JP2023179879A - Vehicular illuminating device, and vehicular lighting fixture - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vehicular illuminating device that hardly fails even if it is fitted to a socket to be fitted with a wedge base bulb, and can improve reliability related to electric connection with a socket terminal, and a vehicular lighting fixture.SOLUTION: A vehicular illuminating device according to an embodiment can be fitted to socket terminals of a socket provided in a vehicular lighting fixture. The vehicular illuminating device comprises: a housing comprising a housing part, and an insertion part provided in one end part of the housing part, having a plate shape, and to be fitted to the socket terminals; a light emitting element exposed from an end part on the side opposite to the side of the insertion part, in the housing part; a board comprising a wiring pattern electrically connected to the light emitting element, and provided inside the housing; and a pair of terminals provided across a central axis of the vehicular illuminating device in the thickness direction of the insertion part at a center in the width direction of the insertion part, and electrically connected to the wiring pattern of the board.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a vehicular lighting device and a vehicular lamp.

Wedge-based light bulbs without caps are used as vehicle lighting devices. Wedge base light bulbs are incandescent light bulbs. Therefore, from the viewpoint of power saving and longevity, wedge-based light bulbs are increasingly being replaced with vehicle lighting devices equipped with light-emitting elements such as light-emitting diodes.

The wedge base light bulb is inserted by being pushed into a socket provided in a vehicle lamp. When using a vehicle lighting device equipped with a light-emitting element instead of a wedge-based light bulb, the socket to which the wedge-base light bulb is installed is generally designed so that the vehicle lighting device equipped with a light-emitting element can also be installed. Ru.

However, in this case, there is a risk that a wedge base light bulb and a vehicle lighting device including a light emitting element may be mistakenly attached to a socket. A lighting circuit for a wedge-based light bulb and a lighting circuit for a vehicle lighting device including a light emitting element have different configurations. Therefore, if a vehicle lighting device including a light emitting element is mistakenly attached to the socket of a wedge base light bulb, current may flow from the lighting circuit of the wedge base light bulb to the light emitting element, causing the light emitting element to malfunction.

Further, a vehicle lighting device has been proposed that includes a substrate on which a light emitting element is mounted and a housing to which a pair of lead wires are attached. When such a vehicle lighting device is attached to a socket, the vehicle lighting device is held in the socket via the pair of lead wires due to the elastic force of the socket terminal. However, since the lead wire has a circular cross-sectional shape, the lead wire and the socket terminal come into line contact. Therefore, there is a possibility that the force for holding the vehicle lighting device may be weakened, or that the reliability of the electrical connection between the lead wire and the socket terminal may be reduced.

Furthermore, a vehicle lighting device has been proposed that includes a light emitting element and a substrate provided with a wiring pattern having a pair of terminals. When such a vehicle lighting device is installed in a socket, the board is held in the socket via the terminals of the wiring pattern due to the elastic force of the socket terminals. However, the terminals of the wiring pattern have low strength and are thin, so if you repeatedly attach and detach the vehicle lighting device, there is a risk that the terminals of the wiring pattern may be damaged or the reliability of the electrical connection may decrease. be.

Therefore, it has been desired to develop a technology that is less likely to fail even when a wedge-based light bulb is attached to a socket, and that can improve the reliability of the electrical connection with the socket terminal.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-105652 JP2021-082551A

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a vehicle lighting device that is less likely to malfunction even when a wedge-based light bulb is attached to a socket, and that can improve the reliability of electrical connection with the socket terminal. An object of the present invention is to provide a device and a vehicle lamp.

The vehicular lighting device according to the embodiment is a vehicular lighting device that can be attached to a socket terminal of a socket provided in a vehicular lamp. The vehicular lighting device includes a housing including a housing portion, and an insertion portion provided at one end of the housing portion, having a plate shape, and being attached to the socket terminal; the insertion portion of the housing portion; a light-emitting element exposed from the end opposite to the insertion part; a board having a wiring pattern electrically connected to the light-emitting element and provided inside the housing; A pair of terminals are provided at the center in the thickness direction of the insertion portion, sandwiching the central axis of the vehicle lighting device, and electrically connected to the wiring pattern of the substrate.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a lighting device for a vehicle that is unlikely to fail even when attached to a socket in which a wedge-based light bulb is attached, and that can improve reliability regarding electrical connection with a socket terminal. , and a vehicle lamp.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a vehicle lighting device according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded view of a vehicle lighting device. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view for illustrating a light emitting section and a connecting section. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a terminal. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the terminal in FIG. 4 viewed from the Y direction. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the terminal in FIG. 4 viewed from the X direction. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view for illustrating the function of a terminal. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view for illustrating another arrangement of terminals. (a) and (b) are schematic process diagrams for illustrating bonding between a first contact portion and a connection pad according to another embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view for illustrating a light emitting section according to another embodiment. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be illustrated with reference to the drawings. Note that in each drawing, similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations are omitted as appropriate.
Further, arrows X, Y, and Z in each figure represent three directions orthogonal to each other. For example, the Z direction is the direction in which the vehicular lighting device 1 is inserted into the socket 101 provided in the vehicular lamp 100. The X direction is the width direction of the insertion portion 42 of the housing 40. The Y direction is the thickness direction of the insertion portion 42 of the housing 40.

