JP4521414B2 - Lighting device for air conditioning outlet - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighting device for an air-conditioning outlet that opens in a passenger compartment of a vehicle such as an automobile. More specifically, the position of a wind direction adjusting plate provided at the air-conditioning outlet and the angle of the wind direction adjusting plate are determined. The present invention relates to a lighting device that makes it possible to visually check the position of an operation knob for changing at night or the like.

When installing a plurality of wind direction adjusting plates for changing the air blowing angle in the vertical direction and a plurality of wind direction adjusting plates for changing the air blowing angle in the left and right direction at the air outlet of an air conditioner such as an automobile There is. The former wind direction adjusting plates are arranged at regular intervals in the vertical direction, and the latter wind direction adjusting plates are arranged at regular intervals in the left-right direction.
Generally, the former wind direction adjusting plate is disposed on the passenger compartment side (downstream side) of the air outlet and is rotatably connected by a link member or the like so as to rotate integrally in the vertical direction. The latter wind direction adjusting plate is disposed on the upstream side of the former wind direction adjusting plate, and is rotatably connected by a link member or the like so as to rotate integrally in the left-right direction.
An operation knob is assembled to one of the wind direction adjusting plates on the passenger compartment side so as to be slidable in the left-right direction along the wind direction adjusting plate. The wind direction adjusting plate on the passenger compartment side rotates integrally in the vertical direction by moving the operation knob in the vertical direction. The operating knob is also configured to engage with the upstream wind direction adjusting plate and move the operating knob in the left-right direction so that the upstream wind direction adjusting plate rotates integrally in the left-right direction. . Therefore, the air-conditioning air can be supplied in an arbitrary direction by moving the operation knob up, down, left and right.

When driving at night, etc., a light source such as an LED is provided on the operation knob and the front end surface of the operation knob is translucent so that the driver can visually recognize the position of the operation knob and the position of the wind direction adjusting plate. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-25960 has proposed a wind direction adjusting blade in which a window portion made of a plastic material having a gap is formed and light is leaked from the window portion formed on the front end surface of the operation knob. No. publication).
In addition, a wind direction adjusting plate (air guide plate) for the air conditioning outlet is formed of a light transmissive material, and light is supplied to the air guide plate from a light source installed at an appropriate location such as a housing that supports the air guide plate. A vehicle air-conditioning outlet structure that emits light from a wind plate has been proposed (see JP 2003-89316 A).
JP 2004-25960 A JP 2003-89316 A

  However, since the conventional wind direction adjusting blade provided with a light source such as an LED on the operation knob uses a point light source such as an LED, the irradiation range is narrow. For this reason, although the location of the operation knob can be recognized in the passenger compartment, it is difficult to estimate the attitude and rotation angle of the airflow direction adjusting plate of the air conditioning outlet from the position of the operation knob. In addition, if an LED is incorporated in the operation knob, the operation knob becomes large, and there is a possibility that the shape and size of the wind direction adjusting plate and the number of installed units are limited.

  Further, a vehicle air-conditioning outlet structure in which the air guide plate is formed of a light-transmitting material and the light guide plate emits light by the light transmitted through the air guide plate is obtained from a light source attached to the housing of the air guide plate. A light transmission path must be secured to the light emitting end face of the wind guide plate. Therefore, not only the structure of the part other than the part that needs to be irradiated, such as the end face of the air guide plate, is complicated, but a process such as covering the part that is not irradiated with light with a light-impermeable material is necessary. In addition, since the illuminance of the light emitted from the end face decreases as the distance from the light source increases, an advanced tuning technique is required to uniformly emit light from the light emitting end face.

  The object of the present invention is to provide a sufficiently wide irradiation area to irradiate the entire operation knob, and accurately recognize the position of the operation knob regardless of where the operation knob is moved on the wind direction adjusting plate. An object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device for an air-conditioning outlet.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a light source that can be incorporated in the operation knob without increasing the size of the operation knob, and not only can emit light from the operation knob itself, but also a wind direction adjusting plate in which the operation knob is assembled. By irradiating other wind direction adjusting plates in the vicinity, the rotating state of the operation knobs in the vertical direction can be known from the positional relationship between the emitted operation knob and the irradiated part of the other wind direction adjusting plate. It is in providing the lighting apparatus of a blower outlet.

