JP4754514B2 - Vehicle direction indication device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle direction indicating device.

  Some vehicle direction indicating devices are provided with a light emitter that emits light from a light source toward a predetermined region obliquely behind the vehicle on a side mirror (hereinafter referred to as a door mirror) provided on a door of the vehicle.

  Further, in this vehicle direction indicator, it is sufficient for the law to be able to visually recognize the light emission from the rear of the vehicle. However, the direction change display is also possible due to design requirements or when the vehicle is viewed from the front. There is one in which light is emitted also in front of the vehicle so that it can be visually recognized.

For example, there is known a vehicular direction indicating device that includes a main light source that emits light that can be viewed from an obliquely rear of the vehicle and an auxiliary light source that emits light that can be viewed from the front of the vehicle, and which emits these light sources simultaneously. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-237460 A

  However, when the main light source and the auxiliary light source are provided in this way, there is a problem that not only the number of light sources is increased and the cost is increased, but also the circuit is complicated. In addition, there is a problem that the size of the auxiliary light source increases.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention is to provide a vehicular direction indicating device provided on an external mirror that can visually recognize light emission from multiple directions and can be reduced in size and cost.

The vehicle direction indicating device according to the present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above-described problems.
The invention according to claim 1 is provided in an external mirror (for example, a door mirror 3 in an embodiment to be described later) of a vehicle (for example, a vehicle 2 in an embodiment to be described later), and a light source toward a predetermined area obliquely rearward of the vehicle. (For example, LED 13 in an embodiment described later) A vehicle direction indicating device (for example, a vehicle direction indicating device 1 in an embodiment described later) that emits light and displays the direction change of the vehicle. The optical axis (for example, the optical axis C in the embodiment described later) is disposed obliquely rearward of the vehicle, and a light guide lens (for example, the light guide lens 14 in the embodiment described later) is disposed around the light source. ), And the light guide lens emits light from the light source directly to the predetermined region as light (for example, a main light emitting unit 15 in an embodiment to be described later) and the light from the light source. Sub-emission portion which emits as an indirect light in a direction other than the serial predetermined region (e.g., sub-emission portion 16 in the embodiment) and comprises, on the inner surface of the auxiliary light emitting part projecting portion (e.g., Examples below A plurality of slopes (for example, slopes in the embodiments described later). The slopes are discontinuous toward the vertexes (for example, the vertex 18a in the embodiments described later). 18b, together with formed by connecting 18c), grain is formed on the surface of the convex portion, a vehicle shape of the grain, characterized that you have been set as the surface area farther from the main light emitting portion is increased It is a direction indicating device.
With this configuration, the light from the light source can be emitted as a direct light through the main light emitting unit toward a predetermined region obliquely behind the vehicle, and the main light emitting unit can emit light, and the light from the light source can be indirectly emitted. By emitting light as a light through the sub-light-emitting unit in a direction other than the predetermined region, the sub-light-emitting unit can emit light.

Further , the light from the light source is reflected by a textured surface provided on the inner surface of the light guide lens while traveling through the sub-light emitting portion of the light guide lens, and is emitted in a direction other than the predetermined region. In addition, the intensity of light decreases as it moves away from the main light emitting part in the sub light emitting part, but the surface area of the wrinkles increases as the distance from the main light emitting part increases. The reflection at the can be increased. Thereby, it can suppress that the brightness of light emission of a sublight emission part becomes dark as it distances from a main light emission part.

Further, the convex portion on the inner surface of the sub-light emitting portion is formed a number, the convex portion together with the inclination angle toward the vertex is formed by connecting a plurality of discontinuous slopes, the grain on the surface since There has been formed, it is possible to increase the surface area of the inner surface of the auxiliary light emitting portion, as a result, it is possible to increase the surface area of the embossed surface.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the direction change display by the light emission of the main light emitting unit can be surely seen from the oblique rear side of the vehicle, and the light emission of the auxiliary light emitting unit can be performed from other than the oblique rear side (for example, the front of the vehicle) Can be visually recognized. In addition, the number of light sources can be reduced, and the size and cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

Moreover , it can suppress that the brightness of a sublight emission part becomes dark as it distances from a main light emission part.

