JP2006269194A - Lighting device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting device for vehicle with little power consumption, capable of preventing certainly snow accumulation and icing, and capable of improving visibility as well as preventing increase of fuel consumption. <P>SOLUTION: The lighting device for vehicle 1 has LED lamps 15, 16 and an incandescent lamp 17 as heating element in a lamp case 11 having a lamp body 11a and a lamp cover 11b, and comprises an outside air temperature sensor 21 for detecting the outside air temperature and a rain drop sensing sensor 22 for detecting rainfall as a means for detecting environmental condition outside of the vehicle, and based on the output of these sensors, a controller 20 switches over switching-on and turning off of current to the incandescent lamp 17. The incandescent lamp functions as a fog lamp. An infrared LED 18 can be used as a heating element, and a windshield wiper switch 25 may be used as a rainfall detecting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular illumination device including a light-emitting diode lamp (hereinafter referred to as an LED lamp), and more particularly to a vehicular illumination device that can improve visibility when snow falls.

  Conventionally, as this type of vehicular illumination device, a vehicular LED lamp described in Patent Document 1 transmits a light emitted from the LED lamp through a substrate on which a current control resistor for the LED lamp is mounted and external radiation. And a heat exchanger for exchanging heat from the waste heat of the substrate and transferring the heat to the light transmitting portion. Specifically, a plurality of LED lamps are attached to the upper half of the housing, and a plurality of incandescent bulbs (bulbs) are attached to the lower half of the housing. With this configuration, it is possible to reliably prevent snow formation by providing a snow melting function to the cover lens that transmits the light of the LED lamp during snowfall by using waste heat without newly providing a heating wire or the like. High visibility can be secured.

  Further, as another vehicular lighting device, a lens fogging control device described in Patent Document 2 includes a container body, a lens installed in an opening of the container body, and a lamp chamber formed by the container body and the lens. A heat source that generates heat when energized and raises the temperature in the lamp chamber, and a heat source that lowers the temperature in the lamp chamber when the temperature in the lamp chamber reaches a predetermined temperature. And an energization control means for controlling energization to.

JP 2004-296212 A JP 2004-314902 A

  By the way, the vehicular illumination device described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that an incandescent bulb with high power consumption is always lit even in a situation where it is not snowing, so that power consumption increases, resulting in poor practical fuel consumption. was there. In addition, the lens fog removal control device described in Patent Document 2 has a complicated structure because a temperature sensor and a heating element are arranged in a lamp chamber formed by a reflecting mirror and a lens. The control is complicated because the current is detected and the power supply to the heat source is controlled.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and the object of the present invention is to reduce power consumption and reliably prevent snowfall, improve visibility and increase fuel consumption. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular lighting device that can be prevented. It is another object of the present invention to provide a vehicular lighting device that is simple in structure and can be reduced in size, particularly reduced in thickness, and easy to control.

  In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle lighting device according to the present invention includes a light emitting diode lamp and a heating element in a lamp case, and the lighting device includes a means for detecting an environmental condition outside the vehicle. The heating element is switched between energization and non-energization based on the output. In other words, the vehicle lighting device detects, for example, snowfall outside the vehicle, and controls the power source to be energized from the power source by a controller or the like.

  The vehicle lighting device of the present invention configured as described above, when an environmental condition outside the vehicle such as snowfall is detected, energizes the heating element from a power source such as a battery and the heat of the lamp case is released by the heat released from the heating element. Snow and ice adhering to the outer periphery can be melted, and the visibility of the lighting device can be ensured. In addition, since the heating element is energized only when it is necessary to have snow or icing on the surface of the lamp case due to snowfall, etc., power consumption can be reduced, resulting in an increase in vehicle fuel consumption. it can.

  Moreover, as a preferable specific aspect of the vehicular lighting device according to the present invention, the heating element is an incandescent bulb and / or an infrared light emitting diode. According to this configuration, when snowfall is detected, a heating element such as an incandescent bulb and / or an infrared light emitting diode is energized. When the incandescent bulb emits light and heat and snow falls on the outer periphery of the lamp case, can do. In addition, in the case of an infrared light emitting diode, visible light is not emitted but heat is emitted. Therefore, if there is snow due to this heat, the snow melts to ensure visibility. You may comprise so that both an incandescent lamp and an infrared light emitting diode may be provided in a lamp case.