  Still another object of the present invention is to know the rotation state of the wind direction adjusting plate in the left-right direction from the position of the operation knob on the wind direction adjusting plate, and the light emitting portion of the operating knob and the operating knob are assembled. An object of the present invention is to provide an air-conditioning blower lighting device that can know the rotational state of the wind direction adjusting plate in the vertical direction from the positional relationship with other irradiated portions of the wind direction adjusting plate in the vicinity of the wind direction adjusting plate.

Lighting device of the air conditioning blow-out port of the present invention, the wind direction adjusting plate for air-conditioning blow-assembled operating knob for changing the angle of the wind direction control plate, a surface light source uniformly emits light inside the operation knob And a light guide passage is formed in the operation knob so that a desired area of another wind direction adjustment plate near the wind direction adjustment plate to which the operation knob is assembled is illuminated by the surface light source.

The lighting device for an air conditioning outlet according to the present invention also emits light uniformly so as to illuminate a desired region of another wind direction adjusting plate located near the wind direction adjusting plate on the air direction adjusting plate of the air conditioning outlet. A surface light source is provided, an operation knob for changing the angle of the wind direction adjustment plate is assembled to the other wind direction adjustment plate, a surface light source that uniformly emits light is provided inside the operation knob, and the operation knob is assembled. A light guide passage is formed in the operation knob so that a desired region of another wind direction adjustment plate near the wind direction adjustment plate is illuminated by the surface light source inside the operation knob.

  The lighting device for an air conditioning outlet according to the present invention further emits light uniformly so as to illuminate a desired area of another wind direction adjusting plate located near the wind direction adjusting plate on the air direction adjusting plate of the air conditioning outlet. A surface light source is provided, the surface light source is disposed opposite to the other wind direction adjusting plate, an operation knob for changing the angle of the wind direction adjusting plate is assembled to the other wind direction adjusting plate, and the inside of the operation knob. A surface light source that uniformly emits light is provided, and a desired area of another wind direction adjusting plate near the wind direction adjusting plate to which the operation knob is assembled is illuminated by the surface light source inside the operation knob. A light guide passage is formed in the operation knob.

  According to the lighting device for an air conditioning outlet of the present invention, the position of the operating knob can be accurately recognized regardless of the position of the operating knob that has been moved to any part of the wind direction adjusting plate. The rotational state of the wind direction adjusting plate in the left-right direction can be easily visually confirmed.

  According to the lighting device for an air-conditioning outlet of the present invention, the upper and lower portions of the operation knob are determined based on the positional relationship between the operation knob that emits light and the irradiation portion of the other wind direction adjustment plate near the wind direction adjustment plate on which the operation knob is assembled. Since the rotation state in the direction can be known, the rotation state in the vertical direction of the airflow direction adjusting plate of the air-conditioning outlet can be easily visually confirmed.

  A plurality of wind direction adjusting plates are arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction on the passenger compartment side (downstream side) of the air conditioning outlet, and these wind direction adjusting plates are connected by a link member so that these wind direction adjusting plates are connected. Are configured to rotate simultaneously in the vertical direction. Next, a plurality of wind direction adjusting plates are arranged at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction on the side opposite to the passenger compartment side (upstream side) of the air conditioning outlet, and these wind direction adjusting plates are connected by a link member. The wind direction adjusting plate is configured to rotate simultaneously in the left-right direction.

  Attach the operation knob to one of the wind direction adjustment plates on the passenger compartment side (downstream side). The operation knob can slide in the left-right direction along the wind direction adjusting plate. When the operation knob is moved in the vertical direction, the plurality of wind direction adjusting plates on the passenger compartment side (downstream side) rotate in the vertical direction. The operation knob engages with the wind direction adjustment plate on the opposite side of the vehicle compartment (upstream side), and when the operation knob is slid in the left and right direction, a plurality of wind direction adjustment plates on the opposite side of the vehicle compartment (upstream side) Configure to rotate.