(Vehicle lighting device 1)
The vehicular lighting device 1 according to the present embodiment is a vehicular lighting device that can be attached to socket terminals 101a and 101b of a socket 101 provided in a vehicular lamp 100. Examples of the vehicle lighting device 1 include those used for room lamps, meter lamps, reading lights, brake lights, direction indicator lights, tail lights, etc. provided in automobiles, railway vehicles, and the like. However, the uses of the vehicle lighting device 1 are not limited to these.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a vehicle lighting device 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded view of the vehicle lighting device 1.
In addition, in FIG. 2, the cover 30 is omitted.
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the light emitting section 10 and the connecting section 20.
Note that FIG. 3 shows a case where the light emitting section 10 and the connecting section 20 in FIG. 2 are viewed from the opposite side in the Y direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle lighting device 1 is provided with, for example, a light emitting section 10, a connecting section 20, a cover 30, a housing 40, and a terminal 50.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the light emitting section 10 includes, for example, a substrate 11 and a light emitting element 12.
The substrate 11 has a plate shape, for example, and has a surface 11a and a surface 11b opposite to the surface 11a. The planar shape of the substrate 11 is, for example, a part of a circle including the center point. However, the planar shape of the substrate 11 is not limited to that illustrated. The planar shape of the substrate 11 may be, for example, a polygon. The planar shape of the substrate 11 can be changed as appropriate depending on the number, arrangement, etc. of the light emitting elements 12.

Substrate 11 can be formed from an insulating material. The substrate 11 is made of, for example, an inorganic material such as ceramics (eg, aluminum oxide or aluminum nitride), or an organic material such as paper phenol or glass epoxy. Further, the substrate 11 may be, for example, a metal core substrate in which the surface of a metal plate is coated with an insulating material.

When the light emitting element 12 generates a large amount of heat, it is preferable to form the substrate 11 using a material with high thermal conductivity from the viewpoint of heat dissipation. Examples of materials with high thermal conductivity include ceramics such as aluminum oxide and aluminum nitride, highly thermally conductive resins, and metal core substrates. The highly thermally conductive resin is, for example, a resin such as PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) or nylon mixed with a filler such as aluminum oxide.

The thickness of the substrate 11 is, for example, about 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm. However, the thickness of the substrate 11 is not limited to that illustrated, and can be changed as appropriate.

A wiring pattern 11c is provided on the surface 11a of the substrate 11 on the opposite side to the connection portion 20 side. The wiring pattern 11c has, for example, a mounting pad. The light emitting element 12 is electrically connected to the mounting pad. The wiring pattern 11c is made of, for example, a low resistance metal such as copper, aluminum, or silver.

The light emitting element 12 is exposed from the end of the housing section 41 on the opposite side to the insertion section 42 side. At least one light emitting element 12 can be provided on the surface 11a of the substrate 11.
The light emitting element 12 can be, for example, a light emitting diode, an organic light emitting diode, a laser diode, or the like.
The light emitting element 12 can be, for example, a surface mount type light emitting element such as a PLCC (Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier) type. Further, the light emitting element 12 can also be a light emitting element having a bullet-shaped lead wire, for example. Note that the light emitting element 12 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 is a surface-mounted light emitting element.

Further, the light emitting element 12 can also be a chip-shaped light emitting element. The chip-shaped light emitting element can be mounted using, for example, COB (Chip On Board). In this case, the chip-shaped light-emitting element, the wiring that electrically connects the chip-shaped light-emitting element and the wiring pattern 11c, the frame-shaped member surrounding the chip-shaped light-emitting element and the wiring, and the inside of the frame-shaped member A sealing portion that covers the chip-shaped light emitting element and wiring can be provided on the surface 11a of the substrate 11. Further, the sealing portion can contain a phosphor. The phosphor can be, for example, a YAG-based phosphor (yttrium-aluminum-garnet-based phosphor). Note that the type of phosphor is not limited to those illustrated. The type of phosphor can be changed as appropriate to obtain a desired emission color depending on the use of the vehicle lighting device 1 and the like.

