JP2021113040A - Steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a steering wheel such that even when a light bar has a visible light source and an infrared light source arranged side by side, they can be arranged preventing their arrangement space from increasing in width and length.SOLUTION: A light bar 20 comprises a holding member 22, a substrate 26 housed and held in the holding part, a visible light source 31 fitted to the substrate, and an infrared light source 30 fitted to the substrate. The substrate is held by the holding member leaving a gap S between one shorter-directional end and a side wall part 25 of the holding member. The infrared light source is arranged on a top surface side substantially along a longer direction, and the visible light source is arranged on the reverse surface side of an infrared light-source arrangement region substantially along the longer direction. The infrared light source can emit infrared light toward a driver side. Visible light emitted from the visible light source is deflected by a light guide 35 to travel toward a radiation opening 22a of the holding member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a steering wheel having a configuration in which a light bar is arranged at a predetermined position visible to the driver.

Conventionally, as a steering wheel having a light bar, there is a structure in which a light bar is arranged on the upper surface side of the ring portion on the driver side. In this steering wheel, the light bar is stored and held in a case. A visible light source that emits visible light when lit and an infrared light source that emits infrared rays when lit are attached to the board so as to be arranged side by side substantially along the longitudinal direction of the substrate. (See, for example, Patent Document 1). Specifically, in this conventional steering wheel, both a visible light source and an infrared light source are arranged on the surface side of the substrate, and visible light or infrared light is emitted upward toward the driver side. A plurality of visible light light sources were arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction on the central side of the substrate in the longitudinal direction, and infrared light sources were arranged on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the substrate.

Special Table 2017-528272

However, in the conventional steering wheel, the visible light light source arrangement area and the infrared light source arrangement area are separately arranged along the longitudinal direction of the light bar, that is, the visible light light source arrangement area and the infrared light source arrangement area. Since the arrangement area of the light bar does not overlap along the longitudinal direction of the light bar, the arrangement area of the visible light source and the infrared light source has increased. By the way, when the arrangement area of the visible light light source and the arrangement area of the infrared light source are to be configured to overlap along the longitudinal direction of the light bar, the arrangement area of the visible light light source and the arrangement area of the infrared light source are set on the substrate. Although it can be dealt with by shifting along the short side of the above, in that case, the visible light source and the infrared light source are arranged side by side in the ring part or the like where the width dimension of the substrate becomes large and the arrangement space is limited. It becomes impossible to arrange the light bar. Further, in the conventional steering wheel, since the visible light source is arranged on the surface side of the substrate, the separation distance from the visible light source to the surface of the outer lens that actually emits visible light is short, in other words. There is also a problem that the light path for diffusing the visible light emitted from the visible light source is short and the visible light cannot be sufficiently diffused.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and even if a visible light light source and an infrared light source are arranged side by side in a light bar, they are arranged while suppressing an increase in the width dimension and the length dimension of their arrangement spaces. It is an object of the present invention to provide a steering wheel that can be made to operate.

The steering wheel according to the present invention has a configuration in which a light bar is arranged at a predetermined position visible to the driver.
A holding member, a substrate housed and held in the holding member, and a plurality of visible light sources that are attached so as to be arranged side by side substantially along the longitudinal direction of the substrate and emit visible light when lit. A plurality of infrared light sources that are mounted so as to be arranged side by side substantially along the longitudinal direction of the substrate and emit infrared rays when lit are provided, and visible light or infrared rays during operation are opened at one end side of the holding member. It is a steering wheel that is configured so that it can radiate from the radiation opening that is configured.
The substrate is held by the case substantially along the opening surface of the radiation opening so as to provide a gap between one end side in the lateral direction and the side wall portion of the case, and the surface side serving as the radiation opening side. Infrared light sources are arranged so as to be arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction, and visible light light sources are arranged so as to be arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction on the back surface side of the infrared light source arrangement area. Being done
The infrared light source is capable of emitting infrared rays toward the driver.
The visible light emitted from the visible light light source is deflected toward the radiation opening side by a light guide body provided so as to extend from the back surface side to the front surface side of the substrate through the gap.

In the steering wheel of the present invention, the infrared light source and the visible light light source arranged substantially along the longitudinal direction of the substrate are arranged on the front surface side and the back surface side of the substrate, respectively, and thus infrared rays are emitted. The light source and the visible light light source can be arranged without any trouble so that their respective arrangement areas overlap along the longitudinal direction, and an increase in the width dimension and the length dimension of the substrate can be suppressed. Since an infrared light source is arranged on the surface side of the substrate so as to emit infrared rays toward the driver side, infrared rays are emitted from the radiation opening of the holding member to the driver side when the infrared light source is turned on. It will be radiated toward. Further, the visible light emitted from the visible light source is opened for radiation by a light guide provided so as to extend from the back surface side to the front surface side of the substrate through a gap provided between the side wall portion of the holding member and the substrate. Since the configuration is deflected toward the driver side, the visible light can be radiated toward the driver side even if the visible light light source is arranged on the back surface side of the substrate. Further, in the steering wheel of the present invention, a long optical path can be secured by the light guide extending from the back surface side to the front surface side of the substrate. Visible light diffused by a long optical path toward the side makes it possible to illuminate the entire arrangement region of the light guide in the vicinity of the radiation opening of the holding member substantially uniformly and stably.

Therefore, in the steering wheel of the present invention, even if the visible light light source and the infrared light source are arranged side by side in the light bar, they can be arranged while suppressing an increase in the width dimension and the length dimension of the arrangement space.

Further, in the steering wheel of the present invention, if the lens portion for deflecting infrared rays toward the driver side is arranged on the surface side of the substrate so as to cover the infrared light source, the lens portion may be used. Since the infrared rays emitted when lit can be deflected, the degree of freedom in arranging the infrared light source can be increased, and when the infrared light source is lit, the infrared rays are guided by the lens unit to radiate the infrared rays of the case. It is preferable because it is possible to radiate from the opening so as to surely face the driver side.

Further, in the steering wheel of the present invention, in the light guide body, visible light is emitted to an incident surface on which visible light emitted from a visible light light source is incident or an exit surface which is arranged on the radiation opening side and emits visible light. If the diffusion layer to be diffused is arranged, it is possible to emit the visible light incident on the light guide body from the exit surface in a state of being further diffused, which is preferable.

Further, in the steering wheel having the above configuration, if the light guide body has a substantially L-shaped cross section so as to project the base side including the incident surface toward the visible light light source side, the light guide body can be formed. It is preferable that the distance (optical path) from the incident surface to the exit surface can be secured even longer, and the visible light incident from the incident surface can be further diffused.

Furthermore, in the steering wheel having the above configuration, if the light bar is curved so as to substantially follow the circumferential direction of the ring portion gripped by the driver in the longitudinal direction and arranged in the ring portion, the steering wheel It is preferable that the driver can easily see the light bar when steering the wheel.

Furthermore, when the light bar is arranged in the ring portion, the holding member is arranged so as to be in contact with the core metal arranged in the ring portion, and the heat generated during operation is transferred to the core via the holding member. If the structure is such that heat can be transferred to the gold side, heat generated during operation (during light emission) can be dissipated from the core metal, which is preferable.

Further, the steering wheel may have the following configuration, paying attention to the configuration of the light guide body having an L-shaped cross section that can secure a long optical path in a space-saving manner.