Furthermore , since the surface area of the embossed surface can be increased, the amount of light emitted from the sub-light emitting unit can be increased. Thereby, the sub-light emitting unit can emit light more brightly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a vehicle direction indicating device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings of FIGS.
First, a reference example of the technology related to the vehicular direction indicating device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings of FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 4, this vehicular direction indicating device (hereinafter abbreviated as direction indicating device) 1 is provided on a door mirror (external mirror) 3 of a vehicle 2. The door mirror 3 includes a door mirror housing 5 supported by the door 4 of the vehicle 2 and a rear viewing mirror 6 attached to the door mirror housing 5 as shown in FIG. The direction indicating device 1 is installed on the side portion of the door mirror housing 5 at the substantially center in the vertical direction.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the direction indicating device 1 cut in the horizontal direction. The direction indicating device 1 includes a base 11 fixed to the door mirror housing 5, a control base 12 fixed to the base 11, A light emitting diode (hereinafter abbreviated as LED) 13 as a light source fixed to the base 11 and a light guide lens 14 that emits the light of the LED 13 outward are configured.

The LED 13 is attached to a portion near the rear side end of the base 11 such that the optical axis C is inclined obliquely at a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle 2. Note that a plurality of (for example, two to three) LEDs 13 are provided in the vertical direction.
The control base 12 controls the light emission of the LED 13 in conjunction with a blinker lever (not shown), and is installed on the front side of the vehicle with respect to the LED 13.

The light guide lens 14 is made of a light transmissive resin, and is formed in a curved shape in plan view so as to go forward from the vicinity of the rear end of the door mirror housing 5.
A portion of the light guide lens 14 exposed from the door mirror housing 5 is a portion (hereinafter referred to as a main light emitting portion) 15 occupying the vehicle rear side of the LED 11 with respect to the LED mounting portion 11a in the base 11, and the vehicle front side with respect to the LED mounting portion 11a. It divides into the part (henceforth a sublight emission part) 16 which occupies the side.

The main light emitting unit 15 transmits the light of the LED 13 as direct light and emits it obliquely rearward of the vehicle 2. FIG. 5 shows the emission direction of the direct light emitted from the main light emitting unit 15. In this reference example , the direction of the optical axis C of the LED 13, the region of the main light emitting unit 15, and the inner surface shape of the main light emitting unit 15 are emitted in the direction of 5 to 60 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis X of the vehicle 2. Is set. Therefore, when the viewpoint is placed obliquely behind the vehicle 2 and in the range of the direct light emitting direction, the direct light emitted from the main light emitting unit 15 can be reliably seen, and the light emitted from the main light emitting unit 15 is emitted. Thus, the direction change display of the vehicle 2 can be reliably recognized.

  In order to make it difficult to see the inside of the direction indicating device 1 on the inner surface of the sub light emitting unit 16, a large number of quadrangular pyramid-shaped convex portions 17 are arranged in a line without any gap. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the convex portion 17, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the convex portion 17 viewed from the direction A in FIG.

Further, the inner surface of the sub-light emitting portion 16, that is, the surface of the convex portion 17 is subjected to a texture process. The shape of the wrinkles is different between a portion close to the main light-emitting portion 15 and a portion far from the main light-emitting portion 15. The change in the embossed shape can be changed by, for example, the roughness (depth) of the embossing, and the farther side than the side closer to the main light emitting unit 15 is made farther from the main light emitting unit 15 by increasing the roughness of the embossed surface. The side surface area can be increased.
The shape change (roughness change) of the texture may be gradually changed continuously or may be changed discontinuously stepwise (in other words, stepwise).

  As described above, the light emitted from the LED 13 passes through the main light emitting unit 15 and is emitted toward the rear of the vehicle, but a part of the light passes through the light guide lens 14 and is transmitted from the main light emitting unit 15 to the sub light emitting unit 16. To the vehicle front side end portion. Then, the light is reflected by the embossed surface of the sub light emitting unit 16 while traveling through the sub light emitting unit 16, and a part of the reflected light is transmitted through the outer surface 16a of the sub light emitting unit 16 and emitted outward. Go. Thereby, the light of LED13 is radiate | emitted as an indirect light from the sublight emission part 16 in directions other than the emission direction of the direct light. That is, the sub light emitting unit 16 emits the indirect light of the LED 13 in a direction other than the direct light emitting direction.