The light emitting surface of the light emitting element 12 can be substantially parallel to the surface 11a of the substrate 11. For example, the light emitting element 12 mainly emits light in a direction perpendicular to the surface 11a of the substrate 11.
The number, size, arrangement, etc. of the light emitting elements 12 are not limited to those illustrated, and can be changed as appropriate depending on the size, purpose, etc. of the vehicle lighting device 1. Note that when a plurality of light emitting elements 12 are provided, the plurality of light emitting elements 12 can be connected in series.

The connection section 20 includes, for example, a substrate 21 and a circuit component 22.
The substrate 21 has a wiring pattern 21e electrically connected to the light emitting element 12, and is provided inside the housing 40.
The substrate 21 has a plate shape, for example, and extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface 11b of the substrate 11. The board 21 has, for example, a mounting section 21a and a mounting section 21b. The mounting part 21a and the mounting part 21b can be formed integrally.

When viewed from the Y direction, the mounting portion 21a may have a rectangular shape, for example. One end of the mounting portion 21a is provided on the surface 11b of the substrate 11. For example, one end of the mounting portion 21a can be bonded to the surface 11b of the substrate 11. Alternatively, a convex portion may be provided at one end of the mounting portion 21a, and a hole, a recess, a groove, etc., into which the convex portion of the mounting portion 21a is fitted may be provided on the surface 11b of the substrate 11.

The width dimension W1 of the mounting portion 21a can be, for example, approximately 5.0 mm to 15.0 mm. However, the width dimension W1 of the mounting portion 21a can be changed as appropriate depending on the size of the board 11, the number and size of the circuit components 22, etc. Note that the width dimension W1 of the mounting portion 21a is the dimension of the mounting portion 21a in the X direction.
The thickness T1 of the mounting portion 21a can be, for example, approximately 0.1 mm to 3.0 mm. Note that the thickness T1 of the mounting portion 21a is the dimension of the mounting portion 21a in the Y direction.

When viewed from the Y direction, the shape of the mounting portion 21b can be, for example, a quadrangle. One end of the mounting portion 21b is provided at the end of the mounting portion 21a on the opposite side to the substrate 11 side. The mounting portion 21b extends from the end of the mounting portion 21a on the opposite side to the substrate 11 in a direction away from the substrate 11.

The width W2 of the mounting portion 21b is smaller than the width W1 of the mounting portion 21a. The thickness of the mounting portion 21b can be the same as the thickness T1 of the mounting portion 21a.
The mounting portion 21b can be provided, for example, at the center of the mounting portion 21a in the X direction.

The material of the substrate 21 (the mounting portion 21a, the mounting portion 21b) can be, for example, the same as the material of the substrate 11 described above. Heat generated in the light emitting element 12 is transmitted to the substrate 21 via the substrate 11, for example, and is emitted from the substrate 21 to the outside via the terminals 50 and the like. Therefore, in consideration of suppressing the temperature rise of the light emitting element 12, it is preferable to form the substrate 21 using a material with high thermal conductivity. Examples of materials with high thermal conductivity include ceramics such as aluminum oxide and aluminum nitride, highly thermally conductive resins, and metal core substrates. In this case, the material of the substrate 21 may be the same as the material of the substrate 11, or may be different.

A wiring pattern 21e can be provided on the surface 21c and the surface 21d of the substrate 21 (mounting section 21a, mounting section 21b). The wiring pattern 21e provided on the surface 21c and the wiring pattern 21e provided on the surface 21d can be electrically connected, for example, via a conductive via. The wiring pattern 21e is made of, for example, a low resistance metal such as copper, aluminum, or silver. The wiring pattern 21e is electrically connected to the wiring pattern 11c provided on the substrate 11 via the connecting portion 21e2. The connecting portion 21e2 may be formed, for example, by soldering.

The circuit component 22 is mounted on the wiring pattern 21e provided in the mounting portion 21a. The wiring pattern 21e is electrically connected to a connection pad 21e1 provided on the mounting portion 21b. The connection pad 21e1 can be formed integrally with the wiring pattern 21e, for example. The connection pads 21e1 are provided on the surface 21c and the surface 21d of the substrate 21 (mounting portion 21b). Each of the pair of connection pads 21e1 is electrically connected to socket terminals 101a and 101b provided in the socket 101 via the terminal 50. By electrically connecting the socket terminal 101a provided on the socket 101 to one of the connection pads 21e1 via the terminal 50, the socket terminal 101a is connected to the light emitting element 12 via the wiring pattern 21e and the wiring pattern 11c. It can be electrically connected to an electrode of one polarity. Also, by electrically connecting the socket terminal 101b to the other connection pad 21e1 via the terminal 50, the socket terminal 101b can be connected to the other polarity of the light emitting element 12 via the wiring pattern 21e and the wiring pattern 11c. It can be electrically connected to an electrode.