The light bar is arranged at a predetermined position that can be seen by the driver.
The light bar is provided with a substrate held by the holding member and a plurality of visible light sources that are attached so as to be arranged side by side substantially along the longitudinal direction of the substrate and emit visible light when lit. A steering wheel that is configured to be able to radiate visible light from a radiation opening that is configured by opening a part of the holding member.
The substrate is held by the holding member so as to substantially follow the opening surface of the radiation opening.
Visible light sources are arranged side by side substantially along the longitudinal direction of the substrate on the back surface side away from the radiation opening in the substrate, and the visible light emitted is arranged so as to extend from the back surface side to the front surface side of the substrate. It is configured to be deflected toward the radiation opening side through the light guide body.
A light source side portion located on the visible light light source side, which is the back surface side of the substrate, and an opening side portion arranged so as to extend from the back surface side to the front surface side of the substrate while intersecting the light source side portion. It is characterized in that it has a substantially L-shaped cross section.

In the steering wheel having such a configuration, the light source side portion is arranged along the substrate on the back surface side of the substrate without extending the light guide body in the direction orthogonal to the substrate. A long optical path can be secured even if the space extending in the orthogonal direction side on the back surface side of the above is reduced. Therefore, compared to the conventional steering wheel in which the visible light light source is arranged on the front surface side of the substrate, when the visible light light source is lit, the visible light source is incident from the back surface side of the substrate and diffused by a long optical path toward the front surface side. The light can illuminate the entire arrangement region of the light guide in the vicinity of the radiation opening substantially uniformly and stably.

Further, in the steering wheel having the above configuration, if the opening side portion of the light guide body is formed at a position substantially centered in the width direction of the light bar, the width direction of the light bar is formed when the visible light light source is lit. It is preferable to be able to illuminate the vicinity of the center of the.

Further, in the steering wheel having the above configuration, the light bar is curved so as to substantially follow the circumferential direction of the ring portion gripped by the driver in the longitudinal direction so as to be continuously applied to at least a part of the upper surface of the ring portion. It is configured to be placed
The light guide body is formed by being curved substantially along the curved shape of the ring portion, and the incident surface arranged opposite to each visible light light source at the light source side portion has a prism structure, and the light source side portion and the opening side are formed. A deflection surface capable of deflecting visible light incident from the incident surface toward the exit surface side, which is arranged on the emission opening side, is arranged at a position facing the incident surface near the intersection with the portion. Is preferable.

If the steering wheel has the above configuration, the visible light emitted from the visible light light source is incident on the light guide body while being largely diffused by the incident surface of the prism structure, and the visible light emitted from the light guide body is also visible. Since the light is deflected toward the exit surface side by the deflection surface, the light is further diffused in the opening side portion while being deflected by the deflection surface, and is emitted from the exit surface. Therefore, even if the light guide has a long shape that is curved along the curved shape of the ring portion, visible light can be widely diffused in the light guide, and the light guide in the vicinity of the radiation opening can be widely diffused. The entire arrangement area of the body can be illuminated substantially uniformly.

It is a top view of the steering wheel which is 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a partially enlarged plan view which shows the part of the light bar in the steering wheel of 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the steering wheel of 1st Embodiment, and is the figure corresponding to the part III-III of FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing a case, a substrate, a light guide body, and a cover portion constituting a light bar in the steering wheel of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a substrate used in the steering wheel of the first embodiment as viewed from the front surface side and a state viewed from the back surface side. It is a partially enlarged schematic cross-sectional view which shows the vicinity of a light guide body in the steering wheel of 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram explaining the operation of the light bar in the steering wheel of 1st Embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic partially enlarged plan view showing a state when the visible light LED is lit in the steering wheel of the first embodiment. It is a partially enlarged sectional view which shows the modification of the light bar. It is a partially enlarged sectional view which shows the further modification example of a light bar. It is a partially enlarged sectional view which shows the further modification example of a light bar. It is a partially enlarged sectional view which shows the further modification example of a light bar. It is a partially enlarged sectional view which shows the further modification example of a light bar. It is a partially enlarged plan view which shows the part of the light bar in the steering wheel which is 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the steering wheel of 2nd Embodiment, and is the figure corresponding to XV-XV of FIG. It is the schematic perspective view of the light guide body used for the light bar of the steering wheel of 2nd Embodiment. It is a top view of the light guide body of FIG. 16 is a schematic perspective view of the light guide body of FIG. 16 as viewed from the outer lower surface side. In the light guide body of FIG. 16, it is an enlarged cross-sectional view substantially along the front-rear direction at the part of the incident surface (incident surface forming portion). In the steering wheel of the second embodiment, it is a partially enlarged schematic cross section showing the vicinity of the light guide body, and is a diagram for explaining the state of diffusion of visible light. In the light guide body, it is an enlarged cross section substantially along the front-rear direction showing the portions of the incident surface (incident surface forming portion) and the deflection surface (deflecting surface forming portion), and is a diagram for explaining the state of diffusion of visible light. .. FIG. 5 is a schematic partially enlarged plan view showing a state when the visible light LED is lit in the steering wheel of the second embodiment. It is a partially enlarged sectional view which shows the modification of the light bar.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment has an annular ring portion 2 that is gripped during rotary steering, a boss portion 4 that is arranged substantially in the center of the ring portion 2, and a ring portion 2 and a boss. It is configured to have a plurality of (three in the case of the embodiment) spoke portions 3 for connecting the portions 4, and as components, the airbag device 6 above the boss portion 4 and the ring portion 2 It is configured to include a light bar 20 to be arranged and a steering wheel main body 10 other than the light bar 20.

In the present specification, unless otherwise specified, the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions are directions along the rotation center axis of the ring portion 2 with reference to the straight-ahead steering state of the steering wheel 1 mounted on the vehicle. Is the vertical direction, the direction perpendicular to the rotation center axis of the ring portion 2 and substantially along the front-rear direction of the vehicle is the front-rear direction, and the direction substantially along the left-right direction of the vehicle perpendicular to the rotation center axis of the ring portion 2 is left and right. The direction.

The airbag device 6 arranged above the boss portion 4 has an airbag (not shown) that is folded and stored, an inflator (not shown) that supplies expansion gas to the airbag, and an upper surface side of the folded airbag. It includes a pad 7 for covering. As shown in FIG. 1, the pad 7 is arranged so as to cover the entire upper surface side of the boss portion 4.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the steering wheel main body 10 has a core metal 11 as a core material arranged so as to connect the ring portion 2, the boss portion 4, and the spoke portions 3 to each other, and the ring in the core metal 11. The coating layer 13 that covers the periphery of the portions of the portion 2 and the spoke portion 3, the outer skin layer 14 that covers the outer peripheral surface side of the ring portion 2 that is the outer peripheral side of the coating layer 13, and the lower surface side of the boss portion 4 are not shown. It has a lower cover.

The core metal 11 is made of a metal made of an aluminum alloy or the like. In the core metal 11, the ring portion core metal 12 arranged at the portion of the ring portion 2 has a substantially inverted U-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. Specifically, in the case of the embodiment, the ring portion core metal 12 is configured such that the upper end side is flat so as to be in wide contact with the bottom wall portion 23 of the case 22 described later of the light bar 20.

The coating layer 13 is formed of a soft synthetic resin having a cushioning property, and in the case of the embodiment, it is formed of a soft foaming material such as polyurethane foam. As shown in FIG. 3, the coating layer 13 is configured to cover the outer peripheral side of the ring portion core metal 12 at the portion of the ring portion 2, and has a substantially elliptical cross-sectional shape. Further, the coating layer 13 has a recess 13a for accommodating the light bar 20 (case 22) in the area where the light bar 20 is arranged (see FIG. 3). The outer skin layer 14 is arranged so as to cover the outer peripheral side of the coating layer 13 except for the arrangement region of the light bar 20, and in the case of the embodiment, the sheet body made of synthetic resin, natural leather, or synthetic leather. , It is formed from leather such as artificial leather.

