JP2008201302A - In-cabin lighting system for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an in-cabin lighting system for a vehicle having a simple structure and capable of enhancing the space efficiency and easily changing the kind of the lighting. <P>SOLUTION: A light source (2) and a switch (4) are mounted on a wiring board (1). The ON/OFF operation of the switch is performed by the slide or the turn, and the coverage or non-coverage of the light source is performed by a lens (6) to be moved by the slide or the turn of the switch. Further, the light source (2) and the switch (4) are mounted on the wiring board (1), and a plate (8) for the lens having the lens (6) above the wiring board is fixed. By sliding or vertically moving the wiring board, the positional relationship between the light source and the lens is changed, and the ON/OFF operation of the switch is performed thereby. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular interior lighting device, and more particularly to a vehicular interior lighting device that is made thinner by adjusting the illumination range of illumination used for room lamps and map lamps.

  The interior of an automobile is provided with a plurality of lights for visualizing instruments and for facilitating various other operations. Recently, along with enhancement of the functions of the entire automobile, various contrivances have been made such as providing various types of lighting devices according to applications at different locations in the vehicle to give a sense of luxury as an interior. Among such vehicular lighting devices, a spotlight is provided for viewing a map or reading a book in the car. This spotlight is provided with a lens in the light irradiation direction of a light bulb as a light source. According to such a spotlight, the light from the light bulb is focused by the lens, so that the light can be concentrated at a specific location. Therefore, a person sitting on the seat can enjoy reading while keeping the darkness of the surroundings by applying light focused by the lens to the page of the book to be read.

  In addition, in the vehicular lighting device, indirect lighting is provided in order to ensure minimum visual recognition in the room while preventing eye fatigue. In this indirect illumination, a light bulb as a light source is provided with a reflector. According to such indirect illumination, the light from the light source is reflected by the reflecting plate and is not directly applied to the human eye in the vehicle, and only the necessary minimum light is obtained. Therefore, the person sitting on the seat does not feel tiredness in the eyes and does not feel anxiety in the total darkness.

  However, in the conventional vehicular illumination device as described above, the spotlight and the indirect illumination are separately provided in the vehicle because their configurations and purposes are different. Therefore, there are many parts that must be used, and in particular, a light source must be provided for each of the parts, resulting in an increase in installation space.

  In view of this, space efficiency has been improved, and two or more types of illumination can be used together with a single light source. That is, an indirect light projection unit that illuminates the room using light from the light source as indirect light, a direct irradiation unit that directly irradiates light from the light source toward the room, an indirect light projection unit, and a direct irradiation unit are appropriately selected. A vehicle lighting device having switching means for switching is developed (see Patent Document 1). In this prior art, when used as indirect illumination, the indirect light projection means is selected by the switching means. When the light source emits light in this state, the light from the light source irradiates the indirect light projection means. And the light irradiated to the indirect light projection means is projected indoors as indirect light. And when using as direct illumination, a direct irradiation means is selected by a switching means. When the light source emits light in this state, the light from the light source is projected directly into the room.

  In the illuminating device disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, although two types of illumination light can be obtained with one light source, indirect light is used as light with a wide illumination range. Insufficient illuminance to be obtained. In addition, since it is necessary to secure a space for the light guide plate behind the light source, the downsizing of the apparatus is limited particularly in the depth direction. Therefore, it is not suitable as a lighting device in a place where it is difficult to ensure a sufficient length in the depth direction, such as the ceiling of a vehicle.

  In order to eliminate the disadvantages of the illumination device of Patent Document 1, a light source unit including a light source and a condensing lens for converging light from the light source, and a light-transmitting cover provided on the light emission side of the light source unit, A light transmitting property in which the first position is set in the first state, the second position is set in the second state, and the region irradiated with the light of the light source unit is irradiated in the first state. An illumination device including a cover has been developed (see Patent Document 2). This is because the light from the light source unit irradiates the light transmissive cover in the light transmissive cover when the light transmissive cover is in the first state. Therefore, the light from the light source unit is emitted to the outside after being subjected to the light diffusion process, and a wide range of illumination light can be obtained. Thus, a wider range of illumination light can be obtained when the light-transmitting cover is in the first state than when the light-transmitting cover is in the second state.