  Furthermore, as another preferable specific aspect of the vehicular lighting device according to the present invention, the means for detecting the environmental condition includes an outside air temperature detecting unit and a rainfall detecting unit, and the vehicular lighting device includes: Based on the outputs of the outside air temperature detecting means and the rain detecting means, the heating element is switched between energization and non-energization. According to this configuration, the temperature at which rain becomes snow is detected by the outside air temperature detecting means, the rain or snow is detected by the rain detecting means, the snow is detected based on the outputs of the two detecting means, and the heating element is energized. Therefore, the time for energizing the heating element can be reduced, and the power consumption can be reduced. That is, since the heating element is not energized only by detection of one of the two detection means, it is possible to energize only when snowing or icing, and power consumption can be reduced.

  The rain detection means is preferably a wiper switch and / or a raindrop detection sensor. According to this configuration, when the wiper switch is actuated by the driver, when at least one of the raindrop detection sensors is detected, it is detected that it has started raining, and these detection outputs and external outputs are detected. Since the heating element is energized from the power source based on the output of the temperature detecting means, useless energization can be omitted in accordance with environmental conditions such as snowfall.

  The vehicle lighting device preferably includes switch means for manually energizing the heating element. According to this configuration, when snow or icing is observed on the surface of the lamp case, the heating element can be manually energized to melt the snow or ice and drop it from the lamp case surface. Can be ensured.

  The vehicle lighting device of the present invention can melt even if it snows on the outer periphery of the lamp case by energizing the heating element when an environmental condition outside the vehicle such as snowfall is detected, thereby ensuring visibility. In addition, since power is not supplied except during snowfall, the power consumption can be reduced and the fuel consumption rate of the vehicle can be improved. In particular, when an infrared light emitting diode is used as the heating element, the lamp case can be made thin, and in the case of the rear lamp case, a large inner volume of the trunk room can be secured.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a lighting device for a vehicle according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a main part configuration diagram of a vehicular illumination apparatus according to the present embodiment, and a lamp case portion shows a cross section. In FIG. 1, the vehicular lighting device 1 of this embodiment includes a rear combination lamp 10 and a controller 20 that controls the lamp 10.

  The rear combination lamp 10 includes a lamp body 11a fixed to a vehicle body of a vehicle and a lamp cover 11b formed of a light transmissive resin that closes an opening of the lamp body. The lamp body 11a is formed of resin or the like, and light emitting diode lamps (hereinafter referred to as LED lamps) 15 and 16 and a heating element 17 are fixed.

  The lamp case 11 is composed of a lamp body 11a and a lamp cover 11b, and both are joined so that water does not enter. Even if it joins in a watertight state using an adhesive agent, it may be joined by screwing with a waterproof packing interposed therebetween. The lamp body 11a is preferably formed of a resin that does not transmit light, and preferably a reflecting surface is formed on the inner surface side of the lamp case 11. Although it is preferable to form a metal thin film by vapor deposition etc. as a reflective surface, you may arrange | position the metal plate material which carried out mirror surface processing. In this embodiment, a red LED lamp 15 that functions as a fog lamp, a red LED lamp 16 that functions as a tail lamp (taillight) / stop lamp (brake lamp), and an incandescent light bulb 17 are used as a heating element. Although not shown, a turn signal lamp (direction indicator lamp) and a backup lamp (retracting lamp) are fixed to the lamp body 11a, and the LED lamp is fixed to a wiring board by soldering or the like. Is fixed to the lamp body 11a via a socket or the like.

  The lamp case 11 of the present embodiment is used as a housing of the rear combination lamp 10, and the lamp cover 11b is formed of a transparent resin so that the red light emitted from the LED lamps 15 and 16 can be confirmed from the rear. Sex is required. Therefore, if snow or icing occurs on the lamp cover 11b, the visibility from the rear may be lowered and rear-end collision may occur, and it is necessary to melt the snow or icing to improve visibility.

  The incandescent bulb 17 used as a heating element for removing snow and the like functions as a rear fog lamp by energizing the filament. The incandescent light bulb 17 generates light and generates heat from the filament. The incandescent lamp 17 heats the air in the lamp case 11 to raise the temperature, and functions to heat the lamp body 11a and the lamp cover 11b constituting the lamp case. To do. In particular, the lamp cover 11b in the direction of irradiating light can be efficiently heated.

  The controller 20 supplies current to the LED lamps 15 and 16 to light them, and controls the temperature of the lamp case 11 to increase by energizing the incandescent bulb 17. The controller 20 is connected to an outside air temperature sensor 21 that detects outside air temperature and a raindrop sensor 22 that detects rainfall as means for detecting environmental conditions outside the vehicle. A fog lamp switch 23 is connected to the controller 20. The fog lamp switch 23 is for manually energizing the heating element and manually lights the incandescent bulb 17. Further, the controller 20 is connected to a power source such as a battery (not shown).