The light bar 20 is arranged at a predetermined position visible to the driver on the steering wheel 1 (not shown). In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the light bar 20 is gripped by the driver during steering. In the ring portion 2, the ring portion 2 is arranged on the upper surface side of the region of the front side portion 2a between the left and right spoke portions 3L and 3R. Specifically, in the case of the embodiment, the light bar 20 has a shape seen from the upper side as a substantially band shape in which the longitudinal direction is curved so as to substantially follow the circumferential direction of the ring portion 2, and is 1 / of the ring portion 2. It is continuously formed in about 3 regions, and is arranged so that the center in the longitudinal direction substantially coincides with the front end of the ring portion 2.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the light bar 20 is attached so that the case 22 as a holding member, the substrate 26 housed and held in the case 22, and the substrate 26 are arranged side by side substantially along the longitudinal direction of the substrate 26. A plurality of visible light light sources (visible light LED 31) and infrared light sources (infrared LED 30), a light guide body 35, a lens portion 46 covering the infrared LED 30, and a radiation opening 22a described later in the case 22 are arranged so as to cover them. It is configured to include a cover portion 45 to be formed.

In the case of the embodiment, the case 22 as the holding member has a substantially U-shaped cross section that is curved so as to substantially follow the curved shape of the ring portion 2 when viewed from the vertical direction side while opening both ends in the upper side and the longitudinal direction. (See FIGS. 3 and 4), and in the case of the embodiment, it is made of a metal made of an aluminum alloy or the like. Specifically, the case 22 includes a curved bottom wall portion 23, an inner side wall portion 24 extending upward from both edges in the front-rear direction (inner-outer direction) side of the bottom wall portion 23, and an outer wall portion 25. , And a radiation opening 22a capable of emitting visible light VL or infrared RL during operation is arranged on the upper end side of the inner side wall portion 24 and the outer wall portion 25. In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the case 22 is arranged so that the bottom wall portion 23 is in contact with the upper surface 12a of the ring portion core metal 12.

The substrate 26 is arranged in the case 22 so as to substantially follow the opening surface of the radiation opening 22a. Specifically, in the case of the embodiment, the substrate 26 is arranged so as to be substantially parallel to the bottom wall portion 23 in the case 22 and substantially along the front-rear direction. Further, the substrate 26 is configured as a case 22, that is, a substantially strip shape curved along the longitudinal direction so as to substantially follow the ring portion 2 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the substrate 26 is arranged over substantially the entire longitudinal direction of the case 22. Further, the substrate 26 is provided with a gap S between the outer end 26b, which is one end side in the lateral direction (outside away from the center of the ring portion, the front end side), and the outer wall portion 25 (side wall portion) in the case 22. In this way, the inner end 26a, which is the other end side in the lateral direction (inner side that becomes the center side of the ring portion, the rear end side), is connected to the inner side wall portion 24 of the case 22, and is held by the case 22. It is configured. Specifically, the substrate 26 is arranged so as to extend outward (front in FIG. 3) from the vicinity of the upper and lower centers of the inner side wall portion 24 with a gap provided between the substrate 26 and the bottom wall portion 23. There is. The substrate 26 is electrically connected to the operating circuit 55 arranged on the boss portion 4 side (see the block diagram of FIG. 7), and the infrared LED 30 and the visible light LED 31 attached to the substrate 26 are the operating circuit 55. The operation is controlled by the above.

An infrared LED 30 is used as an infrared light source that emits infrared rays when lit, and a plurality of infrared LEDs 30 are arranged substantially along the longitudinal direction on the surface (upper surface 26c) side that is the radiation opening side of the substrate 26. It is installed. Specifically, in the case of the embodiment, the infrared LED 30 is configured to include a light emitting portion 30a and a synthetic resin cover 30b that covers the light emitting portion 30a so as to cover substantially the entire longitudinal direction of the substrate 26. It is scattered in 5 places (see A in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5). That is, in the embodiment, the upper surface 26c of the substrate 26 constitutes the infrared LED arrangement area 27 in which the infrared LED 30 is arranged over the entire surface. The infrared LEDs 30 (30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E) are arranged for lighting for photographing the driver's face, and are arranged on the boss portion 4 (lower cover) and the upper surface side of the steering column (not shown). , The infrared RL is lit when the upper body (including the arms), mainly the driver's face, is photographed by a camera placed at a predetermined position on the instrument panel, the roof side of the vehicle, etc. By emitting light toward the driver side through the above, the driver's face is illuminated. Further, in the case of the embodiment, each infrared LED 30 is inside (rear side) of the substantially center of the inside and outside (front and back) of the case 22 so as to be separated from the visible light LED 31 on the inside / outside direction side (front-back direction side). ) (See FIGS. 3 and 6). In the case of the embodiment, each infrared LED 30 (30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E) has a vehicle-side circuit 56, to which a steering angle sensor for detecting the steering angle of the steering wheel 1 is connected, as shown in FIG. In addition, the touch sensor 57 that detects the gripping position of the ring portion 2 by the driver and the operation signal from the electrically connected operating circuit 55 are received, and the position on the front end side of the ring portion 2 during steering, that is, A predetermined infrared LED 30 (30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E) located near the driver's face is turned on, and the generated infrared rays illuminate the driver's face.

A visible light LED 31 is used as a visible light light source that emits visible light when lit. In the case of the embodiment, as the visible light LED 31, those capable of emitting red light, green light, and blue light are used. A plurality of visible light LEDs 31 are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction on the back surface (lower surface 26d) side of the substrate 26, that is, on the back surface side of the infrared LED arrangement region 27 on the substrate 26. Specifically, in the case of the embodiment, the visible light LEDs 31 are scattered at six locations in the region on the central side in the longitudinal direction of the substrate 26 (see B in FIGS. 2 and 5). Specifically, the visible light LED 31 is arranged in a region of about 1/2 of the longitudinal direction of the substrate 26, except for both end sides of the substrate 26. That is, each visible light LED 31 has a distance from each other smaller than that of the infrared LED 30, and is 1 of the infrared LED arrangement area 27 on the back surface side of the infrared LED arrangement area 27 (infrared light source arrangement area) which covers the entire substrate 26. It is arranged in the visible light LED arrangement area 28 which is about / 2 (see A and B in FIGS. 2 and 5). Further, in the case of the embodiment, each visible light LED 31 is located near the outer end 26b on the substrate 26 on the light guide body 35 side, and is outside the infrared LED 30 on the light guide body 35 side. It is attached so that visible light VL can be emitted toward (forward) (see FIG. 6). Each visible light LED 31 is capable of receiving an operation signal from the operation circuit 55 and lighting one arranged at a predetermined position so as to emit visible light VL of a predetermined color. In the case of the embodiment, the visible light LED 31 can be lit. , All visible light LEDs 31 can be lit and controlled when an operation signal is input. Then, when the visible light LED 31 is turned on, the visible light VL emitted from the visible light LED 31 is diffused to the entire light guide body 35 arranged outside as shown in FIG. The light is emitted from substantially the entire surface to the radiation opening 22a side, and in the cover portion 45 covering the radiation opening 22a, the region covering the upper part of the emission surface 38 shines over substantially the entire area (see FIG. 8). It will call attention to the driver.

