JP2007001349A - Lighting system for vehicle, and lighting system body for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting system for a vehicle without the need for mounting or dismounting to or from a vehicle every usage or for manual handling and with excellent usability, and a small amount of power consumption, and suitable for an operation, and a lighting system body for a vehicle used for the lighting system for the vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: A plate-like lighting system body 11 using an EL sheet as a surface light emitting element integrated with an insulator 17 is mounted on a rear surface of an engine hood 16 of a vehicle 15. A lighting system body 11 is molded beforehand corresponding to an indented and projected shape of the rear surface of the engine hood 16 together with the insulator 17. The lighting system body 11 is connected with a vehicle-mounted battery via an inverter and a switch installed in an engine room 18. Under the condition that the switch is turned on, lights are emitted on the surface by alternating currents of a predetermined voltage and a predetermined frequency supplied from the inverter. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle illumination device provided on the back surface of an engine hood or a trunk lid of a vehicle, and more specifically, a vehicle illumination device using a surface light emitter such as an EL (Electro Luminescence) sheet as a light source, and The present invention relates to a vehicle lighting device body used in the vehicle lighting device.

  Conventionally, as this type of vehicle lighting device, for example, there are those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2. In the lamp of Patent Document 1, a lamp housing made up of a flat reflector and a flat lens, a hook for locking the lamp on the back side of the engine hood, and a magnet for magnetizing the lamp on the back side of the engine hood. A board is provided. Then, when working in the engine compartment, the operator takes this lamp out of a storage place such as a trunk and hooks the lamp hook on the back of the engine hood, or magnetically attaches a magnetic plate to the back of the engine hood. By attaching it to the engine hood, you can use it.

Further, the lamp of Patent Document 2 is detachably attached to a washer tank in the engine room. The washer tank is formed of a light-transmitting synthetic resin, and the amount of the washer liquid can be confirmed by the light of the lamp mounted in the side recess of the washer tank. Also, the operator can remove the lamp from the washer tank and illuminate the engine compartment by holding the lamp by hand.
JP 61-287841 A JP-A-11-180213

  By the way, it is necessary to take out the lamp of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 from a storage place such as a trunk and attach it to the back side of the engine hood every time it is used. In addition, after completion of the work, it is necessary to remove the lamp from the back side of the engine hood and return it to the storage location. For this reason, the usability of the lamp was bad.

  Similarly to the lamp of Patent Document 1, the lamp of Patent Document 2 must be removed from the recess on the outer surface of the washer tank every time it is used, and an operator needs to illuminate the engine room by holding the lamp by hand. In addition, after completion of the work, it is necessary to return the lamp to the recess on the outer surface of the washer tank. Therefore, this lamp was also unusable like the lamp of Patent Document 1.

  Furthermore, since the lamps of Patent Documents 1 and 2 both emit filaments, the power consumption is large. For this reason, when the operation using the lamp is performed for a long time, the on-vehicle battery as the power source may be consumed. Moreover, since both lamps are point light sources, a large shadow can be clearly seen in an engine room where devices are densely packed.

  The object of the present invention is to eliminate the need for attachment to and removal from a vehicle or handling by hand, and to make it easier to use, consume less electric power, and is suitable for work, and An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle lighting device body used in the vehicle lighting device.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a vehicle lighting device characterized in that a sheet-like surface light emitter is mounted on the back surface of an engine hood or a trunk lid in a vehicle. is there. It is desirable that the sheet-like surface light emitter has impact resistance. Here, “impact resistance” refers to the property that even when subjected to an impact, the material is not destroyed, or the fragments accompanying the destruction are not scattered.

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein in the invention according to claim 1, the surface light emitter is an electroluminescence sheet.
The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1 or 2, it is preliminarily molded according to the uneven shape of the back surface of the engine hood or trunk lid.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 3, wherein at least a part of the light-emitting surface is caused to emit light in a pattern in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3. It is characterized by being formed. In this specification, “pattern” includes letters, numbers, symbols, figures, designs, and the like.

  The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, it is integrated with an insulator attached to the back surface of the engine hood.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a surface light emitting body having impact resistance and provided with a hooking portion that can be hooked on a hooked portion on the vehicle body side is protected by a transparent protective plate. It is used for the illuminating device for vehicles as described in any one of claim | item 5. It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to the present invention, since the lighting device made of the surface light emitter is attached in advance to the back side of the engine hood and the trunk lid in the vehicle, the surface light emitter is set at the illumination position when the engine hood and the trunk lid are opened. It will be. For this reason, it is not necessary to take out the lamp from the storage place at the start of work and return the lamp to the storage place at the end. Also, it is not necessary to hold the lamp by hand during use. Therefore, the usability of the lighting device is improved. Moreover, since the efficiency is higher than that of filament light emission, power consumption is reduced. In addition, since the light emitting area can be widened, it is difficult to cast shadows, which is convenient for illuminating a place where equipment is crowded like an engine room.