Note that although FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the case where the circuit components 22 are provided on both sides of the mounting section 21a, the circuit components 22 may be provided on one surface of the mounting section 21a. . However, if the circuit components 22 are provided on both sides of the mounting section 21a, the mounting section 21a can be made smaller, and by extension, the vehicle lighting device 1 can be made smaller.

The circuit component 22 can be a passive device or an active device used to configure a light emitting circuit having the light emitting device 12.
The circuit components 22 can be, for example, a diode 22a, a resistor 22b, a capacitor 22c, etc.
However, the types of circuit components 22 are not limited to those illustrated, and can be changed as appropriate depending on the configuration of the light emitting circuit having the light emitting element 12. For example, the circuit component 22 may be a positive characteristic thermistor, a negative characteristic thermistor, a Zener diode, an inductor, a surge absorber, a varistor, a transistor such as an FET or a bipolar transistor, an integrated circuit, an arithmetic element, etc. in addition to those described above. . The integrated circuit may include, for example, at least one of a blinking circuit, a constant current circuit, and a lighting circuit (drive circuit).

Here, the light emitting element 12 such as a light emitting diode has polarity. Therefore, a diode can be provided to prevent reverse voltage from being applied to the light emitting element 12. In this case, if there is no directionality when attaching the vehicle illumination device 1 to the socket 101 of the vehicle lamp 100, the installation work of the vehicle illumination device 1 becomes easier.

For example, if a bridge circuit (bridge diode) is configured using four diodes, the vehicle lighting device 1 can be provided with a non-polar circuit. The diode 22a illustrated in FIG. 3 is a so-called two-element diode. If the diode 22a is a two-element diode, a bridge circuit can be constructed using the two diodes 22a, so the mounting area can be reduced.

The resistor 22b can be, for example, a surface-mounted resistor, a resistor with a lead wire (metal oxide film resistor), a film resistor formed using a screen printing method, or the like. Note that the resistor 22b illustrated in FIG. 2 is a surface-mounted resistor. By using a surface-mounted resistor, the mounting area can be reduced.

Here, since there are variations in the forward voltage characteristics of the light emitting element 12, when the voltage applied between the anode terminal and the ground terminal is constant, the brightness (luminous flux, luminance) of the light emitted from the light emitting element 12 is , luminous intensity, illuminance). Therefore, the value of the current flowing through the light emitting element 12 is kept within a predetermined range by the resistor 22b connected in series with the light emitting element 12 so that the brightness of the light emitted from the light emitting element 12 is within a predetermined range. do it like this. In this case, by changing the resistance value of the resistor 22b, the value of the current flowing through the light emitting element 12 can be made to fall within a predetermined range.

For example, if the resistor 22b is a surface-mounted resistor or a resistor with a lead wire, the resistor 22b having an appropriate resistance value is selected according to the forward voltage characteristics of the light emitting element 12. For example, if the resistor 22b is a film resistor, the resistance value can be increased by removing a portion of the film resistor.

Further, the resistor 22b can also have the role of preventing excessive current from flowing into the light emitting element 12.
The number, size, arrangement, etc. of the resistors 22b are not limited to those illustrated, and can be changed as appropriate depending on the number, specifications, etc. of the light emitting elements 12.

The capacitor 22c can be provided, for example, for noise countermeasures and voltage smoothing. The capacitor 22c can be, for example, a surface-mounted capacitor 22c. By using a surface-mounted capacitor 22c, the mounting area can be reduced.

Furthermore, for example, at least a portion of the circuit component 22 may be provided on the substrate 11.
Furthermore, for example, at least a portion of the circuit component 22 may be provided in the casing 102 of the vehicle lamp 100 to which the vehicle lighting device 1 is mounted. In this way, the configuration of the vehicle lighting device 1 can be simplified, so that the cost of the vehicle lighting device 1 can be reduced. However, if the circuit component 22 is provided in the vehicle lighting device 1, it becomes easy to protect the vehicle lighting device 1 and make it multi-functional.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cover 30 can be provided on the light emitting side of the light emitting section 10. For example, the cover 30 can be provided to cover the surface 11a of the substrate 11. For example, the cover 30 is detachably attached to the housing 40. The cover 30 protects the light emitting section 10 (light emitting element 12).