Therefore, even when the viewpoint is placed in a direction other than the direct light emission direction (for example, the side or front of the vehicle), the light emission of the sub light emitting unit 16 can be visually recognized, and the design is improved.
Further, since this direction indicating device 1 is provided on the door mirror 3, it is installed at a position higher than the direction indicating lamp installed on the front bumper of the vehicle. Even when it cannot be visually recognized from the front, the light emission of the sub-light emitting unit 16 can be visually recognized.

Further, the intensity of the light traveling in the sub light emitting unit 16 becomes weaker as it approaches the end on the vehicle front side (in other words, as it moves away from the main light emitting unit 15), but the sub light emitting unit 16. Since the shape (roughness) of the embossing formed on the inner surface of the sub-light-emitting portion changes (becomes rough) as the distance from the main light-emitting portion 15 increases, the area of the reflecting surface on the inner surface of the sub-light-emitting portion 16 increases. As the distance from 15 increases, the reflection on the embossed surface of the sub-light emitting unit 16 can be increased. As a result, it is possible to suppress the brightness of the light emission of the sub light emitting unit 16 from becoming darker as the distance from the main light emitting unit 15 increases, and the brightness of almost the entire area of the sub light emitting unit 16 can be averaged. it can.
As described above, according to the direction indicating device 1 of this reference example , a dedicated light source is not required for the light emission of the sub-light emitting unit 16, and a space for accommodating the light source is not required. And cost reduction.

Next, an embodiment of a vehicle direction indicating device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings of FIGS.
The difference between the vehicular direction indicating device 1 of the embodiment and the vehicular direction indicating device 1 of the reference example is only the shape of the convex portion of the sub-light emitting unit 16, and the other configurations are the same as the reference example.
6 and 7 show the shape of the convex portion provided on the inner surface of the auxiliary light emitting portion 16 in the embodiment. The convex portion 18 of this embodiment is formed by connecting slopes 18b and 18c whose inclination angles are discontinuous toward the vertex 18a. Since the convex portion 18 has a larger surface area than the convex portion 17 described above, the total area of the embossed surface also increases when the convex portion 18 is subjected to the embossing process. Therefore, the reflection on the embossed surface also increases, the amount of light emitted from the sub light emitting unit 16 increases, and the sub light emitting unit 16 can emit light brightly.

[Other Examples]
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.
For example, the shape of the convex portion formed on the inner surface of the sub-light emitting portion is not limited to the shape of the above-described embodiment, and may be other shapes (such as other polygonal pyramid shapes).
The light source is not limited to the LED.

It is a cross-sectional view in the reference example of the technique relevant to the vehicle direction indicator device which concerns on this invention. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of the vehicle direction indicator in the said reference example . FIG. 3 is a view as seen from an arrow A in FIG. 2. It is a perspective view of the vehicle provided with the vehicle direction indicator device of the reference example . It is a figure which shows a direct light emission direction in the vehicle direction indicator of the said reference example . It is an enlarged sectional view in the real施例vehicle direction indicating equipment according to the present invention. It is a B arrow view of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Vehicle Direction Indicator 2 Vehicle 3 Door Mirror (External Mirror)
13 LED (light source)
14 Light guide lens 15 Main light emitting part 16 Sub light emitting part 18 Convex part 18a Vertex 18b Slope 18c Slope

Claims (1)

A vehicle direction indicator device that is provided on an external mirror of a vehicle, emits light from a light source toward a predetermined region obliquely behind the vehicle, and displays a direction change of the vehicle,
The light source is disposed with its optical axis facing obliquely rearward of the vehicle,
A light guide lens is provided around the light source,
The light guide lens includes: a main light emitting unit that emits light from the light source as direct light to the predetermined region; and a sub light emitting unit that emits light from the light source as indirect light in a direction other than the predetermined region. ,
A large number of convex portions are formed on the inner surface of the sub-light-emitting portion, and the convex portions are formed by connecting a plurality of inclined surfaces whose inclination angles are discontinuous toward the apex, and there are wrinkles on the surface of the convex portion. is formed, the vehicle direction indicator, wherein Rukoto the shape of the grain is set as the surface area farther from the main light emitting portion is increased.

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