Patent Document 2 also discloses an illumination device having the following configuration. That is, a light-transmitting cover provided on the light emission side of the light source unit, which is in the first position in the first state, in the second position in the second state, and in the first state, the light source. The illumination device includes a light transmissive cover that is provided with a light diffusing process in a region irradiated with light of the unit and includes a condensing lens in a region irradiated with light of the light source unit in the second state. This is because when the light transmissive cover is in the second state, the light from the light source unit is emitted to the outside through the condenser lens provided in the light transmissive cover. Therefore, the condensed light is emitted. Thus, a narrower range of illumination light can be obtained when the light-transmitting cover is in the second state than when the light-transmitting cover is in the first state.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-278530 (pages 2, 3 and 1) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-82106 (page 3, FIG. 1)

  In the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 2, since the light transmissive cover with light diffusion moves, a space that moves greatly in the outer portion of the lighting device is required, and in improving space efficiency (space saving), There was a problem. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228561 also discloses means for rotating the cover by a rotating mechanism to switch the presence or absence of light diffusibility, but the structure is complicated and leads to an increase in cost.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular lighting device that improves space efficiency, has a simple structure, and can easily switch the type of lighting.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides a light source and a switch mounted on a wiring board, and performs a switch on / off operation by sliding or rotating, and a lens that moves with the sliding or rotating of the switch. It is configured to switch between whether or not the light source is covered.

  According to the present invention, the light source and the switch are mounted on the wiring board, and the on / off operation of the switch is performed by sliding or rotating, and the light source is not covered by the lens that moves as the switch slides or rotates. Therefore, the space can be saved in the thickness direction, and the type of illumination can be easily switched by the sliding operation of the switch, and the structure can be simplified. In addition, a light source and a switch are mounted on a wiring board, a lens plate provided with a lens is fixed above the wiring board, and the positional relationship between the light source and the lens is slid or moved vertically. Since the switch is turned on / off, two or more types of illumination can be used in combination with a single light source while saving space and simplifying the structure.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an LED is mounted on the wiring board 1 as the light source 2, and the conductor portion 4A is in contact with the pair of switch electrodes 3 provided on the wiring substrate 1, and is attached to the conductor portion 4A. A switch 4 is mounted for sliding the conductor portion 4A by operating the knob 4B. The switch 4 is housed in a casing 4C, and an arm 5 is attached to the conductor portion 4A so as to extend in the direction of the light source 2. It is installed.

  The switch 4 in the state shown in FIG. 1 is in a state where the conductor portion 4A is in contact with both of the pair of switch electrodes 3 and the electrodes are electrically connected (on state), and the lens 6 does not cover the light source 2. In this state, the LED of the light source 2 emits diffused light L1. When this device is an automobile overhead module, it can be used as a room lamp when the diffused light L1 is irradiated from the LED into the vehicle interior.

  When the knob 4B of the switch 4 is operated and slid to the right from the state shown in FIG. 1, the conductor portion 4A is brought into a state where the contact with the one electrode 3 is released, that is, an off state where there is no conduction between the electrodes 3. 6 covers the light source 2 by sliding the conductor portion 4 </ b> A and the arm 5 in the direction of the light source 2. The light emitted from the light source 2 is focused by the lens 6 to irradiate the interior of the vehicle as focused light L2, and functions as a map lamp.

  The applicant of the present application previously filed an invention of an “overhead module” (Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-2410), and by tilting the wiring board using a tact switch, the irradiation direction of the LED was changed and one irradiation was performed. A lens was developed in which the lens was used in the direction and no lens was used in the other irradiation direction. In the prior application, a space in the thickness direction is required to tilt the wiring board. In the invention of FIGS. 1 and 2 described above, a space in the thickness direction is not required, and a space in the width direction that can secure the sliding amount of the switch 4 is sufficient.

  In addition to the above-described embodiment, the switch 4 may be changed to a rotary type instead of a slide type, and the pair of electrodes 3 may or may not be connected between the electrodes depending on the rotational position. Further, the illumination color can be changed by coloring the lens 6. Further, the wiring board 1 can be either rigid (RPC) or flexible (FPC).

  As described above, by mounting the switch 4 on the wiring board 1, the illumination state is converted into an electrical signal (ON / OFF), and the brightness (current value) of the LED as the light source 2 can be easily changed. Can do. In the case of a full color LED, the color can be easily changed by changing the current values of red, blue, and green separately.

  In another embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a slide lever 7 is attached to the wiring board 1, and the entire wiring board 1 can be slid by sliding the slide lever 7. The wiring board 1 is slidably installed in the lighting device, but the lens 6 provided on the lens plate 8 is attached to a fixed position on the light source 2 mounted on the wiring board 1 in the device. (Fixed to the housing or the like), the light source 2 is also slid and positioned directly below the lens 6 as the wiring board 1 is slid (see FIG. 4). The positional relationship of 2 will change.

  In this embodiment, a projection 9 and a magnet 10 are provided at an end (for example, a wall of the casing) in the apparatus so as to abut against the button 4D of the switch 4 and push the button 4D. A button 4D of the switch 4 is provided, and an iron plate 11 that is attracted to the magnet 10 is provided at the end of the lower surface. Also, an iron plate 12 is provided at the opposite end of the lower surface of the wiring board 1, and this iron plate 12 is attracted to a magnet 13 provided at the opposite end in the apparatus.