In the gap S between the outer end 26b of the substrate 26 and the outer wall portion 25 (side wall portion) of the case 22, the light guide body 35 passes through the gap S from the back surface (lower surface 26d) side to the front surface (upper surface) of the substrate 26. It is arranged so as to extend to the 26c) side. In the case of the embodiment, the light guide 35 is arranged outside (front) only the visible light LED arrangement area 28 on the substrate 26, and specifically, the length dimension is an abbreviation of the substrate 26. It is set to about 1/2 (see FIG. 4) and is arranged in the front region of the steering wheel 1 during straight-ahead steering (see FIG. 2). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the light guide body 35 is configured as a substantially plate-like body that is curved so as to substantially follow the curved shape of the ring portion 2 when viewed from the vertical direction side and extends in the vertical direction side. (See Fig. 3). Specifically, in the light guide body 35, the lower end 35b on the bottom wall portion 23 side of the case 22 is positioned below the substrate 26, and the upper end 35a on the radiation opening 22a side is brought close to the cover portion 45. As shown in FIG. 6, it has a substantially L-shaped cross section having an overhanging portion 36 projecting toward the visible light LED 31 side on the lower end 35b side, which is the base portion side. .. In the case of the embodiment, the light guide body 35 has the thickness dimension T1 set to about 1/5 of the width dimension T2 on the lateral side in the case 22 (corresponding to the light bar 20) (see FIG. 3). ). The light guide 35 is formed of a synthetic resin such as a polycarbonate resin or an acrylic resin, and as shown in FIG. 6, the light guide 35 is formed on the tip surface (end surface on the visible light LED 31 side) of the overhanging portion 36 from the visible light LED 31. An incident surface 37 for incident visible light VL to be emitted is provided, and an exit surface 38 for emitting visible light VL upward on the radiation opening 22a side is provided on the upper surface of the incident surface 37. A deflection surface 39 that deflects the visible light VL incident from the incident surface 37 upward (outward surface 38 side) is arranged on the outer (front) lower end outer edge (lower end front edge) side. .. Further, in the embodiment, the incident surface 37 is configured to be recessed in a substantially arcuate cross section (see FIG. 6). By denting the incident surface 37 in a substantially arcuate cross section in this way, the visible light emitted from the visible light LED 31 can be diffused at the time of incidence, as compared with the case where the incident surface is made substantially flat. .. Further, in the embodiment, a diffusion layer 41 for diffusing visible light is formed on the exit surface 38. Specifically, the diffusion layer 41 is formed by applying a graining process to the exit surface 38.

In the case of the embodiment, the lens portion 46 that covers the infrared LED 30 and the cover portion 45 that is arranged so as to cover the radiation opening 22a of the case 22 are integrally configured. The cover portion 45 is curved so as to cover substantially the entire radiation opening 22a of the case 22, including the upper part of the light guide body 35, so as to substantially follow the curved shape of the ring portion 2 when viewed from the vertical direction side. At the same time as being formed (see FIGS. 2 and 4), the cross-sectional shape is curved so as to be gently continuous from the outer peripheral surface of the outer skin layer 14 in the ring portion 2 (see FIG. 3). In the case of the embodiment, the cover portion 45 is made of a transparent black synthetic resin having translucency in accordance with the black exodermis layer. The cover portion 45 is configured to be capable of transmitting both the visible light VL emitted from the visible light LED 31 and the infrared RL emitted from the infrared LED 30. The lens portion 46 is for deflecting the infrared RL emitted from the infrared LED 30 toward the driver side, and is on the lower surface side of the cover portion 45, which is the front surface side of the substrate 26, on the upper side of the substrate 26. The region, that is, the region inside (rear side) of the light guide 35 is covered over the entire surface (see FIG. 3), and the infrared RL emitted from the infrared LED 30 is deflected for operation. It is configured so that it can emit light toward the rear upper side (inner upper side) on the person side (see FIG. 6). The lens portion 46 is made of a black synthetic resin capable of transmitting only infrared rays RL. The cover portion 45 and the lens portion 46 are formed of a synthetic resin such as a polycarbonate resin or an acrylic resin, and are integrally formed by two-color molding. When the visible light LED 31 is lit, as described above, the region where the lens portion 46 is not arranged in the cover portion 45 (the region covering the upper part of the light guide body 35) shines over substantially the entire surface, but the light guide body Reference numeral 35 denotes a configuration in which the visible light LED arrangement area 28 is arranged in front (outside) of only the visible light LED arrangement area 28, and is not arranged on both end sides of the cover portion 45. Therefore, the cover portion 45 is centered on the front edge (outer edge) side. Only the side area will be illuminated (see FIG. 8).

Further, in the light bar 20 of the embodiment, the gap between the substrate 26 and the bottom wall portion 23 of the case 22 is closed in the area on the lower surface side of the substrate 26 and on the rear side (inside) of the visible light LED 31. A heat transfer body 50 that comes into contact with the substrate 26 and the bottom wall portion 23 is arranged (see FIG. 3). Then, in the embodiment, the heat transfer body 50 causes the substrate 26 to transfer the heat generated during operation to the ring portion core metal 12 side via the bottom wall portion 23 of the case 22.

Next, an operation example of the light bar 20 in the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment will be described. In the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment, the infrared LEDs 30 (30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E) are set at regular time intervals in order to continuously detect the driver's state during driving (steering). It is located near the driver's face in response to an operation signal from the operation circuit 55 that detects the steering angle of the steering wheel 1 and the gripping position of the ring portion 2 by the driver by the vehicle side circuit 56. It is configured to light one. Then, when the infrared LEDs 30 (30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E) are lit, the infrared RL emitted illuminates the upper body mainly of the driver's face, and the boss portion 4 (lower cover) and a steering column (not shown) are used. A camera arranged at a predetermined position on the upper surface side, the instrument panel, the roof side of the vehicle, or the like receives an operation signal from the operation circuit 55 and photographs the driver's face. The visible light LED 31 is configured to be turned on by inputting an operation signal from the operation circuit 55, for example, when alerting the driver. Specifically, the visible light LED 31 receives an operation signal from the operation circuit 55 when switching between the normal operation mode and the automatic operation mode when mounted on a vehicle capable of automatic operation, and has a predetermined color. It is controlled to emit the visible light VL of the above, and lights or blinks in a predetermined pattern. When all the visible light LEDs 31 are turned on, as shown in FIG. 8, the front edge side central region of the cover portion 45 shines over substantially the entire area (the shining state is shaded and displayed).

Then, in the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment, the infrared LED 30 (infrared light source) and the visible light LED 31 (visible light source) arranged so as to substantially follow the longitudinal direction of the substrate 26 are formed on the surface (upper surface 26c) of the substrate 26. ) Side and the back surface (lower surface 26d) side, respectively, so that the infrared LED 30 and the visible light LED 31 are arranged in their respective arrangement areas (infrared LED arrangement area 27, visible light LED arrangement area 28). Can be arranged without any trouble so as to overlap along the longitudinal direction, and an increase in the width dimension and the length dimension of the substrate 26 can be suppressed. Specifically, in the steering wheel 1 of the embodiment, the visible light LED 31 and the infrared LED 30 are affected by the other arrangement positions in the infrared LED arrangement area 27 and the visible light LED arrangement area 28 on the substrate 26, respectively. It can be arranged with an appropriate separation distance without any problem. Since the infrared LED 30 is arranged on the surface side of the substrate 26 so that the infrared RL can emit light toward the driver, the infrared RL radiates the case 22 as a holding member when the infrared LED 30 is lit. It will be radiated from the opening 22a toward the driver side. Further, the visible light VL emitted from the visible light LED passes through a gap S provided between the side wall portion (outer wall portion 25) of the case 22 and the substrate 26, and passes from the back surface (lower surface 26d) side to the front surface (lower surface 26d) of the substrate 26. Since the light guide body 35 provided so as to extend toward the upper surface 26c) is configured to be deflected toward the radiation opening 22a, the visible light LED 31 is arranged on the back surface (lower surface 26d) side of the substrate 26. Even in the configuration, the visible light VL can be radiated toward the driver side. Further, in the steering wheel 1 of the embodiment, the visible light LED 31 is mounted on the substrate 26 because a long light path can be secured by the light guide 35 extending from the back surface (lower surface 26d) side to the front surface (upper surface 26c) side of the substrate 26. Even if it is configured to be arranged on the back surface (lower surface 26d) side of the above, when the visible light LED 31 is lit, the inside of the light guide 35 is incident from the lower end 35b side which is the back surface (lower surface 26d) side of the substrate 26, and the front surface. Visible light diffused by a long optical path toward the (upper surface 26c) side (upper end 35a side) covers the entire arrangement region of the light guide body 35 (specifically, the radiation opening 22a) in the vicinity of the radiation opening 22a of the case 22. The entire area of the cover portion 45 arranged above the light guide body 35) can be illuminated substantially uniformly and stably.

