JP6354520B2 - Light emitting device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a light emitting device in which a cover is laser welded to a housing in which a light emitter is disposed.

  Light-emitting devices are provided in decorative tools such as automobile lamps and grills. Patent Document 1 describes that when laser welding an inner lens of a vehicular lamp and a body serving as a housing, laser irradiation is performed from the front inner lens side to weld the inner lens and the housing.

  In general, a housing that houses a light emitter in a light emitting device is formed of a light-shielding material that shields light from the light emitter so that light emitted from the light emitter does not leak outside from the housing, and It has a laser absorptivity that absorbs a laser having a wavelength. On the other hand, the portion of the light emitting device that emits light from the light emitter is constituted by a transparent member that transmits light emitted from the light emitter, and this transparent member also has laser transparency that transmits the laser of the specific wavelength. Yes. The transparent member is welded to the stacked housing by being irradiated with a laser having a specific wavelength from the front side of the transparent member toward the transparent member.

JP 2005-339873 A

  By the way, in the light-emitting device mentioned above, since a transparent member is also a member which comprises a part of exterior of a vehicle body, it is desirable to provide a decoration layer on the surface of a transparent member. For example, if the configuration is such that a half mirror is provided on the surface of the transparent member, it is possible to give the light emitting device a radiant feeling even during the day, and further enhance the design at night by causing the internal light emitter to emit light. You can also.

  When the decorative layer is provided on the surface of the transparent member, in the manufacturing process, the decorative layer positioned on the surface of the transparent member directly receives a laser with a specific wavelength irradiated from the front side of the transparent member. For this reason, the decorative layer is deteriorated in optical properties due to the laser having a specific wavelength irradiated from the front side of the transparent member toward the transparent member, and the design properties are impaired.

  Even if the decorative layer is not provided on the surface of the transparent member, as long as the transparent member forms a part of the exterior of the vehicle body, the design of the surface of the transparent member is not limited. The fact that the design of the surface of the transparent member is restricted by laser welding is not limited to the configuration in which a decorative layer is provided on the surface of the transparent member, and a cover having laser transparency like a transparent member, and a laser absorbing property Common to a light emitting device including a housing having

  An object of this invention is to provide the light-emitting device which can improve the designability of the surface.

A light-emitting device that solves the above problems includes a housing having an opening and having a light-emitting body disposed therein, and a cover that closes the opening of the housing. Each of the housing and the cover is a resin molded body, the housing has a light shielding property with respect to the light of the light emitter, and the cover has a light transmittance with respect to the light of the light emitter. A half mirror having transparency to the light of the light emitter is formed on the outer surface of the light source. At the interface between the housing and the cover where the housing and the cover are welded by a laser, the housing and a laser absorbing portion having a higher laser absorption rate than the cover are provided. A portion of the housing that faces the laser absorbing portion has a laser transmission property that transmits the laser. The housing and the cover are continuously welded and joined to the periphery of the opening. The portion having the laser transparency in the housing is a flange continuously provided around the opening, and the cover and the flange are laser-welded.

The light emitting device as described above can perform laser welding by irradiating a laser from the housing side when closing the opening of the housing with a cover. Therefore, the design of the surface of the cover member can be improved. In addition, by irradiating the joint surface of the cover with the laser through the flange, the joint surface of the cover can be reliably welded to the flange.
A glittering feeling can be given even during the day, and further, by causing the illuminator disposed inside to emit light, part of the light can pass through the decorative layer, and the design at night can be enhanced. In addition, since the laser is irradiated from the housing side, it is possible to prevent the decorative layer from being deteriorated by the laser.

In the light emitting device, a portion of the housing where the cover is welded may include a curved portion.
According to the above configuration, even when the joint surface between the housing and the cover has a complicated shape having a curved portion that cannot be ultrasonically welded, it can be integrated by laser welding.

  According to the above structure, the light-emitting device which can improve the design property of the surface can be provided.

It is a disassembled perspective view of a light-emitting device. It is sectional drawing of a light-emitting device. It is sectional drawing of the light-emitting device used as the modification in which the flange is not formed in the housing.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a light-emitting device will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2, the light-emitting device 1 is provided in decorative components, such as a grille outer arrange | positioned beside a front grille or a front grille. The light-emitting device 1 includes a light-emitting body 2, a housing 11 in which the light-emitting body 2 is disposed, and a cover 21 that is attached to the housing 11 and forms a part of the exterior of the vehicle body.

  The light emitter 2 disposed in the housing 11 has, for example, an LED element as a light source. The light emitter 2 guides the illumination light I into the housing 11 by the light guide 4 from the light source unit 3 housing the LED substrate 5 on which the LED elements are mounted, and illuminates the housing 11.