  As the outside air temperature sensor 21, an outside air temperature sensor used for an air conditioner can be used. In this case, an output from the outside air temperature sensor for the air conditioner may be input to the controller 20. In the present embodiment, the outside air temperature sensor 21 is set to detect and output that the outside air temperature has become 5 degrees or less. In addition, the raindrop detection sensor 22 is installed outside the vehicle with a type that detects raindrops by using the scattering of outside light when raindrops adhere to the front window, or a sensor having a large number of adjacent electrodes. An appropriate type such as a type of detecting a raindrop by detecting a change in electrical resistance when a raindrop adheres to the surface can be used.

  As described above, the vehicular lighting device 1 of the present embodiment turns on the fog lamp switch 23 connected to the controller 20 to energize the rear fog lamp composed of the incandescent bulb 17 from the battery and turn it on manually. The heating element can be energized at the same time, and at the time of snowfall, the lamp case 11 is heated by switching to energizing the incandescent light bulb 17 based on the outputs of the outside air temperature sensor 21 and the raindrop sensor 22. Even if it snows on the surface of the cover 11b, the snow can be melted.

  The operation of the vehicular illumination device 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below. When the driver wants to turn on the rear fog lamp, when the fog lamp switch 23 is turned ON, a current flows from the battery to the incandescent bulb 17, and the rear fog lamp lights up. Therefore, when there is snow on the lamp cover 11b, the heating element can be manually energized to remove snow or icing. When turning off the light, if the fog lamp switch 23 is turned off, the power supply from the battery is cut off and the light is turned off.

  When it rains during driving, the raindrop detection sensor 22 detects raindrops and outputs the output to the controller 20. If the outside air temperature sensor 21 for measuring the outside air temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, the controller 20 Does not energize the incandescent bulb 17 which is a heating element. When the outside air temperature falls below a predetermined temperature (for example, 5 ° C.), the controller 20 receives the output from the outside air temperature sensor 21 and energizes the incandescent bulb 17, and the incandescent bulb 17 emits light and heat. The released heat heats the air in the lamp case 11 to raise the temperature in the lamp case 11, and even if snow adheres to the lamp cover 11b, it does not melt and get stuck.

  In this way, the lamp cover 11b is heated, so that the outside air temperature is low and rain becomes snow, and even if snow or icing occurs on the surface of the lamp cover 11b, the incandescent lamp 17 generates heat. Snow and ice are melted, and the light generated from the incandescent bulb 17 and the LED lamps 15 and 16 can be easily confirmed from the rear. When the outside air temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, the controller 20 cuts off the energization of the incandescent bulb 17 that is a heating element and switches to the non-energization, so that the power consumption can be reduced and the fuel consumption of the vehicle can be reduced.

  That is, the vehicle lighting device 1 of the present embodiment determines that the energization of the incandescent bulb 17 as a heating element is when it is snowing when the outside air temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature and there is an output from the raindrop detection sensor 22. Since the incandescent lamp 17 is energized, the energizing time for the incandescent lamp can be reduced and the power consumption can be reduced. When the incandescent light bulb 17 is used as a heating element, light is also generated when heat is required to melt the snow. However, since it is snowing, the rear fog lamp is lit and the rear visibility is improved. Further, the controller 20 can be easily controlled only by performing control for switching between energization and non-energization of the incandescent bulb 17 that is a heating element based on the outputs of the two sensors 21 and 22.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the incandescent lamp has a stop lamp and a tail lamp function, and a plurality of incandescent lamps having a direction indicating function. When the snow falls, the incandescent lamp performs all the functions. The LED lamp may be configured to perform all functions. Further, the surface of the lamp cover may be subjected to a water repellent treatment to improve the slidability of melted snow.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main part of another embodiment of the vehicular lighting device according to the present invention. In addition, this embodiment is characterized in that an infrared LED is used as a heating element, and an output from a wiper switch is used instead of a raindrop detection sensor as a rain detection unit, as compared with the above-described embodiment. Other substantially equivalent configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 2, in the vehicle lighting device 1 </ b> A of this embodiment, the heating element disposed in the lamp case 11 is an infrared LED 18. The infrared LED 18 emits infrared light having a peak wavelength of 780 nm or more, does not generate visible light, and is disposed only for the function of heat generation. A wiper switch 25 is connected to the controller 20 as rain detection means.