Specifically, in the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment, by arranging the visible light LED 31 on the back surface side (lower surface 26d side) of the substrate 26, the inside of the light guide body 35 of the visible light VL emitted from the visible light LED 31. It is possible to secure a large length dimension of the optical path (substantial distance from the incident surface 37 to the exit surface 38). Therefore, as compared with the case where the visible light LEDs are arranged on the surface side of the substrate, the visible light emitted from each visible light LED 31 can be sufficiently diffused in the light guide body 35, and the exit surface 38 can be sufficiently diffused. It can be emitted substantially uniformly from substantially the entire surface of the arrangement area. Further, even when the visible light LEDs 31 are colored in different colors and mixed, the visible light can be sufficiently diffused in the light guide 35, and the light guide 35 in the vicinity of the radiation opening 22a of the case 22 can be sufficiently diffused. The entire arrangement region (the entire surface of the region arranged above the light guide 35 in the cover portion 45) can be stably illuminated with a uniform color by suppressing the occurrence of color unevenness.

Therefore, in the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment, even if the visible light LED 31 and the infrared LED 30 are arranged side by side on the light bar 20, they are arranged while suppressing an increase in the width dimension and the length dimension of the arrangement space. be able to.

In particular, in the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment, since the infrared LED 30 and the visible light LED 31 are arranged at positions separated from each other on the inner / outer direction side (front-rear direction side), the influence of heat generation at the time of lighting on the other side. Can be suppressed.

Further, in the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a lens portion 46 for deflecting infrared rays toward the driver side is provided on the surface (upper surface 26c) side of the substrate 26 with the infrared LED 30. Since it is arranged so as to cover the infrared LED 30, the lens portion 46 can deflect the infrared RL emitted at the time of lighting, and can increase the degree of freedom in arranging the infrared LED 30. For example, as in the embodiment, even if the infrared LED 30 is arranged on the substrate 26 arranged substantially parallel to the bottom wall portion 23 of the case 22, the infrared RL emitted from the infrared LED 30 is guided by the lens portion 46. Therefore, it can be radiated from the radiation opening 22a of the case 22 so as to surely face the driver side. In addition, like the light bar 20D shown in FIG. 12, by inclining the substrate 26D in the inward / outward direction (front-back direction), the infrared RL radiated from the infrared LED 30 is rearwardly upward (inner upperward) on the driver side. If the configuration is such that the infrared rays can be emitted toward the driver side, it is not necessary to separately provide a lens portion for deflecting the infrared rays toward the driver side, and the cover portion 45D alone covers the radiation opening 22a of the case 22. May be good.

Further, in the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment, in the light guide body 35, a diffusion layer 41 that diffuses visible light is arranged on an exit surface 38 that is arranged on the radiation opening 22a side and emits visible light. Therefore, the visible light incident on the light guide 35 can be emitted from the exit surface 38 in a state of being further diffused. The diffusion layer may be provided not on the exit surface but on the entrance surface, and may be further provided on both the exit surface and the entrance surface. Further, the diffusing material may be mixed in the light guide without providing the diffusing layer.

Further, in the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment, the cross-sectional shape is substantially L-shaped so that the light guide body 35 projects the base portion (lower end 35b) side including the incident surface 37 toward the visible light LED 31 side. Therefore, the distance (optical path) from the incident surface 37 to the exit surface 38 of the light guide 35 can be secured even longer, and the visible light incident from the incident surface 37 is further diffused. be able to. Of course, if such a point is not taken into consideration, the thickness of the light guide body is made substantially constant from the lower end side to the upper end side provided with the exit surface without providing the overhanging portion on the lower end side provided with the incident surface. It may be configured as a plate. In the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment, the visible light LED 31 is arranged near the outer end 26b of the substrate 26. However, as in the light bar 20E shown in FIG. 13, the visible light LED 31E is mounted on the substrate. The overhanging portion 36E of the light guide body 35E may be long in the front-rear direction so as to extend toward the visible light LED 31E by arranging it near the inner end 26a of the 26. The distance (optical path) from the surface to the exit surface can be secured even longer.

Furthermore, in the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment, the light bar 20 is arranged in the ring portion 2 by bending the light bar 20 so as to substantially follow the circumferential direction of the ring portion 2 gripped by the driver. It is a configuration, and more specifically, it is a configuration that is arranged in a region on the front side (front side portion 2a) of the ring portion 2 during straight-ahead steering. Therefore, the driver can easily see the light bar 20 when steering the steering wheel 1. Of course, if such a point is not taken into consideration, the arrangement position of the light bar is not limited to the ring portion, and for example, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. , The light bar may be arranged in the area on the front edge side of the left and right spoke portions.

Furthermore, in the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment, the case 22 is arranged so as to be in contact with the ring portion core metal 12 arranged in the ring portion 2, and the substrate 26 is arranged on the lower surface 26d side of the case 22. Since the heat transfer body 50 that comes into contact with the bottom wall portion 23 of the above is arranged so that the heat generated during operation can be transferred to the ring portion core metal 12 side via the case 22. The heat generated during operation (light emission) can be dissipated from the ring core metal 12. In the embodiment, the case 22 is configured by directly contacting the bottom wall portion 23 with the ring portion core metal 12, but the bottom wall portion of the case is separately provided with a heat transfer body. Indirectly, it may be configured to be in contact with the core metal of the ring portion. Further, the substrate may be configured such that the heat transfer body is directly interposed without passing through the bottom wall portion of the case to transfer the heat during operation to the core metal side of the ring portion. Further, if the above points are not taken into consideration, the case may not be brought into contact with the ring core metal, and the heat transfer body may not be arranged.

In the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment, the lens portion 46 arranged so as to cover the infrared LED 30 on the surface (upper surface 26c) side of the substrate 26 is integrally configured with the cover portion 45. The configuration of the cover portion and the lens portion is not limited to the embodiment. For example, like the light bar 20A shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of lens portions 46A are arranged separately from the cover portion 45A so as to directly cover the periphery of the light emitting portion 30a of each infrared LED 30A composed of only the light emitting portion 30a. It may be configured to be made to. Further, when the cover portion and the lens portion are integrally configured, the cover portion does not have to cover the upper surface side of the lens portion, and the upper part of the substrate 26 is covered like the light bar 20B shown in FIG. The cover portion 45B may be covered only by the lens portion 46B, and the cover portion 45B may be covered only above the light guide body 35. Further, when the light guide body 35C is arranged over the entire length of the case, the light bar 20C shown in FIG. 11 is not provided with a cover portion, and the upper portion of the substrate 26 is covered with the lens portion 46C to cover the light guide body 35C. The configuration may be such that the upper surface side of 35C is exposed.