Further, the cover 30 can also have the function of an optical element. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the tip of the cover 30 can be curved to give the cover 30 the function of a lens. That is, by appropriately changing the shape of the cover 30 according to the light distribution characteristics required for the vehicle illumination device 1, the cover 30 can be provided with the functions of various optical elements.

The cover 30 may be transparent, or may be colored as long as it has translucency. It is also possible to provide unevenness on the light emitting surface of the cover 30 to scatter the light. The cover 30 may also be coated with or include light scattering particles such as titanium oxide particles or phosphors. It is also possible to provide the cover 30 with a reflector function by providing a film containing a material with high light reflectivity (for example, aluminum) on the inner or outer wall of the cover 30.

Note that the cover 30 can also be omitted. However, if the cover 30 is provided, it is possible to suppress external force from being applied to the light emitting element 12 and the like. Further, by providing the cover 30 with the function of an optical element such as a lens, the degree of freedom in optical design on the vehicle lamp 100 side can be increased.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 40 has a storage section 41 and an insertion section 42. The storage section 41 and the insertion section 42 can be formed integrally. The housing 40 (accommodating part 41, insertion part 42) can be formed from an insulating material such as resin, for example. The housing 40 can be formed, for example, by injection molding.

The storage section 41 has a cylindrical shape and is open at one end. The light emitting section 10 (substrate 11) and the connecting section 20 are housed inside the housing section 41. The substrate 11 can be provided so as to close the opening of the storage section 41. In this way, it is possible to prevent dirt and the like from entering the inside of the storage section 41. Further, the posture and position of the substrate 21 can be stabilized. Therefore, reliability regarding the electrical connection between the connection pad 21e1 and the terminal 50 can be improved. Further, it is possible to suppress excessive force from acting on the terminal 50.

The insertion portion 42 has a plate shape and is provided at the end of the storage portion 41 on the opposite side to the opening side. The insertion portion 42 is attached to the socket terminals 101a and 101b. A space is provided inside the insertion portion 42 into which the mounting portion 21b of the board 21 is inserted. When viewed from the Y direction, the shape of the insertion portion 42 can be, for example, a square. The width dimension W3 of the insertion portion 42 can be, for example, about 6.0 mm to 16.0 mm. Note that the width dimension W3 of the insertion portion 42 is the dimension of the insertion portion 42 in the X direction. The thickness T2 of the insertion portion 42 can be, for example, about 1.5 mm to 3.0 mm. Note that the thickness T2 of the insertion portion 42 is the dimension of the insertion portion 42 in the Y direction.

A groove 42c extending in the Z direction is provided in the surface 42a and the surface 42b of the insertion portion 42. The end of the groove 42c on the side opposite to the storage section 41 side is open. The groove 42c provided in the surface 42a is provided at the center of the surface 42a. The groove 42c provided in the surface 42b is provided at the center of the surface 42b. A second contact portion 52 of the terminal 50 is provided in the groove 42c. If the groove 42c is provided, it is possible to suppress the position of the second contact portion 52 from shifting in the X direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of terminals 50 can be provided. The pair of terminals 50 are provided at the widthwise center of the insertion portion 42 in the thickness direction of the insertion portion 42, with the central axis 1a of the vehicle lighting device 1 interposed therebetween. The pair of terminals 50 are electrically connected to the wiring pattern 21e (connection pad 21e1) of the substrate 21.
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the terminal 50.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the terminal 50 in FIG. 4 viewed from the Y direction.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the terminal 50 in FIG. 4 viewed from the X direction.
FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view for illustrating the function of the terminal 50.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the terminal 50 includes, for example, a first contact portion 51, a second contact portion 52, and a connection portion 53. The second contact portion 52 faces the first contact portion 51 . When viewed from the Y direction, the shape of the first contact portion 51 and the shape of the second contact portion 52 can be rectangular. The first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 extend in the Z direction. One end of the connecting portion 53 is connected to the first contact portion 51 , and the other end of the connecting portion 53 is connected to the second contact portion 52 . The connecting portion 53 extends in the Y direction.

The first contact portion 51, the second contact portion 52, and the connection portion 53 have a plate shape and are integrally formed. The terminal 50 can be formed by bending a strip-shaped plate material, for example, by plastic working. Terminal 50 is formed from a conductive material. The terminal 50 is made of metal such as copper alloy or stainless steel, for example.