  In the vehicular lighting device 1A of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, when it encounters rain during driving, the driver turns on the wiper switch 25, and a wiper (not shown) is activated. The controller 20 detects that the wiper switch 25 is in an ON state. When the temperature falls during operation and the outside air temperature sensor 21 detects that the temperature is below a predetermined temperature, the controller 20 energizes the infrared LED 18. The infrared LED 18 does not generate visible light, but generates heat, the temperature inside the lamp case 11 rises, and the lamp cover 11b is heated.

  Thereby, even if snow adheres to the surface of the lamp cover 11b, the adhering snow is melted by the heat emitted from the infrared LED 18 and falls downward. As a result, the lighting states of the LED lamps 15 and 16 used as stop lamps, tail lamps, and fog lamps in the lamp case 11 can be easily confirmed from the rear. In this embodiment, an infrared LED 18 is used as a heating element, and since the infrared LED has a chip shape, the lamp case can be reduced in size and thickness. When installed on the rear side of the vehicle, the trunk space and the rear luggage space can be expanded.

  In this embodiment, since the infrared LED 18 used as a heating element has a smaller current consumption than the incandescent bulb 17, it is possible to further reduce the power consumption and further reduce the fuel consumption of the vehicle. Can do. In this embodiment, although not shown, the LED lamps 15 and 16 and the infrared LED 18 can be fixed side by side on the wiring board, a socket for an incandescent bulb is not required, the configuration can be simplified, a socket or the like No need for fixing, making manufacture easier.

  The LED lamp may be configured such that a plurality of chips are arranged and fixed on a wiring board, the wiring board is fixed to the back of the lamp case, and the LED lamp is inserted into the case through the hole of the lamp case. As the rain detection means, both a wiper switch and a raindrop detection sensor may be used. In this case, it is preferable that the heating element is energized with an output from one of the wiper switch and the raindrop detection sensor to start heating to prevent the lamp cover from snowing.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various designs can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention described in the claims. It can be changed. For example, the number and arrangement of LED lamps and the number and arrangement of incandescent bulbs can be selected as appropriate. Although the example of 5 degreeC was shown as detection of the predetermined temperature of an outside temperature sensor, you may set temperature, such as 3 degreeC, in temperature lower than this.

  Further, when the tail lamp and the stop lamp are shared by one LED lamp, the light emission luminance can be adjusted by changing the current supplied to the LED lamp. The light emission luminance may be adjusted by changing the pulse duty of the applied current. Further, it is possible to use a type having red and amber (orange) light emitting portions in one LED lamp and having functions of a turn signal lamp, a stop lamp and a tail lamp. The incandescent bulb functioning as a rear fog lamp is not limited to one that emits red light, but may be one that emits white light and has a lamp cover formed of a red translucent resin.

  As an application example of the present invention, a combination lamp provided with an LED lamp and a heating element in a lamp case can be used for a front side lighting device. Further, the controller may be controlled so that an incandescent bulb is used during snowfall and an LED lamp is used during other times than snowfall.

The principal part block diagram of one Embodiment of the illuminating device for vehicles which concerns on this invention. The principal part block diagram of other embodiment of the illuminating device for vehicles which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1A: Vehicle lighting device, 10: Rear combination lamp, 11: Lamp case, 11a: Lamp body, 11b: Lamp cover, 15, 16: LED lamp, 17: Incandescent light bulb (heating element), 18: Infrared LED (heating element), 20: controller, 21: outside air temperature sensor (outside air temperature detecting means), 22: raindrop sensor (rainfall detecting means), 23: fog lamp switch (switch means), 25: wiper switch (rainfall detecting means) )

Claims (5)

A vehicle lighting device including a light emitting diode lamp and a heating element in a lamp case,
The lighting device includes a means for detecting an environmental condition outside the vehicle, and switches between energization and non-energization of the heating element based on an output of the detection means.   The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is an incandescent bulb and / or an infrared light emitting diode. The means for detecting the environmental condition includes an outside air temperature detecting means and a rainfall detecting means,
The vehicle illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle illumination device switches between energization and non-energization of the heating element based on outputs of the outside air temperature detection unit and the rainfall detection unit. .   The vehicle illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the rain detection unit is a wiper switch and / or a raindrop detection sensor.   The vehicle lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vehicle lighting device includes switch means for manually energizing the heating element.

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