch are in contact with each other at the contact part from the state where the first movable part and the tact switch are isolated (first state), and the switch is pressed. The switch is turned on and off by shifting to the state (second state). Normally, the transition of the first movable part can be performed manually by the operator.

  The light source is built in the first movable part. The type of the light source is not particularly limited, and for example, an LED, a light bulb (bulb), a fluorescent lamp, a cold cathode tube, or the like can be used as the light source here. Among these, it is preferable to use an LED. Since the LED is small, it has an advantage that a space for a light source is small. In addition, LEDs meet the demand for energy saving because of their low power consumption. Further, the LED has an advantage that the calorific value is small and the influence on surrounding members is small. In addition, since the LED has a long life, it is advantageous in terms of maintenance. Furthermore, since the LED is strong against vibration and impact, there is an advantage that a highly reliable light source can be configured. The type of LED is not particularly limited, and various types such as a shell type and an SMD type can be adopted. A plurality of LEDs may be used as the light source. The emission color of the LED is not particularly limited, and an LED that generates light such as white, red, green, and blue can be employed.

  The first reflector is built in the first movable part and is disposed on the light emission side of the light source. The material of the first reflector is not particularly limited as long as the material reflects the light from the light source. For example, a white synthetic resin such as a white ABS resin and a polycarbonate resin, a metal such as aluminum, and the like can be exemplified. Alternatively, a light reflecting surface formed by applying a light reflecting tape or applying a light reflecting paint may be used as the first reflector. The shape of the first reflector may be any shape as long as the light from the light source can be reflected in the direction of the second reflector described later. Preferably, it is a shape that reflects light from the light source in multiple directions on the side of the first movable part. This is because a wide range can be illuminated by reflecting light from the light source in multiple directions. As the shape of the first reflector, for example, a convex paraboloid shape, a convex cone shape, a convex elliptical cone shape, a convex polygonal pyramid shape (including a convex triangular pyramid shape, a convex quadrangular pyramid shape, a convex hexagonal pyramid shape, etc.) or A combination of these shapes can be mentioned. In the case where the shape of the first reflector is a convex paraboloid, it is preferable that the first reflector is arranged so that the rotation axis of the convex paraboloid is on the optical axis of the light source. According to such a configuration, light from the light source can be reflected in all directions on the side of the first movable part, and a wider range can be illuminated.

  You may comprise a 1st reflector integrally with a 1st movable part. For example, the shape of the first movable part is a hollow cylindrical shape, the light source is disposed on the upper wall surface, and the first reflector is formed on the bottom wall surface. With such a configuration, effects such as a reduction in the number of parts and an increase in the efficiency of the mounting work are exhibited.

(Second reflector)
The second reflector is disposed around the first movable part. Preferably, a 2nd reflector is arrange | positioned so that all the directions of the side of a 1st movable part may be enclosed. This is because the light reflected by the first reflector is efficiently received. The second reflector receives the reflected light from the first reflector and reflects it forward. That is, the front of the lighting device is an illumination area. The material of the second reflector is not particularly limited as long as it reflects the light reflected by the first reflector, and may be the same material as the material of the first reflector, for example. The shape of the second reflector is not particularly limited as long as the light reflected by the first reflector can be reflected forward. Examples of the shape of the second reflector include a parabolic shape that opens forward, and a shape that includes a step shape substantially along the parabolic surface that opens forward. If it does in this way, the reflected light by the 1st reflector can be reflected forward efficiently. The shape of the second reflector may be a combination of different shapes. For example, the region near the first movable portion may be a planar shape, and the first movable portion distal region may be a paraboloid shape opened forward.