  In the state of FIG. 3, the iron plate 12 is attracted by the magnet 13 to keep the wiring board 1 at a predetermined position (the right end in the drawing), and the light source 2 is located just below the lens 6 at the position of the wiring board 1. The diffused light L1 is emitted from the lens plate 8 that transmits light into the vehicle interior. That is, it functions as a room lamp at this position.

  Next, when the wiring board 1 is slid to the left in the drawing by operating the slide lever 7, the iron plate 11 is attracted to the magnet 10 and the wiring board 1 is positioned as shown in FIG. At this time, the button 4D of the switch 4 is pushed in by the protrusion 9, and the switch 4 is turned on. The light source 2 is positioned directly below the lens 6 and irradiates the focused light L2 into the vehicle interior via the lens 6 to function as a map lamp.

  Also in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the switch 4 is turned on / off, and the illumination state can be converted by this electric signal. The brightness (the magnitude of the current value) of the LED used as the light source 2 can be easily changed by turning on / off the switch 4 (electrical signal).

  Furthermore, the illumination color can be changed by coloring the lens 6 to change the illumination color, or by using a full-color LED and changing the current values of red, blue, and green separately.

  In still another embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the wiring board 1 is moved in the vertical direction without sliding, so that the illumination state is converted. In this embodiment, the light source 2 is always located directly below the lens 6, but is configured so that the wiring board 1 can be moved in the vertical direction so as to achieve a distance from the lens 6. The lens plate 8 and the lens 6 are installed at a fixed position in the apparatus, and the wiring board 1 installed below the lens plate 8 can be moved up and down by operating the lever 14. On the upper surface side of the wiring board 1, a switch 4 having a button 4 </ b> D is provided, and iron plates 11 and 12 protruding vertically are provided on both the left and right sides of the switch 4 and the light source 2. Magnets 10 and 13 are provided at the bottom of the apparatus so that the iron plates 11 and 12 are attracted. Further, magnets 10 ′ and 13 ′ are also provided at both ends of the lower surface of the lens plate 8 so that the iron plates 11 and 12 are attracted. Furthermore, a projection 9 is provided on the lower surface of the lens plate 8 facing the button 4D of the switch 4.

  In the state of FIG. 5, the iron plates 11 and 12 are attracted to the lower magnets 10 and 13, the wiring board 1 is held at the lower position, the distance between the light source 2 and the lens 6 is increased, and a slightly wide range of focused light L 3. It comes to irradiate.

  When the lever 14 is operated to move the wiring board 1 upward, the iron plates 11 and 12 are attracted to the upper magnets 10 ′ and 13 ′ to hold the wiring board 1 in the upper position, and the light source 2, lens 6, And the focused light L2 is irradiated. In addition, the button 4D of the switch 4 is pushed in by the protrusion 9, and changes from the off state of FIG. 5 to the on state of FIG. The value of the current flowing through the light source 2 can be converted by the on / off electrical signal.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the wiring board 1 is slid in the left-right direction or moved in the up-down direction, and the positional relationship between the LED (light source) 2 mounted on the wiring board 1 and the lens 6 is determined. The lens 6 and the lens plate 8 are fixed (immobilized). Also in these embodiments, the brightness of the LED 2 can be easily changed by changing the current value by turning on / off the switch 4 (electrical signal), and the color of the LED 2 can be changed by using a full color LED. You can also.

The simplified side sectional view showing a 1st embodiment. The simplified side sectional view after the map lamp change in a 1st embodiment. The simplified side sectional view showing a 2nd embodiment. The simplified side sectional view after the map lamp change in a 2nd embodiment. The simplified sectional side view which shows 3rd Embodiment. The simplified side sectional view after the map lamp change in a 3rd embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Wiring board 2 Light source 4 Switch 6 Lens

Claims (5)

Mount the light source and switch on the wiring board,
A vehicular illuminating device configured to perform on / off operation of a switch by sliding or rotating, and to switch between whether the light source is covered or not by a lens that moves in accordance with the sliding or rotation of the switch. Mount the light source and switch on the wiring board,
Fix the lens plate with the lens above this wiring board,
A vehicular illuminating device configured to change a positional relationship between a light source and a lens by sliding or moving a wiring board in a vertical direction and to perform an on / off operation of a switch.   The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein a current value to the power source can be converted by a different electrical signal depending on ON / OFF of a switch mounted on the wiring board.   4. The vehicular lighting device according to claim 3, wherein a full-color LED is used as the light source, and the color of the LED is changed by an electrical signal sent by turning on / off the switch.   The vehicle lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lens is colored.

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