The first contact portion 51 is provided inside the insertion portion 42 . A gap can be provided between the first contact portion 51 and the inner wall of the internal space of the insertion portion 42 .
The second contact portion 52 can be provided on the surface 42a of the insertion portion 42. In this case, the second contact portion 52 may be provided in a groove 42c provided in the surface 42a of the insertion portion 42 or in a groove 42c provided in the surface 42b of the insertion portion 42. If the second contact portion 52 is provided in the groove 42c, it is possible to suppress the position of the second contact portion 52 from shifting.
The second contact portion 52 contacts the socket terminals 101a and 101b.

In this case, the terminal 50 can be formed by bending a strip-shaped plate material, and the formed terminal 50 can be inserted into the insertion portion 42. Alternatively, the terminal 50 can be formed by inserting one end of a strip-shaped plate into the insertion portion 42 and bending the strip-shaped plate.

The width dimension W4 of the first contact portion 51, the second contact portion 52, and the connection portion 53 can be, for example, approximately 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm. Note that the width dimension W4 is the dimension of the first contact portion 51, the second contact portion 52, and the connection portion 53 in the X direction. The thickness T3 of the first contact portion 51, the second contact portion 52, and the connection portion 53 can be, for example, approximately 0.15 mm to 0.4 mm. Note that the thickness T3 is the dimension of the first contact portion 51, the second contact portion 52, and the connection portion 53 in the Y direction. The length L1 of the first contact portion 51 can be, for example, approximately 4.0 mm to 8.0 mm. Note that the length L1 is the length of the first contact portion 51 in the Z direction. The length L2 of the second contact portion 52 can be, for example, about 4.0 mm to 11.0 mm. Note that the length L2 is the length of the second contact portion 52 in the Z direction. The length L3 of the connecting portion 53 can be, for example, about 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm. Note that the length L3 is the length of the connecting portion 53 in the Y direction.

As shown in FIG. 7, the first contact portion 51 is electrically connected to the wiring pattern 21e (connection pad 21e1) provided on the mounting portion 21b of the board 21. Therefore, when the vehicle lighting device 1 is attached to the socket 101 of the vehicle lamp 100, the socket terminals 101a and 101b of the socket 101 and the light emitting element 12 of the vehicle lighting device 1 are connected to the terminal 50, the wiring pattern 21e, and are electrically connected via the wiring pattern 11c.

The first contact portion 51 and the connection pad 21e1 can be brought into direct contact. However, the vehicle lighting device 1 is subjected to vibrations due to driving and the like. If a gap is created between the first contact portion 51 and the connection pad 21e1 due to vibration or the like, the electrical connection between the first contact portion 51 and the connection pad 21e1 may be inhibited, or the electrical resistance may become high. There is a risk that this may happen.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the first contact portion 51 is provided with a biasing portion 51a. The biasing portion 51a biases the first contact portion 51 toward the wiring pattern 21e (connection pad 21e1). For example, the biasing portion 51a extends from the surface of the first contact portion 51 on the second contact portion 52 side toward the second contact portion 52 side. The biasing portion 51a is inclined with respect to the direction in which the first contact portion 51 extends (Z direction). The vicinity of the tip of the biasing portion 51a is in contact with the inner wall of the hole 42d provided in the inner wall of the internal space of the insertion portion 42 and the inner wall of the recess. If the vicinity of the tip of the biasing portion 51a is provided inside the hole 42d, it is possible to suppress the position of the first contact portion 51 from shifting.

When a force toward the inner wall of the insertion portion 42 (a force in a direction away from the connection pad 21e1) is applied to the first contact portion 51 due to vibration or the like, the elastic force of the biasing portion 51a causes the first contact portion 51 to is pushed back toward the connection pad 21e1 side. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the formation of a gap between the first contact portion 51 and the connection pad 21e1, thereby improving the reliability of the electrical connection between the first contact portion 51 and the connection pad 21e1. can be improved.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view for illustrating another arrangement of the terminals 50.
The terminal 50 illustrated in FIG. 7 is provided in the insertion portion 42 such that the connecting portion 53 is located on the side opposite to the storage portion 41 in the Z direction.
On the other hand, the terminal 50 illustrated in FIG. 8 is provided in the insertion portion 42 such that the connecting portion 53 is located on the storage portion 41 side in the Z direction.
Even in this case, the same effects as the terminal 50 illustrated in FIG. 7 can be obtained.

Further, the first contact portion 51 can also be bonded to the wiring pattern 21e (connection pad 21e1) using a conductive material. When the first contact portion 51 and the connection pad 21e1 are bonded using a conductive material, the biasing portion 51a can be omitted.

The conductive material is, for example, solder or conductive adhesive. If the first contact portion 51 and the connection pad 21e1 are bonded, the electrical connection between the first contact portion 51 and the connection pad 21e1 is maintained even if vibrations due to driving are applied. be able to. Further, it is possible to prevent the light emitting section 10 and the connecting section 20 from falling off from the housing 40.