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

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a lighting device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows an AA longitudinal sectional view of the illumination device 1 in FIG.
The illumination device 1 is installed on the ceiling in the vehicle compartment. The illumination device 1 includes a switch mechanism 2, a second reflector 3, a light emission surface 4, a light source unit 5, and a cover 6.
As shown in FIG. 2, the switch mechanism 2 includes a tact tact switch 7 and a first movable portion 21. The tact tact switch 7 is fixed by a plate 71 and is disposed behind the first movable portion 21. The light emission of the LED 22 is controlled by turning on and off the tact switch 7. The 1st movable part 21 is the hollow cylindrical shape which consists of the lower part 25, the side part 26, and the upper part 27 (refer FIG.2 and FIG.3). The material of the side part 26 is colorless and transparent acrylic resin, the material of the lower part 25 is ABS resin, and the upper part 27 is Al.

  An LED 22 is provided as a light source inside the first movable portion 21, and the LED 22 is provided so that the light emission direction is the direction of the lower portion 25. The LED 22 is an SMD type LED and is mounted on the substrate 23. A wiring pattern and a power supply line (not shown) are formed on the surface of the substrate 23, and power is supplied to the LED 22 through the wiring pattern and the like. The lower portion 25 of the first movable portion 21 is formed of white ABS resin, and the inner wall surface of the first movable portion 21 of the lower portion 25 becomes the first reflector 24. The shape of the first reflector 24 is a convex rotating paraboloid shape formed by rotating a parabola around the rotation shaft 29. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the cross section of the first reflector including the rotating shaft 29 has a convex shape in which two parabolas having the same curvature are connected. The first reflector 24 is disposed so that the rotation axis 29 of the convex paraboloid of revolution is located on the optical axis of the LED 22.

  Next, the operation of the switch mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B. FIG. 3A is an AA longitudinal sectional view showing a state (first state) in which the first movable portion 21 and the tact switch 7 are isolated from each other. FIG. 3B is an AA longitudinal sectional view showing a state where the contact portion 72 is pushed in (second state). Four springs 28 are disposed between the upper portion 27 of the first movable portion 21 and the plate 71. When a force is applied to the first movable part 21 in the first state shown in FIG. 3A in the direction of the tact switch 7, the spring 28 contracts and the first movable part 21 moves in the direction of the tact switch 7, It will be in the 2nd state shown in Drawing 3B. When the application of force to the first movable portion 21 is released, the first movable portion 21 is in the initial state (first state) shown in FIG. 3A by the restoring force of the spring 28. The moving distance from the first state to the second state of the first movable portion 21 is 0.5 to 2.0 mm corresponding to the stroke of the tact switch 7.

The 2nd reflector 3 is arrange | positioned so that the side of the 1st movable part 21 may be surrounded. The second reflector 3 is made of white ABS resin, and its surface has light reflectivity. As for the shape of the second reflector 3, the region in the vicinity of the first movable portion 21 is a planar shape substantially parallel to the lower portion 25, and the region in the vicinity of the adjacent light source unit 5 has a paraboloid shape opened forward.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, the illuminating device 1 is equipped with the light source unit 5 in four corners. The light source unit 5 includes a light source 51 having a lens on the light emission side of an LED (not shown), and a switch 52 electrically connected to the light source 51.
A light emission surface 4 is provided on the front side (operator side) of the illumination device 1. The light emitting surface 4 is arranged in a region on the front side of the lighting device 1 excluding the lower portion 25 of the first movable portion 21. The material of the light emitting surface 4 is a light transmissive milky white polycarbonate resin. The front surface of the light emitting surface 4 is subjected to a graining process as a light diffusion process.

Next, the illumination aspect of the illuminating device 1 is demonstrated. First, when the operator depresses the lower portion 25 of the first movable portion 21, the spring 28 is contracted, and the first movable portion 21 that was in the first state shown in FIG. 3A moves in the direction of the tact switch 7, and FIG. It will be in the 2nd state shown to 3B. As a result, the tact switch 7 is turned on and the LED 22 emits light. The light from the LED 22 travels in the direction of the first reflector 24, and is reflected by the first reflector 24 in all directions on the side of the first movable portion 21. The reflected light from the first reflector 24 passes through the side part 26 of the first movable part 21 and travels in the direction of the second reflector 3. The light traveling in the direction of the second reflector 3 is reflected forward by the second reflector 3. The reflected light from the second reflector 3 passes through the light transmission surface 5 and illuminates the interior of the vehicle. In other words, the light is used for the LED 22 as a vehicle room lamp. If the LED 22 is lit, the operator may release the lower portion 25 from being pressed. After the release, the first movable portion 21 is changed from the second state to the first state by the restoring force of the spring 28.
When the LED 22 is turned off, the first movable portion 21 is brought into the second state by pressing the lower portion 25 again. As a result, the contact portion 72 of the tact switch 7 is pushed in, the tact switch 7 is turned off, and the LED 22 is turned off. After the light is turned off, the lower portion 25 may be released from pressing immediately after the light is turned off, as in the case of the light. The first movable portion 21 returns to the first state by the restoring force of the spring 28.