Further, in the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment, the light guide body 35 that guides the visible light VL has a width dimension in the front-rear direction (inner-outer direction) side of about 1/5 of the width dimension of the light bar 20 itself. The light bar 20 does not display information such as characters and symbols at the time of operation, and operates by illuminating a narrow area on the upper surface side of the light guide 35 with a predetermined color or a predetermined pattern. It is a structure that calls attention to people. The structure of the light bar is not limited to the embodiment. For example, the width dimension of the light guide body is set large, and a display layer capable of displaying character information or the like is separately arranged between the light guide body and the cover portion. If it is configured to be installed, information such as characters and symbols can be displayed at the time of operation. In the embodiment, the arrangement area of the light guide 35 (visible light LED arrangement area 28) is set to about 1/2 of the infrared LED arrangement area 27 (board 26) in the longitudinal direction, but visible light. The length dimension of the LED arrangement area is not limited to the embodiment, and for example, the visible light LED arrangement area may be arranged over substantially the entire longitudinal direction of the infrared LED arrangement area.

Next, the steering wheel 60 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The steering wheel 60 of the second embodiment has the same configuration as the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment except for the light bar 65, and "A" is added to the end of the same reference numeral to the same member. The detailed description will be omitted.

In the steering wheel 60 of the second embodiment, the light bar 65 is the front side portion 2a between the spoke portions 3A and 3A in the annular ring portion 2A, similarly to the light bar 20 in the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment. On the upper surface side of the region, the longitudinal direction is curved so as to substantially follow the circumferential direction of the ring portion 2A (see FIGS. 14 and 22). Specifically, the light bar 65 has a substantially band shape in which the outer shape seen from the upper side is curved so as to substantially follow the circumferential direction of the ring portion 2A in the longitudinal direction, and is a region of about 1/6 of the ring portion 2A. Is formed continuously, and is arranged so that the center in the longitudinal direction substantially coincides with the front end of the ring portion 2A, similarly to the light bar 20 in the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 20, a plurality of visible lights bars 65 are attached so as to be arranged side by side with the holding member 67, the substrate 77 held by the holding member 67, and the substrate 77 substantially along the longitudinal direction. It is configured to include an optical light source (visible light LED 78), a light guide body 80, and a cover portion 75 that covers a radiation opening 67a formed in the holding member 67, which will be described later.

The holding member 67 is made of synthetic resin (in the case of the embodiment, made of polycarbonate resin), and in the case of the embodiment, the holding member 67 constitutes an upper region (an upper region of the core metal 11A) in the ring portion 2A. As shown in FIG. 15, it is configured to include a mounting wall portion 68 for mounting and holding the substrate 77, and a peripheral wall portion 70 extending vertically from the mounting wall portion 68. The peripheral wall portion 70 is formed by bending the outer surface so as to be connected to the outer surface of the coating layer 13A, and is configured by opening the upper end side. The opening on the upper end side of the peripheral wall portion 70 constitutes a radiation opening 67a capable of emitting visible light VL during operation. The mounting wall portion 68 is formed so as to substantially follow the front-rear direction (ring surface in the ring portion 2A) at a position substantially centered above and below the peripheral wall portion 70, and the substrate 77 is mounted on the back surface (lower surface) side. It is configured as follows. Near the center of the mounting wall portion 68 in the width direction, an insertion hole 68a through which the opening side portion 82 of the light guide body 80 can be inserted is formed by opening in a continuous groove shape. In the holding member 67 of the embodiment, the region above the mounting wall portion 68 constitutes the opening side region 72 that radiates visible light VL, and the region below the mounting wall portion 68 is the substrate 77. A storage area 63 for storing and holding the visible light LED 78 is configured. In the opening side region 72, a cover portion 75 having a substantially U-shaped cross section is arranged so as to cover the radiation opening 67a. In the case of the embodiment, between the cover portion 75 and the peripheral wall portion 70. The terminal of the outer skin layer 14A will be arranged in the gap.

The cover portion 75 is configured to cover substantially the entire surface of the radiation opening 67a formed in the holding member 67, and has a substantially U-shaped cross section with an opening on the lower side. In the cover portion 75, the upper wall portion 75a covering the radiation opening 67a is configured to be curved so that the cross-sectional shape is gently continuous from the outer peripheral surface of the outer skin layer 14A in the ring portion 2A (see FIG. 15). ). The cover portion 75 is made of a transparent black synthetic resin having translucency like the cover portion 45 in the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment so that the visible light VL emitted from the visible light LED 78 can be transmitted. It is made of polycarbonate resin, acrylic resin, or the like.

The substrate 77 is arranged substantially along the front-rear direction on the lower surface (back surface) side of the mounting wall portion 68 so as to substantially follow the mounting wall portion 68, in other words, substantially along the opening surface of the radiation opening 67a. It is installed. In the case of the embodiment, the substrate 77 is arranged in a region of about the rear half (inner half) on the lower surface side of the mounting wall portion 68, and although detailed illustration is omitted, a light is provided on the longitudinal side. It is arranged so as to cover substantially the entire arrangement area of the bar 65 (cover portion 75). In the case of the embodiment, the substrate 77 is held by the holding member 67 by being attached to the holding member 67 at a predetermined position so that a slight gap is provided between the substrate 77 and the mounting wall portion 68.

As the visible light LED 78 as the visible light light source, the same visible light LED 31 used in the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment described above is used. A plurality of visible light LEDs 78 are arranged side by side substantially along the longitudinal direction on the back surface (lower surface 77d) side of the substrate 77. In the case of the embodiment, the visible light LEDs 78 are scattered at six locations over substantially the entire longitudinal direction of the substrate 77 (light guide body 80) (see FIGS. 14, 17, and 22). Specifically, each visible light LED 78 emits visible light VL toward the outside (front) on the light guide body 80 side at a position near the inner end 77a (rear end) on the lower surface 77d side of the substrate 77. It is possible to install it (see Figures 15 and 20). Similar to the visible light LED 31 used in the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment, the visible light LED 78 is controlled by an operating circuit (not shown), and the lighting mode is also the steering wheel of the first embodiment. Since it is the same as the visible light LED 31 of No. 1, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The light guide body 80 is arranged over substantially the entire arrangement area of the light bar 75, and as shown in FIGS. 14 and 22, it is substantially along the curved shape of the ring portion 2A when viewed from the vertical direction side. It is formed by being curved in an arc shape (see FIGS. 16 and 17). Further, the light guide body 80 is arranged so as to extend from the back surface (lower surface 77d) side to the front surface (upper surface 77c) side of the substrate 77 so as to pass through the outer side (front) of the outer end 77b of the substrate 77. Specifically (see FIGS. 15 and 20), specifically, the light source side portion 81 located on the visible light LED 78 side, which is the back surface (lower surface 77d) side of the substrate 77, and the substrate 77 while intersecting the light source side portion 81. It has an opening side portion 82 arranged so as to extend from the back surface (lower surface 77d) side to the front surface (upper surface 77c) side, and is formed in a substantially L-shaped cross section. In the case of the embodiment, the opening side portion 82 is arranged so as to penetrate the insertion hole 68a formed in the mounting wall portion 68 of the holding member 67 and position the upper end 82a on the cover portion 75 side. .. That is, the opening side portion 82 is configured to be inserted and arranged in the insertion hole 68a formed near the center in the width direction of the mounting wall portion 68, in other words, substantially the center in the width direction of the light bar 65. It is arranged at such a position. The light source side portion 81 and the opening side portion 82 are formed so as to be substantially orthogonal to each other. The light guide body 80 is configured so that the thickness dimension is substantially constant from the light source side portion 81 to the opening side portion 82, and the thickness dimension is made larger than the vertical width dimension of the visible light LED 78 to be larger than the vertical width dimension of the visible light LED 78. The 81 is configured to cover the front (outside) of the visible light LED 78 over the entire upper and lower parts (see FIGS. 15 and 20). The light guide body 80 is formed of a synthetic resin such as a polycarbonate resin or an acrylic resin, similarly to the light guide body 35 in the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment.