For example, a paste-like conductive material is applied to the connection pad 21e1 of the mounting part 21b, the light-emitting part 10 and the connection part 20 are mounted inside the housing 40 to which the terminal 50 is attached, and the paste-like conductive material is hardened. By doing so, the first contact portion 51 and the connection pad 21e1 can be joined.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic process diagrams illustrating bonding between the first contact portion 51 and the connection pad 21e1 according to another embodiment.
First, as shown in FIG. 9A, a strip-shaped conductive member 50a is bonded to the connection pad 21e1 using a conductive material.
Next, as shown in FIG. 9(b), the light emitting part 10 and the connecting part 20, to which the strip-shaped conductive member 50a is joined, are mounted inside the housing 40 (insertion part 42).
Subsequently, the strip-shaped conductive member 50a is bent to form a terminal 50 having a first contact portion 51, a second contact portion 52, and a connecting portion 53.
Even in this manner, the first contact portion 51 and the connection pad 21e1 can be bonded.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a light emitting section 10a according to another embodiment.
In the light emitting unit 10 illustrated in FIG. 2, the light emitting element 12 mainly emits light in a direction perpendicular to the surface 11a of the substrate 11 (for example, in the Z direction).
On the other hand, in the light emitting unit 10a illustrated in FIG. 10, the light emitting element 12 mainly emits light in a direction parallel to the surface 11a of the substrate 11 (for example, the Y direction). Also in the case of the light emitting part 10a, the light emitting element 12 is exposed from the end of the storage part 41 on the opposite side to the insertion part 42 side.
For example, as shown in FIG. 10, a substrate 12a is provided on the surface 11a of the substrate 11. The light emitting element 12 can be provided on the surface of the substrate 12a.

Further, the substrate 12a and the substrate 21 can also be integrated. For example, the end of the mounting portion 21a on the side opposite to the mounting portion 21b can be made to protrude from the surface 11a of the substrate 11 to form the substrate 12a. In this way, the light emitting element 12 and the circuit component 22 can be provided on the substrate 21, so that the manufacturing process can be simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Note that when the substrate 12a and the substrate 21 are integrated, it is not necessary to provide the wiring pattern 11c on the substrate 11. Further, the substrate 11 can also be omitted. However, if the substrate 11 is provided, the posture of the substrate 12a integrated with the substrate 21 can be stabilized. Further, it is possible to suppress dust and the like from entering the inside of the housing 40.

Here, in the case of a wedge base light bulb, a pair of lead wires are provided in the width direction of a plate-shaped portion of the wedge base light bulb that is inserted into the socket terminal, with the central axis of the wedge base light bulb in between. Therefore, in a vehicle lighting device that has a light emitting element that can be attached to a socket into which a wedge-based light bulb is attached, there is a pair of light-emitting elements placed in a pair across the center axis of the vehicle lighting device in the width direction of the plate-shaped part that is inserted into the socket terminal. Terminals with wiring patterns are provided. If the lead wire arrangement of the wedge-based light bulb and the terminal arrangement of the wiring pattern of the vehicle lighting device with a light-emitting element are the same, the vehicle lighting device with the light-emitting element cannot be inserted into the socket of the wedge-base light bulb. If the wedge base light bulb is installed incorrectly, current may flow from the wedge base light bulb's lighting circuit to the light emitting element, causing the light emitting element to malfunction.

On the other hand, in the case of the vehicle lighting device 1 according to the present embodiment, the central axis 1a of the vehicle lighting device 1 is sandwiched in the thickness direction (direction perpendicular to the width direction) of the insertion portion 42 of the housing 40. A pair of terminals 50 are provided. That is, the arrangement of the pair of terminals 50 is different from the arrangement of the lead wires of a wedge base light bulb. Therefore, even if the vehicle lighting device 1 is mistakenly attached to the socket of the wedge-based light bulb, current can be prevented from flowing through the light emitting element 12.

Moreover, since the surface of the second contact portion 52 on the socket terminal 101a, 101b side is a flat surface, the contact area between the terminal 50 and the socket terminal 101a, 101b can be increased. Therefore, reliability regarding the electrical connection between the terminal 50 and the socket terminals 101a and 101b can be improved.
Further, since the second contact portion 52 is made of a plate material, it has higher strength and is thicker than a terminal of a wiring pattern. Therefore, even if the vehicle lighting device 1 is repeatedly attached and detached, it is possible to prevent the second contact portion 52 of the terminal 50 from being damaged or the reliability regarding the electrical connection from decreasing.