Moreover, if it shape | molds previously according to the uneven | corrugated shape of the back surface of an engine hood or a trunk lid, it can be installed without difficulty in a narrow engine room or trunk.
Further, if at least a part of the light emitting surface of the surface light emitter is formed so as to emit light in a pattern, a message represented by letters, numbers, symbols, figures, and patterns can be displayed in a light emitting manner.

  Moreover, if it integrates with the insulator with which the back surface of an engine hood is mounted | worn, the vibration of the engine etc. which are transmitted to the illuminating device main body from the vehicle side will be buffered. For this reason, disconnection is less likely to occur at the connecting portion between the surface light emitter and the power supply wire, and failure due to disconnection is less likely to occur.

(First embodiment)
Next, a first embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a lighting device for an engine compartment in a vehicle will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown to Fig.3 (a), the illuminating device 10 of this embodiment is from the illuminating device main body 11, the inverter 13 which converts the direct current of the vehicle-mounted battery 12 into alternating current, and supplies it to the illuminating device main body 11, and the inverter 13 The switch 14 is configured to supply power to the illuminating device main body 11 or to stop supply. As shown in FIG. 1, the illumination device body 11 is installed on the back side of the engine hood 16 in the vehicle 15 via an insulator 17. Further, the inverter 13 and the switch 14 are installed at appropriate positions in the engine compartment 18.

  The illumination device main body 11 is formed in a sheet shape using a known electroluminescence sheet (hereinafter referred to as an EL sheet) as a surface light emitter as a light source. As shown in FIG. 3B, the EL sheet 50 includes a light emitting layer 51 made of a dielectric, a surface transparent electrode 52 disposed on the front surface side of the light emitting layer 51, and an insulating layer disposed on the back surface side of the light emitting layer 51. 53, a back electrode 54 disposed on the back surface side of the insulating layer 53, and a back surface protective film 55 disposed on the back surface side of the back electrode 54 are stacked. The illuminating device main body 11 includes the EL sheet 50, a back plate 56 disposed on the back surface side of the EL sheet 50, a color sheet 57 having translucency and disposed on the front surface side of the EL sheet 50, and a color sheet. It is formed by laminating a transparent protective plate 58 disposed on the surface side of 57. The back plate 56 is made of a synthetic resin plate that is thicker than the EL sheet, and provides the lighting device body 11 with a certain degree of rigidity. The color sheet 57 adds a color such as blue green to the emission color of the EL sheet 50. The transparent protective plate 58 protects the surface of the color sheet 57 so as not to be damaged. Electric power supply wires 59a and 59b are connected to the surface transparent electrode 52 and the back electrode 54, respectively. In addition, as shown to Fig.4 (a), the peripheral part of the illuminating device main body 11 is sealed with the sealing agent 19, and is protected. With such a configuration, the lighting device main body 11 has not only flexibility but also impact resistance so that it is not broken even when it receives an impact, or fragments due to the destruction are not scattered. And as shown in FIG. 1, the illuminating device main body 11 has a size corresponding to the entire region excluding the peripheral edge portion of the back surface of the engine hood 16 (for example, width 1100 mm × length 700 mm, which differs depending on the vehicle type). The entire engine room 18 can be illuminated from above.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the luminaire main body 11 is preliminarily molded together with the insulator 17 in accordance with the uneven shape of the back surface of the engine hood 16. This is performed, for example, by thermoforming the sheet-like lighting device main body 11 using a mold corresponding to the uneven shape on the back surface of the engine hood 16. Further, as shown in FIG. 4A, a hook 17 a as a hooked portion is attached to the insulator 17 on the vehicle body side, and the hook 17 a is used as a hooking portion provided in the lighting device main body 11. It is hooked in the hole 11a. Thereby, the illuminating device main body 11 is integrated with the insulator 17. And the illuminating device main body 11 is mechanically connected with the engine hood 16 with the insulator 17 by the latching means which is not shown in figure. The hook 17a is made of, for example, a synthetic resin having elasticity, and is attached to the insulator 17 in a state of penetrating the front and back as shown in FIG. 4B.

