JP4618233B2 - Line lighting device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a line illuminating device that can be used for decorative lighting and signal lights of automobiles.

As a line-shaped illumination device that obtains line-shaped light emission, conventionally, a line-shaped slit portion is formed in a metal round pipe whose inner surface is mirror-polished, and light sources arranged at both ends of the round pipe are used in the round pipe. A structure for irradiating light is known. The light irradiated into the round pipe is irradiated from the slit portion to the outside while being repeatedly reflected in the round pipe, and line-like light emission can be obtained. A dust-proof lens is attached to the slit portion from the outside (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-203919

  However, in such a conventional technique, only light that has completely exited from the slit portion out of light traveling while being reflected in the round pipe is irradiated to the outside through the lens. . Therefore, the amount of light irradiated to the outside is small. In particular, when the round pipe is formed thick by resin molding or the like, the depth of the slit portion is increased, and accordingly, light is less likely to be emitted from the slit portion, and the light amount is reduced.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such a conventional technique, and provides a line illumination device capable of increasing the amount of light from the slit portion.

The invention according to claim 1 is a cylindrical body having a hollow section having a circular cross section with a specular reflection function on the inner surface, a slit section formed along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body, and an inside of the slit section. A transparent lens having a light incident surface on the hollow portion side and a light emitting surface on the non-hollow portion side, and reflects the light irradiated into the hollow portion on the inner surface of the hollow portion. A line-shaped irradiation device for irradiating the cylindrical body from the lens of the portion, wherein the lens fitted in the slit portion is formed in the lens in a hole formed in the cylindrical body was attached to the tubular body of the boss portion is penetrated, the light incident surface of the lens is either identical to the inner surface of the hollow portion, and wherein the projecting it from the hollow well portion.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the line illumination device according to claim 1, further comprising a light source that irradiates light into the hollow portion, wherein the light source is at the both ends or one end of the cylindrical body. It arrange | positions so that light may be irradiated toward the hollow part of a cylindrical body, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  Invention of Claim 3 is a linear illuminating device of Claim 1, Comprising: The light source which irradiates a light source in the said hollow part is further provided, The said light source is the light of the said lens from the said light source. In the vicinity of the opening formed in the middle of the cylindrical body in the longitudinal direction so as not to directly enter the incident surface, the cylindrical body is arranged toward the hollow portion.

  Invention of Claim 4 is a linear illuminating device of any one of Claims 1-3, Comprising: The width size of the said light-incidence surface is larger than the width size of the said slit part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. And

  The line illumination device according to any one of claims 5 and 4, wherein the tubular body is divided along the longitudinal direction of the tubular body. It is comprised by a half body, The said slit part is formed between the one edge parts in both half parts, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the line illumination device according to claim 5, wherein one end portion of both halves projects toward the outside of the cylindrical body and the slit portion is interposed therebetween. Flanges that are opposed to each other, a hole is formed through the flange, a boss is formed that protrudes from both sides of the lens fitted into the slit, and passes through the hole in the flange. A portion of the boss portion that protrudes from the hole portion of the flange is welded to the flange.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is the line illumination device according to any one of the second to sixth aspects, wherein the light source is an LED.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the light incident surface of the lens is the same as the inner surface of the hollow portion or protrudes into the hollow portion so that the light incident on the hollow portion is the light incident surface of the lens. The amount of light that passes through the lens and is irradiated to the outside increases.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the line illumination device includes a light source, the light source is disposed at the longitudinal end portion of the cylindrical body, and therefore it is necessary to provide an opening or the like in the middle portion of the cylindrical body in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the light source can be easily arranged.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the linear illumination device includes the light source, the light source is disposed at the opening provided in the middle of the cylindrical body in the longitudinal direction. It is easy to obtain a substantially uniform light amount distribution over the direction. At this time, since the light source is disposed so that the light from the light source does not directly enter the lens, it is possible to avoid that only the light source corresponding position of the lens is particularly bright. In addition, when the light source is arranged at a midway position in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body, it becomes easier to connect the plurality of cylindrical bodies in the longitudinal direction than when the light source is arranged at the longitudinal end of the cylindrical body.

