JP2006117114A - Lighting system for automobile interior decoration - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of increases in size and cost of the whole of a lighting system when using an inverter for converting the output of an automobile battery to make EL sheets emit light. <P>SOLUTION: The reduction in size and cost of the whole of this device is realized by abolishing the inverter exclusive for the EL sheets 12 and 14 by connecting the EL sheets 12 and 14 in parallel with a plug-in receptacle 19 connected to the inverter 20 outputting almost the same frequency and voltage as those in a domestic AC power supply. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an illumination device for automobile interior decoration using an EL (Electro Luminescence) light emitting plate.

  EL is a phenomenon that emits light when a voltage is applied to zinc sulfide (ZnS) or the like. An inorganic EL element using this phenomenon is formed into a sheet shape and used as an EL sheet for illumination or display in electronic devices. It is used a lot.

  For example, EL sheets are used in automobiles, etc. For use in lighting or display, the battery voltage of DC 12V for auxiliary equipment is boosted to 100V and converted to AC with a frequency of about 400 Hz by frequency conversion. There is a need.

  When such an EL sheet is used, a driving circuit for voltage boosting and frequency conversion is required. In general, a circuit that uses a transformer for voltage boosting or a circuit that does not use a transformer is turned on and off repeatedly using two transistor switches, and the EL sheet chopper coil is charged and discharged intermittently. A technique for causing an EL sheet to emit light by repeatedly charging and discharging the sheet is disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-88081).

JP-A-8-88081

  However, in the conventional EL sheet drive circuit, since the transformer used for boosting is composed of a magnetic core and a coil with a large number of windings, the shape and capacity of the transformer is large, and the circuit can be made smaller or thinner. There was a problem that it could not be done.

  Further, the circuit that does not use the transformer shown in Patent Document 1 can be miniaturized, but the cost is high, and the entire drive circuit that drives a plurality of EL sheets has a further problem of cost increase. Moreover, since it is too bright for decoration purposes, it may interfere with night driving, and the illuminance is reduced by lowering the drive frequency.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the change in brightness and lighting time of inorganic EL with time, and shows the characteristics from a drive voltage of 125 V / 430 Hz to 100 V / 55 Hz. As shown in FIG. 2, when the EL sheet is used for a long time at a high frequency and a driving voltage, the brightness decreases, and there is a possibility that it seems to have failed when it becomes dark. However, for example, at 100 V / 55 Hz, there is little change with time.

  On the other hand, some luxury cars and RV cars have an AC 100V outlet in addition to the conventional DC 12V in order to enable the use of televisions, personal computers and the like.

  In order to achieve the above object, an automotive interior decoration lighting device according to the present invention is connected to a vehicle battery and is converted to a frequency and voltage that is substantially the same as that of a home AC power supply that is higher than the battery voltage. An inverter for output; an AC power outlet plug connected to the inverter output and attached to the interior of the vehicle; and an inorganic EL light emitter connected to the inverter output in parallel with the plug outlet. To do.

  Moreover, the automotive interior decoration lighting device according to the present invention is characterized in that the inverter converts to an AC power of approximately 100 V or approximately 200 V of 50 Hz to 60 Hz and outputs the converted power.

  When the present invention is used, a dedicated inverter for driving the EL light emitter is not required, so that the apparatus can be reduced in size and cost. Furthermore, there is an effect that the brightness of the EL light emitter does not change much with time.

  Hereinafter, a configuration (hereinafter referred to as a “reference configuration”) which is a reference of the present invention and an embodiment (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an EL drive circuit that drives a plurality of ELs according to an embodiment of the present invention, such as a cup holder position display and a storage box position display. The EL drive circuit includes a primary side that is a drive circuit 10 including a 12V battery 16, an inverter 20 that supplies AC 100V, and a secondary side that is EL sheets 12 and 14 connected to the AC 100V side. .

  Further, the drive circuit 10 includes a relay RLY1, a relay back electromotive force absorbing diode D2, a battery reverse connection protection and noise countermeasure diode D1, a relay driving transistor Tr1, and a current limiting resistor R3. And a pull-down resistor R2.