Further, the light guide body 80 is formed on the front end side of the light source side portion 81 (the end surface on the visible light LED 78 side arranged to face the visible light LED 78, and in the case of the embodiment, the rear end 81a side). An incident surface 84 on which the visible light VL emitted from the visible light LED 78 is incident is arranged, and the visible light VL incident from the incident surface 84 is on the radiation opening 67a side on the surface on the upper end 82a side of the opening side portion 82. It is configured to dispose an exit surface 86 that emits light upward (see FIG. 20). In the light guide body 80 of the embodiment, the incident surface 84 has a prism structure. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 19, the incident surface 84 is formed from an incident surface forming portion 85 formed by continuously arranging saw-toothed irregularities in the cross section substantially along the vertical direction. ing. The incident surface 84 (incident surface forming portion 85) is formed on the surface on the rear end 81 side of the light source side portion 81 over the entire upper and lower sides. Further, the incident surface forming portions 85 (incident surface 84) are scattered at six locations along the longitudinal direction of the light guide body 80 according to the arrangement position of the visible light LED 78, and are scattered along the ring surface. The width dimension on the vertical side is set to be larger than that of the visible light LED 78 and about three times the width dimension (thickness dimension) on the vertical side of the light source side portion 81 (see FIGS. 16 and 17).

In the vicinity of the intersection of the light source side portion 81 and the opening side portion 82 (the lower end 82b side of the opening side portion 82), the visible light VL incident from the incident surface 84 is emitted from the incident surface 84 at the position facing the incident surface 84. A deflection surface 88 that can be deflected toward the exit surface 86 side (upward) that is arranged on the side is arranged (see FIG. 20). Specifically, the deflection surface 88 is chamfered on the lower end outer edge side (lower end front edge side) of the opening side portion 82 so as to correspond to each incident surface 84 (visible light LED 78) at a portion facing the incident surface 84. It is formed by forming the deflection surface forming portion 89 so as to apply the above. As shown in FIG. 18, each deflection surface forming portion 89 has both end portions 89b, with the central portion arranged so as to face the incident surface forming portion 85 in the front-rear direction as the widest wide portion 89a. It is formed so as to have a narrow width toward the 89c side, and is formed at six locations corresponding to the visible light LED 78 and the incident surface forming portion 85. Specifically, the deflection surface forming portion 89 (deflection surface 88) determines the width dimension of the light guide body 80 on the direction side (left-right direction side) along the longitudinal direction on the left and right sides of the incident surface 84 (incident surface forming portion 85). The width dimension on the direction side is about three times the width dimension, which is wide on the left and right, and the central side (wide portion 89a) facing the incident surface forming portion 85 is on the rear side in the cross section along the front-rear direction. In other words, the wide portion 89a on the center side facing the incident surface forming portion 85 is used as the incident surface forming portion 85 so as to be positioned (inside) and the end portions 89b and 89c sides are positioned forward (outside). It is formed so as to be brought close to each other so that the central side thereof is recessed (to be curved in the opposite direction to the curved shape of the light guide body 80) (see FIGS. 19 and 21). Further, as shown in FIG. 20, the deflection surface 88 (deflection surface forming portion 89) has a vertical cross section along the front-rear direction at a position substantially centered on the left and right of the incident surface 84 (incident surface forming portion 85), as shown in FIG. The lower surface of the light source side portion 81 and the front surface of the opening side portion 82, which are arranged so as to be substantially orthogonal to each other, intersect at approximately 45 °, and the upper edge 88a is located in front of and behind the position of the upper surface 81b of the light source side portion 81. It is formed so as to substantially match, in other words, to cover the outer side (front) of the incident surface 84 (incident surface forming portion 85) over the entire upper and lower parts.

In the steering wheel 60 of the second embodiment, the light source 80 is made to follow the substrate 77 on the back surface side of the substrate 77 without extending in the direction orthogonal to the substrate 77 as shown by the two-point chain line in FIG. Since the light source side portion 81 is arranged as described above, a long optical path can be secured even if the space extending in the orthogonal direction side on the back surface side of the substrate 77 is reduced. Therefore, as compared with the conventional steering wheel in which the visible light light source is arranged on the front surface side of the substrate, when the visible light LED 78 is lit, it is incident from the back surface (lower surface 77d) side of the substrate 77 as shown in FIG. The visible light VL diffused by a long optical path toward the surface (upper surface 77c) can illuminate the entire arrangement region of the light guide 80 in the vicinity of the radiation opening 67a substantially uniformly and stably.

Further, in the steering wheel 60 of the second embodiment, since the opening side portion 82 of the light guide body 80 is formed at a position substantially centered in the width direction of the light bar 65, when the visible light LED 78 is lit. , As shown in FIG. 22, it is possible to illuminate the vicinity of the center of the light bar 65 in the width direction. The position of the light guide body is, of course, not limited to this, and the light guide body 35 is on one edge side (front edge side) in the width direction of the light bar 20 as in the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment. It may be configured to be arranged at a position.

Further, in the steering wheel 60 of the second embodiment, the light bar 65 is curved so as to substantially follow the circumferential direction of the ring portion 2A gripped by the driver in the longitudinal direction, and at least a part of the upper surface of the ring portion 2A. The light guide body 80 is formed to be curved substantially along the curved shape of the ring portion 2A, and is arranged to face each visible light LED 78 at the light source side portion 81. The incident surface 84 is formed into a prism structure, and visible light incident from the incident surface 84 is directed to the radiation opening 67a at a position facing the incident surface 84 near the intersection of the light source side portion 81 and the opening side portion 82. The deflection surface 88 that can be deflected toward the exit surface 86 side to be arranged is arranged. Therefore, in the steering wheel 60 of the second embodiment, the visible light VL emitted from the visible light LED 78 is incident on the light guide body 80 while being largely diffused by the incident surface 84 of the prism structure. Since the visible light VL incident on the light guide 80 is deflected toward the exit surface 86 by the deflection surface 88, the visible light VL is further diffused in the opening side portion 82 while being deflected by the deflection surface 88, and is emitted. It will be emitted from the surface 86. More specifically, in the steering wheel 60 of the second embodiment, the incident surface forming portion 85 constituting the incident surface 84 has a prism structure in which irregularities having a serrated cross section are continuously arranged substantially along the vertical direction. The deflecting surface 88 (deflection surface forming portion 89) arranged to face the incident surface 84 is along the longitudinal direction of the light guide body 80 with respect to the incident surface 84 (incident surface forming portion 85). It is formed to be wide on the vertical side (left-right direction side) so as to extend left and right from the incident surface 84 (incident surface forming portion 85), and is arranged so as to face the incident surface 84 (incident surface forming portion 85). The central side is positioned on the incident surface 84 side (inside) and wide, and the left and right end sides are positioned outward and narrow so as to be curved in a concave shape. Therefore, the visible light VL emitted from the visible light LED 78 is widely diffused in the light source side portion 81 in the longitudinal direction side (left-right direction side) of the light guide body 80 by the incident surface 84 having a prism structure. The visible light VL incident on the light source side portion 81 can be deflected by the deflection surface 88 so as to be diffused more widely toward the direction side along the longitudinal direction of the light guide body 80. Yes (see FIG. 21). Therefore, even if the light guide body 80 has a long shape that is curved along the curved shape of the ring portion 2A, the light guide body 80 so that the visible light VL is along the longitudinal direction of the light guide body 80. It can be widely diffused inside, and the entire arrangement region of the light guide body 80 in the vicinity of the radiation opening 67a can be illuminated substantially uniformly.