  According to the invention of claim 4, since the width size of the light incident surface is larger than the width size of the slit portion, the area of the light incident surface is enlarged. Therefore, the light in the hollow portion can be more easily taken into the lens, and the amount of light can be increased.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the cylindrical body is formed of two halves and the slit portion is formed between one end portions thereof, it is not necessary to cut the slit portion. Moreover, the process (evaporation, coating, etc.) which provides a mirror-reflection function to the inner surface of a hollow part can also be performed easily.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, by welding the boss portion of the lens, the two halves are integrated and the assembling work is facilitated.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, since the light source is an LED, it can be applied to a small-diameter cylindrical body.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a line-shaped illumination device capable of increasing the amount of light from a slit portion. A slit portion along a longitudinal direction is provided in a cylindrical body having a hollow portion with a circular cross section having a specular reflection function on the inner surface. A transparent lens having a hollow portion side as a light incident surface and a non-hollow portion side as a light exit surface is fitted into the slit portion, and the light irradiated into the hollow portion is reflected by the inner surface of the hollow portion. In the line illumination device that irradiates the cylindrical body from the lens of the slit portion, the light incident surface of the lens is the same as the inner surface of the hollow portion or protrudes into the hollow portion. It was realized by being. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, common portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  1 to 7 are views showing a first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a line illumination device for decoration installed in a passenger compartment of an automobile is shown. The line illumination device 1 includes a linearly long cylindrical body 3 having a hollow portion 2 having a circular cross section. The cylindrical body 3 is formed of two halves 4 and 5 divided in the cross-sectional direction. Each of the halves 4 and 5 is injection-molded with a thermoplastic resin and has a predetermined thickness.

  The inner surface 6 of the hollow portion 2 has a specular reflection function. The specular reflection function is imparted by forming aluminum vapor deposition or reflective coating on the inner surface 6. The reflective coating is preferably formed using a paint containing a reflective material such as a white pigment or a scattering material. Here, as the white pigment or the scattering material, transparent organic resin particles such as silicone resin particles and polystyrene resin particles, Examples include metal oxide particles such as aluminum oxide and titanium oxide, sulfate particles such as barium sulfate, carbonate particles such as calcium carbonate, inorganic compound particles such as glass fine powder and glass balloon, and micro air cells. Species can be used alone or in combination of two or more. As the coating material, a thermosetting resin such as an acrylic resin, a urethane resin, or an epoxy resin, or an acrylic, rubber-based, or elastomer-based pressure-sensitive adhesive can be used. Since the cylindrical body 3 is divided into two halves 4 and 5, it is easy to perform an operation of applying a specular reflection function to the inner surfaces of the halves 4 and 5.

  At one end of the halves 4 and 5, flanges 7 and 8 projecting outward are formed along the longitudinal direction of the halves 4 and 5. The flanges 7 and 8 are opposed to each other with a predetermined interval, and a slit portion S communicating with the hollow portion 2 is formed between the flanges 7 and 8. At the other end of the halves 4 and 5, stepped portions 9 and 10 that are engaged with each other in a crank shape are formed. Tabs 11 and 12 are formed at predetermined intervals on the other ends of the halves 4 and 5. The tabs 11 and 12 of the halves 4 and 5 correspond to each other, are integrated in a polymerized state, and are used for attachment to the vehicle body. Since the cylindrical body 3 is formed of two halves 4, 5 and the slits S are formed between the flanges 7, 8 simply by combining the halves 4, 5, the conventional pipe member Thus, it is not necessary to cut the slit portion S.

  On the opposing surfaces of the flanges 7 and 8, concave grooves 13 and 14 having a predetermined depth are formed along the longitudinal direction. Further, circular holes 15 and 16 penetrating the flanges 7 and 8 are formed at predetermined intervals at the bottoms of the concave grooves 13 and 14.

  A lens 17 having a shape corresponding to the slit portion S is fitted in the slit portion S formed between the flanges 7 and 8. A transparent material having a high refractive index is used as the material constituting the lens 17 and can be selected from plastics, elastomers and the like according to the purpose. Specific examples of the constituent material of the lens 17 include polystyrene, styrene / methyl methacrylate copolymer, (meth) acrylic resin, polymethylpentene, allyl glycol carbonate resin, spirane resin, amorphous polyolefin, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyarylate, and polysulfone. , Polyallylsulfone, polyethersulfone, polyetherimide, polyimide, diallyl phthalate, fluororesin, polyester carbonate, norbornene resin (ARTON), alicyclic acrylic resin (Optretz), silicone resin, acrylic rubber, silicone A transparent material such as rubber may be mentioned.