  The 12V plus side of the battery 16 is connected to the upper end of the relay RLY1 of the drive circuit 10, the cathode terminal of the diode D2, and the upper end of the illumination switch 18, and the lower end of the illumination switch 18 is connected to the illumination terminal ILL +. Yes.

  The illumination terminal ILL + is connected to the anode terminal of the diode D1, and the cathode terminal of the diode D1 is connected to the current limiting resistor R3. The other end of the resistor R3 is connected to the base terminal B of the transistor Tr1 and the upper end of a pull-down resistor R2 for reliably turning off the transistor Tr1.

  Further, the collector terminal C of the transistor Tr1 is connected to the lower end of the relay RLY1 and the anode terminal of the diode D2. The emitter E terminal of the transistor Tr1 and the lower end of the pull-down resistor R2 are connected to the ground.

  The AC 100V-55 Hz output from the inverter 20 is connected to the upper end of 100V of the relay RLY1 of the drive circuit 10 through a circuit protection fuse F1. Further, the EL sheet 12 is connected to the lower end of the relay RLY1 at 100V, and the other end of the EL sheet 12 is connected to the inverter 20.

  In addition, a plug socket 19 connected to the output of the inverter is attached to the rear seat side of the console box, for example, so that a device such as a television or a video using a home AC power source can be used as it is in the automobile room.

  Next, the operation description will be described. When the illumination switch 18 is off, the illumination terminal ILL + that is the input terminal of the drive circuit 10 is also off, the transistor Tr1 is off, and the relay RLY1 is also off. The light is off.

  When the illumination switch 18 is turned on, the illumination terminal ILL + is turned on, the transistor Tr1 is turned on, and the relay RLY1 is turned on. Therefore, the alternating current 100V is applied to the EL sheet 12, and the lighting state is turned on.

  At this time, almost no current flows through the EL sheet 12. For this reason, in this embodiment, the relay used the mechanical micro relay which can endure 100V voltage. The 12V side and the AC 100V side of the battery are electrically insulated via a relay RLY1. Note that it is preferable to use a semiconductor relay, a contactless relay, an analog switch, or the like as the relay.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the illumination switch 18 is used for night illumination has been described, but “IG” is used when the ignition is turned on, and “ACC” is used when the accessory is turned on. It goes without saying that it is possible to operate suitably by using the above signal.

  In addition, the drive waveform of the EL sheet 12 is originally about AC 100V-400 Hz. In this embodiment, the brightness of the EL sheet 12 is lowered by dropping to 55 Hz, but it is used as a night decoration, so it is used sufficiently. Is possible. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, there is an effect that the brightness of the EL sheet 12 does not change for a long time.

  As described above, the use of the present invention eliminates the need for an inverter dedicated to the EL sheet, and the inverter can be shared with a standard equipped inverter. Moreover, the brightness which is not too dazzling is suitable as illumination used as nighttime decoration.

  Further, the EL sheet may be connected via a manual switch instead of being connected to the inverter via a relay. In this case, the driving circuit 10 is not necessary. In addition, in this embodiment, although demonstrated using the position display of a cup holder and the storage box position display, it is not restricted to these but can be utilized as illumination for vehicles.

It is a block diagram which shows the EL drive circuit which drives several EL in embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic diagram which showed the time-dependent change of the brightness and lighting time of inorganic EL.

Explanation of symbols

  10 drive circuit, 12, 14 EL sheet, 16 battery, 18 illumination switch, 19 outlet, 20 inverter.

Claims (2)

An inverter that is connected to a battery of an automobile and converts and outputs the same frequency and voltage as a household AC power supply that is higher than the voltage of the battery;
An AC power outlet plug connected to the output of the inverter and installed in the automobile compartment;
An inorganic EL light emitter connected to the output of the inverter in parallel with the plug socket;
A lighting device for automobile interior decoration. The automotive interior decoration lighting device according to claim 1,
The inverter is an automotive interior decoration lighting device, wherein the inverter converts and outputs an alternating current of approximately 50 V to 60 Hz, or approximately 200 V AC.

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