  On the other hand, the light emission of the light source unit 5 is controlled independently of the light emission of the LED 22, and the light source 51 emits light when the switch 52 of the light source unit 5 is turned on. The light from the light source 51 is emitted from the light emitting surface 4. The four light sources 51 are used as map lamps that illuminate the occupant's hands in the driver's seat, passenger seat, left rear seat, and right rear seat.

  In the lighting device 1, the light emitting surface 4 is formed of milky white polycarbonate resin. However, the light emission color of the LED 22 or the light source 51 is converted by using a colored light-transmitting member or forming a color conversion layer. You can also. 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. Further, the front surface of the light emitting surface 4 has been subjected to graining processing as light diffusion processing, but light diffusion processing may be performed by a known method such as blast processing. Further, the light diffusion process may be performed on the back surface of the light emitting surface 4, that is, the inner surface. The light diffusion treatment may be performed on the entire surface of the light emitting surface 4 or the entire back surface thereof, or may be performed on only a part of them. Further, the light diffusion process applied to the light emitting surface 4 or the back surface thereof may be uniform, or a part of the light diffusion process different from the other may be applied. For example, in the light emitting surface 4, the region where the light of the LED 22 is emitted may be subjected to light diffusion processing, and the region where the light source unit 5 emits light may not be subjected to light diffusion processing. Or you may perform the light-diffusion process different from the light-diffusion process performed to the area | region where the light of LED22 is emitted to the area | region where the light of the light source unit 5 is emitted.

  Although the light source unit 5 whose lighting is controlled independently of the lighting control of the LED 22 is used in the lighting device 1, FIG. 4 shows the lighting device 10 that does not use the light source unit 5. Similarly to the illuminating device 1, the illuminating device 10 of this example can be used as a room lamp that illuminates the vehicle interior by the light emission of the LED22.

  The illuminating device of the present invention can be used, for example, for lighting in a vehicle interior including a vehicle interior.

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lighting device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an AA longitudinal sectional view of the illumination device 1 in FIG. FIG. 3A is an AA longitudinal sectional view showing a state (first state) in which the first movable portion 21 and the tact switch 7 are isolated from each other. FIG. 3B is an AA longitudinal sectional view showing a state where the contact portion 72 is pushed in (second state). FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a lighting apparatus 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 4A.

Explanation of symbols

1 10 Illuminating device 2 Switch mechanism 21 1st movable part 22 LED
24 First reflector 28 Spring 3 31 Second reflector 4 41 Light transmitting surface 5 Light source unit 6 61 Cover 7 Tact switch

Claims (7)

A switch mechanism including a first movable part that is switched on and off by switching from the first state to the second state, the switch mechanism being disposed on a light emission side of the light source and a light emission side of the light source. A switch mechanism in which the first reflector is provided in the first movable part;
A second reflector that is disposed around the first movable part and reflects light of the light source reflected by the first reflector forward;
Comprising
Lighting device.   The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first reflector is configured integrally with the first movable portion.   The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first reflector reflects light from the light source in all directions lateral to the first movable portion.   The lighting device according to claim 3, wherein the shape of the first reflector is a convex paraboloid shape or a convex conical surface shape.   The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second reflector has a shape including a parabolic shape opened forward.   The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the light source is an LED.   The illumination device according to claim 1, further comprising one or a plurality of light source units that are controlled to be turned on independently of the light source.

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