This lens 17 is basically cross-shaped in cross section, the hollow portion 2 side is an arc-shaped light incident surface 17a that matches the inner surface, and the opposite side is a flat light emitting surface 17b that matches the tip surfaces of the flanges 7 and 8. It has become. Further, the lens 17, the ribs 17 e, 17f are formed along the longitudinal direction to be fitted in the groove 13, 14 of the flange 7, 8. Boss portions 18 and 19 project from the ribs 17e and 17f at positions corresponding to the holes 15 and 16 of the flanges 7 and 8, respectively. As shown in FIG. 4, when the bosses 18 and 19 are sandwiched between the flanges 7 and 8 of the two halves 4 and 5, the tip portions 18a and 19a are formed in the holes 15, 16 protrudes to the other surface side through the flanges 7 and 8. As shown in FIG. 5, the tip end portions 18 a and 19 a of the boss portions 18 and 19 that penetrated are caulked by welding (thermal welding, ultrasonic clothing, etc.), and the lens 17 is fitted between the flanges 7 and 8. Integrated in a state. By integrating the flanges 7 and 8 through the lens 17, the other stepped portions 9 and 10 of the halves 4 and 5 are also engaged with each other, and the cylindrical body 3 having the lens 17 is completed. Since no adhesive or fastener is required, and the assembly is completed simply by welding the lens 17, the operation is easy.

  End caps 21 having LEDs 20 as light sources inside are attached to both ends of the cylindrical body 3. The LED 20 is white light and is located on the central axis of the hollow portion 2 in an attached state. Since LED20 is utilized as a light source, it can respond also to the diameter reduction of the cylindrical body 3. FIG. The inner surface of the end cap 21 may be a reflecting surface (reflector).

  The line illumination device 1 of the present embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation thereof will be described below.

  First, the LEDs 20 at both ends of the cylindrical body 3 are turned on. As shown in FIG. 7, the light L from the LED 20 is irradiated inward from both ends of the hollow portion 2 and travels through the hollow portion 2 while being reflected by the inner surface 6 to which a specular reflection function is given. Of the light L reflected in the hollow portion 2, the light L incident on the light incident surface 17 a that is flush with the inner surface 6 is refracted by the incident angle and taken into the lens 17, and The light is transmitted and emitted from the light exit surface 17b to the outside. The reflection, refraction, and emission follow Snell's law. Since the light emission surface 17b appears in a line shape between the flanges 7 and 8, a line-shaped illumination having no unevenness in the longitudinal direction can be obtained.

  In particular, in this embodiment, since the light incident surface 17a of the lens 17 is at the same position as the inner surface 6 of the hollow portion 2, the light L irradiated from the LED 20 into the hollow portion 2 is the light incident surface 17a of the lens 17. The amount of light that passes through the lens 17 and is irradiated to the outside increases. As in this embodiment, by forming the halves 4 and 5 thick with resin and forming the flanges 7 and 8, the light incident surface 17 a is the same as the inner surface 6 even when the slit portion S is deepened. Because it is in position, it is easy to take in light L.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the LEDs 20 are provided at both ends of the cylindrical body 3 has been described. However, when the length of the cylindrical body 3 is short, only one end of the cylindrical body 3 is provided. The LED 20 may be provided. Further, when the LEDs 20 are provided at both ends of the cylindrical body 3, by changing the emission colors of the LEDs 20 on both sides, the line-like emission can be made gradation (the emission color from both sides gradually changes). .

  8 and 9 are diagrams showing a second embodiment of the present embodiment. In the line illumination devices 22 and 23 according to this embodiment, the light incident surface 24a of the lens 24 is flattened and protruded toward the hollow portion 2 from the inner surface 6 (FIG. 8), and the light incident surface of the lens 25 An example (FIG. 9) in which 25a is formed into a dome-shaped cross section and protrudes toward the hollow portion 2 from the inner surface 6 is shown. In any example, since the light incident surfaces 24a and 25a protrude into the hollow portion 2, the light L in the hollow portion 2 can be more easily taken into the lenses 24 and 25 from the light incident surfaces 24a and 25a. It is possible to increase the amount of light. In the example of FIG. 8, the light L can be taken from the side surface of the lens 24 protruding into the hollow portion 2.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the present embodiment. In the line illumination device 26 according to this embodiment, the light incident surface 27a of the lens 27 protrudes toward the hollow portion 2 from the inner surface 6, and the width size W1 of the light incident surface 27a is set to the width size of the slit portion S. Widened more than W2. Accordingly, the area of the light incident surface 27a is greatly increased, and the light L in the hollow portion 2 can be further easily taken into the lens 27 from the light incident surface 27a, thereby further increasing the amount of light.