Further, like the light bar 65A shown in FIG. 23, the light guide body 80A is positioned so that the upper end 82a of the opening side portion 82A is located close to the cover portion 75A (so that the exit surface 86A is close to the cover portion 75A). , The light-shielding layer 92 may be provided on the back surface side of the cover portion 75A over substantially the entire surface excluding the arrangement area of the opening side portion 82A. The light-shielding layer 92 is made of a paint or the like that cannot transmit visible light. Specifically, the edge portion is overlapped with the opening side portion 82A (slightly in the region above the opening side portion 82A). The opening 92a is formed above the opening side portion 82A, and is formed on the back surface side of the cover portion 75A. Specifically, the light-shielding layer 92 is formed of black paint. With such a configuration, leakage of visible light emitted from the exit surface 86A of the light guide 80A can be suppressed as much as possible, and visibility of the light guide 80A at the time of light emission can be improved. It should be noted that such a configuration can also be applied to the light bar 20 in the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment. When a light-shielding layer is provided on the back surface side of the cover portion of the light bar in which the infrared light source is arranged like the steering wheel of the first embodiment, the light-shielding layer is formed from the amount that only infrared rays can be transmitted without transmitting visible light. Will be done. Further, the same action can be obtained without providing a light-shielding layer. For example, in the light bar 20 of the steering wheel 1 of the first embodiment, the two-dot chain line of FIG. 3 is located on the upper end 35a side of the light guide body 35. As shown in the above, if the extension portion 35c is provided so as to slightly overlap the lens portion 46, it is possible to suppress leakage of visible light from a slight gap between the light guide body 35 and the lens portion 46. And the same effect can be obtained.

The steering holes 1 and 60 of the embodiment are configured to include an annular ring portion 2 and 2A, but the steering wheel to which the present invention can be applied is limited to a configuration including an annular ring portion. However, the present invention is also applicable to, for example, a steering wheel having a square annular ring portion and a type of steering wheel having a rod-shaped grip portion that partially protrudes from the boss portion instead of the ring portion.

1 ... Steering wheel, 2,2A ... Ring part, 20,20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E ... Light bar, 22 ... Case (holding member), 22a ... Radiation opening, 23 ... Bottom wall part, 24 ... Inside Wall part (side wall part), 25 ... outer wall part (side wall part), 26 ... substrate, 26b ... outer end, 26c ... upper surface (front surface), 26d ... lower surface (back surface), 27 ... infrared LED arrangement area, 30 ... infrared LED (infrared light source), 30a ... light emitting part, 30b ... cover, 31, 31E ... visible light LED (visible light light source), 35, 35E ... light guide body, 35a ... upper end, 35b ... lower end, 36, 36E ... overhang Part, 37 ... Incident surface, 38 ... Exit surface, 41 ... Diffuse layer, 45, 45A, 45B ... Cover part, 46, 46A, 46B, 46C ... Lens part, 50 ... Heat transfer element, 60 ... Steering wheel, 65, 65A ... Light bar, 67 ... Holding member, 67a ... Radiation opening, 77 ... Substrate, 77c ... Top surface (front surface), 77d ... Bottom surface (back surface), 78 ... Visible light LED (visible light light source), 80, 80A ... Light body, 81 ... light source side part, 82, 82A ... opening side part, 84 ... incident surface, 86 ... exit surface, 88 ... deflection surface, S ... gap.

Claims (9)

The light bar is arranged at a predetermined position that can be seen by the driver.
A plurality of visible lights in which the light bar is attached so as to be arranged side by side with a holding member, a substrate housed and held in the holding member, and substantially along the longitudinal direction of the substrate, and emits visible light when lit. A light source and a plurality of infrared light sources that are attached so as to be arranged side by side substantially along the longitudinal direction of the substrate and emit infrared rays when lit are provided to hold the visible light or the infrared rays during operation. A steering wheel that is configured so that it can radiate from a radiation opening that is configured by opening one end of the member.
The substrate is held by the holding member so as to provide a gap between one end side in the lateral direction and the side wall portion of the case along the opening surface of the radiation opening, and the substrate is held for radiation. The infrared light sources are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction on the front surface side to be the opening side, and the visible light light sources are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction on the back surface side of the infrared light source arrangement area. It is configured to be arranged so that
The infrared light source is capable of emitting the infrared rays toward the driver.
The visible light emitted from the visible light source is deflected toward the radiation opening side by a light guide provided so as to extend from the back surface side to the front surface side of the substrate through the gap. The characteristic steering wheel. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein a lens portion for deflecting the infrared rays toward the driver side is arranged on the surface side of the substrate so as to cover the infrared light source. wheel. Diffuse that diffuses the visible light onto an incident surface on which the visible light emitted from the visible light source is incident or an exit surface that is arranged on the radiation opening side and emits the visible light. The steering wheel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the layers are arranged. The third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the light guide body is configured to have a substantially L-shaped cross section so that the base side including the incident surface is projected toward the visible light light source side. Steering wheel. One of claims 1 to 4, wherein the light bar is curved so as to substantially follow the circumferential direction of the ring portion gripped by the driver in the longitudinal direction, and is arranged in the ring portion. The steering wheel according to item 1. The holding member is arranged so as to be in contact with the core metal arranged in the ring portion.
The steering wheel according to claim 5, wherein the substrate is configured so that heat generated during operation can be transferred to the core metal side via the holding member. The light bar is arranged at a predetermined position that can be seen by the driver.
The light bar includes a substrate held by a holding member and a plurality of visible light sources that are attached so as to be arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the substrate and emit visible light when lit. A steering wheel configured to be able to radiate the visible light during operation from a radiating opening formed by opening a part of the holding member.
The substrate is held by the holding member so as to substantially follow the opening surface of the radiation opening.
The visible light light source is arranged side by side substantially along the longitudinal direction of the substrate on the back surface side of the substrate away from the radiation opening, and the visible light emitted is emitted from the back surface side to the front surface side of the substrate. It is configured to be deflected toward the radiation opening side via a light guide body arranged so as to extend.
An opening in which the light guide body is arranged so as to extend from the back surface side to the front surface side of the substrate while intersecting the light source side portion located on the visible light light source side, which is the back surface side of the substrate, and the light source side portion. A steering wheel characterized in that it has a side portion and is formed in a substantially L-shaped cross section. The steering wheel according to claim 7, wherein the opening side portion of the light guide body is arranged at a position substantially centered in the width direction of the light bar. The light bar is curved so as to substantially follow the circumferential direction of the ring portion gripped by the driver in the longitudinal direction, and is continuously arranged on at least a part of the upper surface of the ring portion.
The light guide body is formed by being curved substantially along the curved shape of the ring portion, and the incident surface arranged opposite to each visible light light source at the light source side portion has a prism structure. Visible light incident from the incident surface can be deflected toward the exit surface side arranged on the radiation opening side at a position facing the incident surface near the intersection of the light source side portion and the opening side portion. The steering wheel according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the deflecting surface is arranged.

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