  An organic or inorganic electroluminescence film that functions as a light source in the concave portion formed in the lower surface of the upper wind direction adjusting plate located immediately above the wind direction adjusting plate on the passenger compartment side (downstream side) where the operation knob is assembled. (Hereinafter referred to as EL film) is fixed. The EL film has a size capable of widely irradiating the operation knob and the upper surface of the wind direction adjusting plate on which the operation knob is assembled.

  In addition, an EL film is built in the operation knob, and the EL film emits light so that the front end face (end face on the passenger side) of the operation knob and the lower part located just below the wind direction adjusting plate on which the operation knob is assembled. A light guide passage is formed in the operation knob so that the upper surface of the wind direction adjusting plate is irradiated. The light guide passage can be formed by a light guide plate made of a translucent resin material or a through hole.

  1 and 2 show a configuration for widely irradiating the operation knob 2 and the upper surface of the wind direction adjusting plate 5 to which the operation knob 2 is assembled with the EL film 1.

On the passenger compartment side (downstream side) of the air-conditioning outlet A, wind direction adjusting plates 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 are attached at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction. These wind direction adjusting plates 3 to 7 are attached so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction (B-C direction) around their respective rotation shafts 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a, 7a. The wind direction adjusting plates 3 to 7 are connected via a link member (not shown). When the operation knob 2 is rotated in the B-C direction, the wind direction adjusting plates 3 to 7 are simultaneously rotated in the B-C direction. ing.

On the side opposite to the passenger compartment (upstream side) of the air-conditioning outlet A, wind direction adjusting plates 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 are attached at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction. The rotary columns 8a to 12a and 8b to 12b are supported so as to be rotatable in the left-right direction (D-E direction). The wind direction adjusting plates 8 to 12 are rotatably connected via a link member 13. The operation knob 2 is formed with an engaging protrusion 14 extending in the direction of the wind direction adjusting plates 8 to 12, and the engaging protrusion 14 engages with the engaging portion 10 c of the central wind direction adjusting plate 10. Therefore, when the operation knob 2 is slid along the wind direction adjusting plate 5, the engaging projection 14 of the operation knob 2 rotates the central wind direction adjusting plate 10 in the left-right direction (DE direction), thereby adjusting the wind direction. The plates 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 and 12 are rotated in the DE direction. As described above, when the operation knob 2 is rotated in the B-C direction, the wind direction adjusting plates 3 to 7 are simultaneously rotated in the B-C direction. At this time, the engagement protrusion 14 of the operation knob 2 is moved to the wind direction adjusting plate. It does not interfere with any of 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 and 12. Therefore, the operation knob 2 can be rotated in the B-C direction regardless of the position of the operation knob 2 on the wind direction adjusting plate 5.

The EL film 1 is assembled in a recess 15 formed on the lower surface of the wind direction adjusting plate 4. The width and length of the EL film 1 are set large enough to irradiate the operation knob 2 and the upper surface of the wind direction adjusting plate 5 on which the operation knob 2 is assembled. The EL film 1 is supplied with power by a power cord (not shown), and widely illuminates the upper surface T1 of the operation knob 2 and the upper surfaces T2 and T3 of the wind direction adjusting plate 5 located on the left and right sides of the operation knob 2. Reference numeral L <b> 1 indicates an irradiation area of the EL film 1. As a result, the position of the operation knob 2 can be visually observed regardless of the position of the operation knob 2 on the wind direction adjusting plate 5, and at the same time the operation knob 2 is located on the wind direction adjusting plate 5. Can know. Therefore, by visually observing the position of the operation knob 2, it is possible to immediately know how the wind direction adjusting plates 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 are rotating. Moreover, since the EL film 1 can irradiate light with a uniform light intensity over a wide range, the design can be improved as illumination of the air-conditioning outlet A. 1 and 2, reference numeral 16 denotes a duct constituting the air conditioning outlet A, and reference numeral 17 denotes a vessel attached to the opening end of the duct 16 on the passenger compartment side.