  11 and 12 are diagrams showing a fourth embodiment of the present embodiment. In the line illumination device 28 according to this embodiment, an example in which the LED 29 as a light source is provided at the longitudinal center position of the cylindrical body 3 is shown. The cylindrical body 3 of this embodiment is also formed by two halves 4 and 5, and an opening 33 is formed at the longitudinal center position of the upper half 4, and one LED 29 is provided there. Is provided. The LED 29 is housed in a housing 35 having a cylindrical portion 34 inserted into the opening 33. At both ends of the cylindrical body 3, end caps 36 are provided which simply block both ends. The end surface of the end cap 36 that closes the hollow portion 2 may be a reflective surface (mirror surface).

  The light L irradiated into the hollow portion 2 from the LED 29 is regulated by the cylindrical portion 34 of the housing 35 so as not to directly enter the light incident surface 17 a of the lens 17. This is because when the light directly enters the lens 17, only that portion shines brightly, and light emission that is uniform and uneven along the longitudinal direction cannot be performed.

  The light L emitted from the LED 29 into the hollow portion 2 travels to both ends while being reflected in the hollow portion 2, and the light L incident on the light incident surface 17 a of the lens 17 is transmitted from the light emitting surface 17 b between them. Irradiated to the outside.

  Since the LED 29 is provided in the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the hollow portion 2, even with one LED 29, it is easy to obtain a substantially uniform light amount distribution over the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body 3.

  In the present embodiment, the example in which the LED 29 is provided in the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body 3 has been described. It is done.

  13 and 14 are diagrams showing a fifth embodiment of the present embodiment. In the line illumination devices 37 and 38 according to this embodiment, the LED 29 is provided at the center in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body 3, and the light incident surface 24a of the lens 24 is flattened as in the second embodiment. Thus, an example in which the inner surface 6 protrudes toward the hollow portion 2 (FIG. 13), an example in which the light incident surface 25a of the lens 25 has a dome-shaped cross section and protrudes toward the hollow portion 2 from the inner surface 6 (FIG. 14). ). Both are designed so that the light L from the LED 29 does not directly enter the light incident surfaces 24 a and 25 a of the lenses 24 and 25.

  As described above, since the light incident surfaces 24a and 25a protrude into the hollow portion 2, the light L in the hollow portion 2 is further transferred from the light incident surfaces 24a and 25a into the lenses 24 and 25 as in the second embodiment. This makes it easier to incorporate the light into the light source and further increase the amount of light.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a sixth embodiment of the present embodiment. In the line illumination device 39 according to this embodiment, the LED 29 is provided at the center in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body 3, and the light incident surface 27a of the lens 27 is formed from the inner surface 6 as in the third embodiment. Is also projected to the hollow portion 2 side, and the width size W1 of the light incident surface 27a is larger than the width size W2 of the slit portion S. Also in this case, the light L from the LED 29 is designed not to directly enter the light incident surface 27 a of the lens 27.

  According to this embodiment, by making the width size W1 of the light incident surface 27a larger than the width size W2 of the slit portion S, the area of the light incident surface 27a is enlarged, and the light L in the hollow portion 2 is reduced. Furthermore, it becomes easy to incorporate into the lens 27 from the light incident surface 27a, and the light quantity can be further increased.

  In the first to sixth embodiments described above, the linear illumination device that shines linearly using the cylindrical body 3 that extends linearly is taken as an example. However, the linear illumination device is not necessarily limited to a linear shape in a strict sense. And may be gently curved.

  In the first to sixth embodiments described above, the lens 17 is directly fitted into the slit S of the cylindrical body 3, but the lens 17 together with other members is fitted to the slit S of the cylindrical body 3. It may be a structure in which is incorporated. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, the line illumination device 43 is attached to the wall member W as an attachment portion of the line illumination device 43 by assembling the lens 17 together with the wall member W in the slit 3 of the cylindrical body 3. be able to.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the line illumination device of the present invention includes a line illumination device 101 </ b> A arranged in a step portion 113 of a door opening 111 (alight entrance) and a line illumination arranged in a drink holder 115 in an automobile 100. It can be used as the device 101B, the line illumination device 101C provided in the interior trim 117, the line illumination device 101D provided in the assist grip 119, the line illumination device 101E provided on the side of the ceiling 120, and the like.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 18, the line illumination device of the present invention is arranged along the outer lens 123 of the vehicle headlamp 121, and the line illumination devices 101F and 101G that emit light by taking in the light source of the headlamp 121, and the vehicle It can be used as a line illumination device that takes in light from an existing light source of a rear combination lamp or other vehicle lamp.