  Now, when an operator tries to inspect the inside of the engine compartment 18 of the vehicle in a dark place at night or during the day, when the engine hood 16 is opened, the illumination device body 11 is set to the illumination position. When the operator operates the switch 14 in the engine chamber 18 to switch from off to on, the lighting device body 11 is turned on, and the entire engine chamber 18 is illuminated from above. Therefore, the operator can immediately perform the inspection work without taking out the lamp from a storage place such as a trunk or attaching it to the back side of the engine hood 16. Further, since the entire engine room 18 is illuminated by the illumination device main body 11 made of a surface light emitter provided on the back surface of the engine hood 16, it is not necessary to keep holding a lamp according to work.

  When the operator switches the switch 14 in the engine chamber 18 from on to off after the work is finished, the lighting device body 11 is turned off. For this reason, the operator only needs to close the engine hood 16 as it is, and there is no need to remove the lamp from the back side of the engine hood 16 or return it to a storage place such as a trunk.

  Therefore, according to the illuminating device 10 of this embodiment, since the illuminating device main body 11 made of a surface light emitter is attached in advance to the back side of the engine hood 16, the lamp is taken in and out of the storage place at the start and end of work. It is not necessary to attach to or detach from the back side of the engine hood 16. Also, it is not necessary to hold the lamp by hand during work. For this reason, the usability of the illuminating device main body 11 improves.

Moreover, since the surface light emitter is the EL sheet 50, power consumption is further reduced. For this reason, even if it uses the illuminating device 10 for a long time, the vehicle-mounted battery 12 is hard to be consumed.
In addition, since the lighting device body 11 is formed in a sheet shape by using the EL sheet 50 as the light emission source and is mounted on the back side of the engine hood 16, the size thereof may be limited in the narrow engine chamber 18. Absent. Therefore, since the illuminating device main body 11 having a larger area can be installed, a wider range in the engine room 18 can be illuminated. Further, since the light emitting area can be increased, it is difficult to make a shadow in the illuminated engine room 18. For this reason, although the operator does not hold the light source by hand, each part in the engine compartment 18 where the equipment is dense can be well illuminated.

  Moreover, since the illuminating device main body 11 was previously shape | molded with the insulator 17 according to the uneven | corrugated shape of the back surface of the engine hood 16, it can be installed in the narrow engine chamber 18 without difficulty.

  Moreover, the illuminating device main body 11 which consists of EL sheet | seat 50 can be made into free shapes, such as the shape which opened the hole inside, for example. For this reason, the illuminating device main body 11 can be made into a shape that matches the overall shape of the insulator 17, or a through-hole can be provided at a site corresponding to a silencing hole provided in the insulator 17. For this reason, it is not restrict | limited to the form of the insulator 17 or the engine hood 16, The area of the illuminating device main body 11 can be enlarged more, and the inside of the engine room 18 can be illuminated more widely.

  In addition, unlike the incandescent lamp, the EL sheet 50 is not broken. For this reason, when the vehicle manufacturer attaches to the vehicle, the subsequent process, or the maintenance at the maintenance factory, the lighting device main body 11 is less likely to fail to emit light. Further, since it is not necessary to exchange the sphere, it is not necessary to make the installation place a place where the sphere can be exchanged. For this reason, the illuminating device main body 11 can be installed in the back position of the engine hood 16 etc. which can illuminate the inside of the engine chamber 18 more effectively.

  Furthermore, since the illuminating device main body 11 is integrated with the insulator 17, the vibration of the engine or the like transmitted from the vehicle 15 to the illuminating device main body 11 is weakened. For this reason, the connection part of an EL sheet and an electric wire becomes difficult to cut | disconnect, and it becomes difficult to cause the failure by a disconnection.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a lighting device for a trunk in a vehicle will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the lighting device 20 of this embodiment includes a lighting device body 21, a first inverter 22, a second inverter 23, a first switch 24, and a second switch 25. The first inverter 22 and the second inverter 23 convert the direct current of the in-vehicle battery 12 into alternating current having a predetermined voltage and a predetermined frequency, and supply the converted alternating current to the lighting device main body 21. The first switch 24 and the second switch 25 supply or stop supplying power from the first inverter 22 and the second inverter 23 to the lighting device main body 21, respectively. As shown in FIG. 5, the illumination device main body 21 is installed on the back side of the trunk lid 26 in the vehicle 15. Moreover, both the switches 24 and 25 are installed at appropriate positions in the trunk 27, and both the inverters 22 and 23 are accommodated in, for example, a side wall portion of the trunk 27.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the illuminating device main body 21 is formed in a rectangular first EL sheet 28 similar to the EL sheet 50 of the first embodiment, in the form of a character string as a pattern, and on the first EL sheet 28. It is formed by laminating the second EL sheets 29a, 29b, 29c, the back plate 30, and the transparent protective plate 31 arranged on the front surface side. The second EL sheets 29a to 29c constitute a part of the light emitting surface of the illuminating device main body 21, and display the characters “failing” in a light emitting manner. Each of the second EL sheets 29a to 29c has the same configuration as that of the first EL sheet 28 and has the same emission color. ing. The back plate 30 is disposed on the back surface side of the first EL sheet 28, and the transparent protective plate 31 is disposed on the front surface side of the second EL sheets 29a to 29c. And as shown in FIG. 5, the illuminating device main body 21 has a magnitude | size corresponding to the whole area | region except the peripheral part of the horizontal part of the trunk lid 26, and it can illuminate the trunk 27 whole from upper direction. It has become.