That is, the vehicle lighting device 1 according to the present embodiment is less likely to fail even if it is attached to a socket in which a wedge-based light bulb is attached, and the reliability of connection with the socket terminals 101a and 101b is improved. can be done.

(Vehicle lamp 100)
In one embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle lamp 100 including the vehicle lighting device 1 can be provided. The above description of the vehicle lighting device 1 and the modified examples of the vehicle lighting device 1 (for example, the light emitting section 10a described above) can all be applied to the vehicle lamp 100.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle lamp 100 according to the present embodiment.
In addition, although the case where one vehicle illuminating device 1 mentioned above is provided is illustrated below as an example, the at least one vehicle illuminating device 1 should just be provided.

As shown in FIG. 11, the vehicle lamp 100 can be provided with, for example, a vehicle lighting device 1, a socket 101, a housing 102, and a cover 103.

The socket 101 can be provided in the housing 102. The insertion portion 42 of the housing 40 provided in the vehicle lighting device 1 is inserted into the socket 101 . The socket 101 is made of an insulating material such as resin, for example.
Further, although FIG. 11 illustrates a case where the socket 101 and the housing 102 are provided separately, the socket 101 and the housing 102 may be formed integrally.

The socket 101 can be provided with a recess that opens at one end. The vehicle lighting device 1 (insertion portion 42) is inserted into the recess. Moreover, a socket terminal 101a corresponding to one voltage polarity (for example, positive) and a socket terminal 101b corresponding to the other voltage polarity (for example, negative) can be provided inside the recess. Note that, as described above, as long as the vehicle lighting device 1 is provided with a non-polar circuit, the mounting direction of the vehicle lighting device 1 (insertion portion 42) is not limited.

The socket terminals 101a and 101b can be elastically deformed. When the insertion portion 42 is inserted into the recess, the socket terminals 101a and 101b are electrically connected to the terminal 50, respectively.

A lighting circuit or the like provided outside the vehicle lamp 100 can be electrically connected to the socket terminals 101a and 101b. Note that a lighting circuit may be provided on at least one of the inside and outside of the housing 102.

The shape of the housing 102 can be, for example, a box shape with one end open. The housing 102 is made of, for example, resin that does not transmit light.
The cover 103 can be provided to close the opening of the housing 102. The cover 103 can be made of a translucent resin or the like. The cover 103 can have a function such as a lens, or can suppress glare. Further, the cover 103 can be provided on the housing 102 so as to be openable and closable, or can be provided so as to be detachable.

In addition, optical elements such as a reflector and a lens may be provided inside the housing 102.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, changes, etc. can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and gist of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents. Further, each of the embodiments described above can be implemented in combination with each other.

Reference Signs List 1 vehicle lighting device, 1a central axis, 10 light emitting section, 12 light emitting element, 20 connection section, 21 board, 21e wiring pattern, 22 circuit component, 30 cover, 40 housing, 41 storage section, 42 insertion section, 50 terminal, 51 first contact portion, 51a biasing portion, 52 second contact portion, 53 connection portion, 100 vehicle lamp, 101 socket, 101a socket terminal, 101b socket terminal

Claims (5)

A vehicle lighting device that can be attached to a socket terminal of a socket provided on a vehicle lighting device,
a housing comprising a storage part and an insertion part provided at one end of the storage part, having a plate shape, and being attached to the socket terminal;
a light emitting element exposed from an end of the housing section opposite to the insertion section side;
a board provided inside the housing and having a wiring pattern electrically connected to the light emitting element;
a pair of terminals provided in the widthwise center of the insertion portion in the thickness direction of the insertion portion, sandwiching the central axis of the vehicle lighting device, and electrically connected to the wiring pattern of the substrate;
A vehicle lighting device equipped with. The terminal is
a first contact portion provided inside the insertion portion and electrically connected to the wiring pattern;
a second contact portion provided on the outer surface of the insertion portion, facing the first contact portion and contacting the socket terminal;
a connecting part having one end connected to the first contact part and the other end connected to the second contact part;
The vehicular lighting device according to claim 1, comprising: The first contact portion, the second contact portion, and the connection portion have a plate shape and are integrally formed,
3. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the first contact portion is connected to the wiring pattern using a conductive material. The first contact portion, the second contact portion, and the connection portion have a plate shape and are integrally formed,
3. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the first contact portion includes a biasing portion that biases the first contact portion toward the wiring pattern. A vehicle lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4;
a socket having a pair of socket terminals into which an insertion portion of a housing provided on the vehicle lighting device is inserted and electrically connected to a terminal provided on the vehicle lighting device;
Vehicle lighting equipment equipped with.

Images