  3 and 4 show an embodiment in which an EL film 18 is attached inside the operation knob 2. The operation knob 2 is integrated between an upper member 2a and a lower member 2b made of a light-impermeable resin, with an EL film 18 and a light guide plate 19 formed of the light-transmitting resin interposed therebetween. A through-hole 20 is formed in the lower part of. The through hole 20 opens toward the upper surface of the wind direction adjusting plate 6. The light guide plate 19 protrudes from the end surface of the operation knob 2 on the passenger compartment side, and extends from the end edge of the operation knob 2 on the passenger compartment side in a curved manner (see FIG. 3). 3 and 4, the same reference numerals as those used in FIGS. 1 and 2 denote common members in these drawings.

In FIG. 4, when the EL film 18 is energized, the EL film 18 emits light to irradiate the light guide plate 19, and the surface T4 of the light guide plate 19 protruding from the end surface of the operation knob 2 on the passenger compartment side emits light. The position of 2 can be visually observed. Further, the light passing through the light guide plate 19 irradiates the upper surface T5 of the wind direction adjusting plate 6 from the through hole 20 of the operation knob 2, and displays the position of the operation knob 2 in the left-right direction. Further, when the operation knob 2 is rotated in the B-C direction and the wind direction adjusting plates 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 are inclined, the surface T 4 of the light guide plate 19 is inclined upward or downward, The irradiation area L2 of the EL film 18 also changes. Therefore, the inclination state of the wind direction adjusting plates 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 can be immediately grasped from the relationship between the surface T 4 of the light guide plate 19 and the irradiation region L 2 of the EL film 18. Since the EL film 18 does not require a large installation space inside the operation knob 2, the operation knob 2 is not increased in size and the design of the operation knob 2 is not restricted.

  Although Example 1 and 2 were demonstrated individually, the operativity of the wind direction adjustment board of the blower for an air conditioning can further be improved by implementing the content described in these Examples simultaneously. Moreover, in the said Example, the airflow direction adjustment board of the passenger compartment side (downstream side) of the air-conditioning blower outlet is extended in a horizontal direction, and the airflow direction adjustment board of an anti-cabinet side (upstream side) is extended in the vertical direction. Contrary to this, on the contrary, the wind direction adjusting plate on the passenger compartment side (downstream side) extends in the vertical direction, and the wind direction adjusting plate on the counter cabin side (upstream side) extends in the lateral direction. The light source can also be provided on the wind direction adjusting plate on the passenger compartment side (downstream side) extending in the vertical direction.

It is a perspective view of one Example of the illuminating device of the blower outlet for air conditioning of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the air conditioning blower outlet of FIG. It is a perspective view of the other Example of the illuminating device of the blower outlet for air conditioning of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the air conditioning blower outlet of FIG.

1, 18 EL film 2 operating knob 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 wind adjustment plate 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 wind direction adjusting plate 19 light guide plate 20 through holes A air-conditioning outlet L1, L2 irradiation EL film region

Claims (2)

An operation knob for changing the angle of the airflow direction adjusting plate is assembled to the airflow direction adjusting plate of the air-conditioning outlet, and a surface light source that uniformly emits light is provided inside the operation knob, and the airflow direction adjustment in which the operation knob is assembled is provided . A lighting device for an air conditioning outlet , wherein a light guide passage is formed in the operation knob so that a desired region of another wind direction adjusting plate in the vicinity of the plate is illuminated by the surface light source . A surface light source that uniformly emits light is provided on the air direction adjusting plate of the air conditioning outlet so as to illuminate a desired area of the other air direction adjusting plate located in the vicinity of the air direction adjusting plate. An operation knob for changing the angle of the adjustment plate is assembled, a surface light source that uniformly emits light is provided inside the operation knob, and a desired area of another wind direction adjustment plate near the wind direction adjustment plate to which the operation knob is assembled However, a light guide passage is formed in the operation knob so that it is illuminated by the surface light source inside the operation knob .

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