  Moreover, although the example used for a motor vehicle was demonstrated in the above Example, it is not restricted to a motor vehicle, It can apply also to other vehicles, buildings, etc.

The perspective view which shows the linear illuminating device which concerns on 1st Example. Sectional drawing which follows the arrow SA-SA line in FIG. The exploded sectional view showing a line lighting device. Sectional drawing of the line-shaped illuminating device which shows the assembly | attachment state which made the boss | hub part of the lens penetrate the flange of a half body. Sectional drawing equivalent to FIG. 4 which shows the state crimped by heating the front-end | tip of a boss | hub part. Sectional drawing of the linear illuminating device in parts other than a boss | hub part. Sectional drawing of the line-shaped illuminating device which shows the condition of the light in a hollow part. Sectional drawing which shows the linear illuminating device (the 1) which concerns on 2nd Example. Sectional drawing which shows the line-shaped illuminating device (the 2) which concerns on 2nd Example. Sectional drawing which shows the linear illuminating device which concerns on 3rd Example. The perspective view which shows the linear illuminating device which concerns on 4th Example. Sectional drawing which shows the linear illuminating device which concerns on 4th Example. Sectional drawing which shows the linear illumination apparatus (the 1) which concerns on 5th Example. Sectional drawing which shows the linear illuminating device (the 2) which concerns on 5th Example. Sectional drawing which shows the linear illuminating device which concerns on 6th Example. Sectional drawing which shows the linear illuminating device which concerns on 9th Example. The side view of the vehicle which shows the example which applied the line-shaped illuminating device of this invention to the vehicle interior of the motor vehicle. The perspective view of the vehicle front part which shows the example which applied the line-shaped illuminating device of this invention to the headlight of the motor vehicle.

Explanation of symbols

1, 22, 23, 26, 28, 37, 38, 41, 43 Line-shaped illumination device 2 Hollow portion 3 Tubular body 4, 5 Half-split body 6 Inner surface 7, 8 Flange 17, 24, 25, 27 Lens 17a, 24a, 25a, 27a Light incident surface 17b Light exit surface 20, 29 LED (light source)
S slit part

Claims (7)

A cylindrical body having a hollow section with a circular cross-section with a specular reflection function on the inner surface, a slit section formed along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body, and a hollow section that is fitted into the slit section and illuminates the hollow section side. A transparent lens having an incident surface and a light exit surface on the side opposite to the hollow portion, the light irradiated into the hollow portion is reflected by the inner surface of the hollow portion, and the lens of the cylindrical portion is reflected from the lens of the slit portion. A line irradiation device for irradiating outside,
The lens fitted in the slit part is attached to the cylindrical body through a boss formed in the lens through a hole formed in the cylindrical body,
The line illumination device characterized in that the light incident surface of the lens is the same as the inner surface of the hollow portion or protrudes into the hollow portion. The line illumination device according to claim 1,
A light source for irradiating light in the hollow portion;
The line-shaped illuminating device, wherein the light source is arranged so as to irradiate light into a hollow portion of the cylindrical body at both ends or one end of the cylindrical body. The line illumination device according to claim 1,
A light source for irradiating light in the hollow portion;
The light source is arranged toward the inside of the hollow portion in the vicinity of an opening formed in the middle of the cylindrical body in the longitudinal direction so that light from the light source does not directly enter the light incident surface of the lens. A line illumination device characterized by the above. The line illumination device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The line-shaped illumination device, wherein a width size of the light incident surface is larger than a width size of the slit portion. It is a line-shaped illuminating device of any one of Claims 1-4,
The cylindrical body is composed of two halves divided along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body, and the slit portion is formed between one end portions of both halves. A line lighting device. The line-shaped lighting device according to claim 5,
A flange projecting toward the outside of the cylindrical body and facing each other through the slit portion is provided at one end of both halves, and a hole is formed through the flange. A boss is formed so as to protrude from both surfaces of the lens fitted to the flange and penetrates the hole of the flange, and a portion of the boss protruding from the hole of the flange is welded to the flange. A line illumination device characterized by the above. A linear illumination device according to any one of claims 2-6,
A linear illumination device, wherein the light source is an LED.

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