  The first EL sheet 28 is connected to the in-vehicle battery 12 via the first inverter 22 and the first switch 24, and each of the second EL sheets 29 a to 29 c is connected to the in-vehicle battery via the second inverter 23 and the second switch 25. 12 are connected to each other. The AC voltage and frequency supplied from the first inverter 22 to the first EL sheet 28 are equal to the AC voltage and frequency supplied from the second inverter 23 to the second EL sheets 29a to 29c.

  Now, when the driver tries to put in and out the trunk 27 in a dark place at night or during the day, when the trunk lid 26 is opened, the lighting device main body 21 is placed in the lighting position. Then, when the driver operates the first switch 24 and the second switch 25 in the trunk 27 to switch both from the OFF state to the ON state, the first EL sheet 28 and the second EL sheets 29a to 29c of the lighting device body 21 are all. Illuminates and the entire trunk 27 is illuminated from above. At this time, since the first EL sheet 28 and the second EL sheets 29a to 29c have the same emission color, the patterns of the second EL sheets 29a to 29c are not substantially displayed and function as illumination. For this reason, the driver can work immediately without taking out the lamp from a storage place such as the trunk 27 or attaching it to the back side of the trunk lid 26. Further, since the entire interior of the trunk 27 is illuminated by the illuminating device body 21 made of a surface light emitter provided on the back side of the trunk lid 26, the driver does not need to keep holding the lamp according to the work.

  When the driver switches both the first switch 24 and the second switch 25 in the trunk 27 from on to off after the work is finished, the lighting device main body 21 is turned off. For this reason, the driver only needs to close the trunk lid 26 as it is, and it is not necessary to remove the lamp from the back side of the trunk lid 26 or return it to a storage place such as the trunk 27.

  Further, when the vehicle breaks down, the driver stops the vehicle on the road shoulder or the like, opens the trunk lid 26, and switches the second switch 25 from OFF to ON. Then, only the second EL sheets 29a to 29c of the lighting device main body 21 are turned on, and the characters “being out of order” are displayed by light emission. For this reason, the driver of the traveling vehicle can easily recognize the “failing” light emission display on the vehicle stopped on the road shoulder, etc., and can reliably recognize the presence of the failed vehicle stopped on the road shoulder. can do. In addition, when the driver corrects the failure, when the driver switches the second switch 25 in the trunk 27 from on to off, the second EL sheets 29a to 29c are turned off and the display of “failing” disappears.

  Further, when the driver switches the first switch 24 from OFF to ON when the vehicle breaks down, the first EL sheet 28 of the lighting device main body 21 is turned on, and the characters “being out of order” are displayed in a letter shape. Is done. For this reason, the driver of the traveling vehicle can easily visually recognize the “failing” light emission display in the vehicle stopped on the road shoulder or the like, similarly to when the second EL sheets 29a to 29c are turned on.

Therefore, this embodiment also has the same effects as those of the first embodiment.
(Modification)
In addition, this embodiment can also be changed and embodied as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the entire lighting device main body 40 has a substantially rectangular shape that can be mounted on the back side of the trunk lid 26 in the vehicle. The illuminating device main body 40 is constituted by a triangular EL plate-like first EL sheet 41 as a pattern located at the center thereof, and a second EL sheet 42 that forms a part other than the first EL sheet 41. In the illumination device main body 40, unlike the first EL sheet 28 and the second EL sheets 29a to 29c in the second embodiment, the first EL sheet 41 and the second EL sheet 42 do not overlap each other. The emission color of the first EL sheet 28 is, for example, white, and the emission color of the second EL sheets 29a to 29c is red. As shown in FIG. 10, the in-vehicle battery 12 is connected to the first EL sheet 41 via the first inverter 22 and the first switch 24, and the second inverter 23 and the second switch 25 are connected to the second EL sheet 42. The in-vehicle battery 12 is connected via When the inside of the trunk 27 is illuminated, the first switch 24 is turned on so that the first EL sheet 41 emits white light, and a wide range within the trunk 27 is illuminated. Further, when the vehicle fails, the second switch 25 is turned on so that the second EL sheet 42 emits red light and functions as a shining triangular stop plate.

  In the first embodiment, the inverter 13 has a voltage and frequency adjustment function, the driver operates the adjustment knob provided in the inverter 13, and the AC voltage and frequency that the inverter 13 supplies to the lighting device body 11 are changed. To be able to adjust. In this case, when the luminance of the illuminating device main body 11 decreases due to long-term use, the luminance can be recovered to some extent by increasing the AC voltage and frequency.

  In the second embodiment, the AC voltage and frequency supplied from the second inverter 23 to each of the second EL sheets 29a to 29c are compared with the AC voltage and frequency supplied from the first inverter 22 to the first EL sheet 28. Set too high. In this case, the “failing” character can be displayed with higher luminance without excessively bright illumination.

  In the second embodiment, AC may be intermittently supplied from the second inverter 23 to the second EL sheets 29a to 29c when the second switch 25 is turned on. The intermittent supply of alternating current can be performed using, for example, a circuit including a capacitor that stores electric power supplied from the in-vehicle battery 12 and a transistor that performs a switching operation using the electric power stored in the capacitor. In this case, the “failing” display can be blinked, so that the driver of the traveling vehicle can easily notice.

  -In each embodiment, it is good also considering the illuminating device main body 11,21,40 as a sheet form which has a softness | flexibility. In this case, the lighting device main bodies 11, 21, 40 may be bonded to the back surfaces of the engine hood 16 and the trunk lid 26.

-As a surface light-emitting body, you may use what printed many light emitting diodes on the sheet | seat of the synthetic resin which has a softness | flexibility.
The shape of the lighting device body is not limited to a substantially rectangular shape, and may be a substantially square shape, a trapezoidal shape, an indefinite shape, or the like.

-You may light-emit at least one part of a illuminating device main body into the shape of the number of a number, a symbol, or a figure as a pattern, or any combination of a character, a number, a symbol, a figure, and a design.
-The whole lighting device body is configured to represent patterns such as letters, numbers, symbols, figures, designs and the like.

  ・ Use multiple lighting devices and install them at a distance from each other. For example, it installs on the back surface of the engine hood 16 and the wall surface of the engine room 18 side of the bulkhead that partitions the engine room 18 and the vehicle compartment. Alternatively, it is installed on the back surface of the trunk lid 26 and the back wall surface or side wall surface of the trunk 27.

The perspective view which shows the illuminating device main body of 1st Embodiment installed in the engine hood in a vehicle. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of an engine hood and an illuminating device main body. (A) is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of an illuminating device, (b) is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of an illuminating device main body. (A) is a perspective view which shows the coupling | bonding structure of an insulator and an illuminating device main body, (b) is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the insulator containing a hook. The perspective view which shows the illuminating device main body of 2nd Embodiment installed in the trunk lid. The front view which shows a illuminating device main body. The disassembled perspective view which shows an illuminating device main body. The schematic diagram which shows the structure of an illuminating device. The front view which shows the illuminating device main body of a modification. The schematic diagram which shows the structure of an illuminating device.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Illuminating device, 11 ... Illuminating device main body, 11a ... Hole as latching part, 15 ... Vehicle, 16 ... Engine hood, 17 ... Insulator as vehicle body side, 17a ... Hook as latched part, 20 ... Illumination Device: 21 ... Lighting device body, 26 ... Trunk lid, 28 ... First EL sheet as a surface light emitter, 29 ... Similarly second EL sheet, 31 ... Transparent protective plate, 40 ... Lighting device body, 41 ... Surface light emitter 1st EL sheet, 42 ... Similarly 2nd EL sheet, 50 ... EL sheet as a surface light emitter, 58 ... Transparent protective plate.

Claims (6)

  A vehicular illumination device, wherein a sheet-like surface light emitter is mounted on a back surface of an engine hood or a trunk lid in a vehicle.   The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the surface light emitter is an electroluminescence sheet.   The vehicular illumination device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vehicular illumination device is preliminarily molded according to the uneven shape of the back surface of the engine hood or the trunk lid.   The vehicle lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least a part of the light emitting surface is formed to emit light in a pattern.   The vehicle lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vehicle lighting device is integrated with an insulator attached to a back surface of the engine hood.   6. The surface light emitter having a shock resistance and provided with a hooking portion that can be hooked to a hooked portion on the vehicle body side is protected by a transparent protective plate, and the surface light emitting body is protected according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A vehicle lighting device main body, characterized by being used in a vehicle lighting device.

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