  The housing 11 is a thermoplastic resin such as ABS, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, or polyacetal, and is formed by injection molding a resin material containing a dye in a thermoplastic resin. The housing 11 blocks the illumination light I to such an extent that the illumination light I is not visible from the outside so that the illumination light I emitted from the light guide 4 does not leak to the outside through the housing 11 and become stray light. It has light shielding properties. The light blocking property for blocking the illumination light I may be realized by including a dye that absorbs the illumination light I in the housing 11, and the housing 11 has a thickness or structure that prevents the illumination light I from leaking outside the housing 11. It may be embodied by being applied to.

  Further, the housing 11 has a laser transmittance that transmits the laser L having a specific wavelength. The laser transmittance that transmits the laser L may be a characteristic that allows the housing 11 to transmit at least a part of the laser L irradiated to the housing 11. For example, a part of the laser L irradiated to the housing 11 may be a housing. It may be converted into heat or the like in the housing 11 to such an extent that the 11 is not deformed. As the structure of the housing 11 and the material forming the housing 11, a resin material, a dye, or the like is selected so that the laser transmission property and the above-described light shielding property can be obtained in the housing 11.

  For example, when the illumination light I is visible light and the specific wavelength of the laser L is in the infrared region or ultraviolet region other than the visible region, the housing 11 exhibits a color that absorbs visible light, and It is comprised from the material which does not absorb the laser L of a specific wavelength. For example, when the illumination light I is white light and the specific wavelength of the laser L is included in the visible region, the housing 11 exhibits a color that absorbs white light, and the transmittance of the specific wavelength is visible. Constructed from the highest material in the region.

  The housing 11 has an opening 12 on the side from which the illumination light I is emitted, and a flange 13 around which the cover 21 is welded is formed around the opening 12. The surface of the flange 13 on the cover 21 side is the first joint surface 14 with the cover 21. The front grille and the grille outer are part of the exterior parts, and the shape thereof is not linear, but has a complicated shape having a number of two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally curved portions. Therefore, the first joint surface 14 of the flange 13 formed around the opening 12 also has a curved portion 15 curved in accordance with this. In such a method of manufacturing a light emitting device, laser welding suitable for welding the first joint surface 14 having the above-described complicated shape is used for joining the housing 11 and the cover 21 instead of ultrasonic welding or the like.

  The cover 21 is an injection-molded product made of a transparent resin such as acrylic resin or polycarbonate, and closes the opening 12 in a state where the cover 21 is laser-welded to the first joint surface 14 of the flange 13 of the housing 11. The cover 21 that transmits the illumination light I has a laser transmission property that transmits the laser L having the specific wavelength described above. The outer peripheral edge of the cover 21 has a shape along the flange 13 and has a second joint surface 23 welded to the first joint surface 14.

  A decorative layer 24 is formed on the outer surface of the cover 21. Here, the decoration layer 24 is a half mirror formed by vapor deposition of aluminum or the like or by a silver mirror reaction. As a result, the surface of the cover 21 can give a radiant feeling even during the day. Further, by arranging the light guide 4 inside the housing to emit light, a part of the illumination light I is transmitted and the design of the night is possible. Can be increased. The decorative layer 24 has a laser impermeability that does not transmit the laser L having a specific wavelength. In addition, the decorative layer 24 may be a colored decorative film, a mirror film by silver mirror reaction, or the like. That is, the decoration layer 24 is not particularly limited as long as it can hide the light guide 4 and welding marks of the light-emitting body 2 housed therein.

  A laser absorbing portion 25 is provided on the second joint surface 23 of the cover 21. The laser absorber 25 is formed by applying or printing a laser absorber on the second bonding surface 23 before the housing 11 and the cover 21 are welded. Examples of the laser absorber include nigrosine, aniline black, phthalocyanine, naphthalocyanine, porphyrin, perylene, quaterylene, azo dye, anthraquinone, squaric acid derivative, immonium dye and the like. The laser absorbing portion 25 may be formed on the first joint surface 14 of the flange 13 of the housing 11 in addition to the second joint surface 23 of the cover 21, or only on the first joint surface 14 of the flange 13. It may be formed.

  Further, by adding a dye to the cover 21 itself, laser absorptivity may be imparted within a range where the illumination light I is transmitted, and the second bonding surface 23 may be used as a laser absorbing portion.

  Further, the laser absorbing portion 25 is configured by providing fine irregularities on the first joint surface 14 of the flange 13 of the second joint surface 23 or in addition to applying or printing the laser absorbent on the second joint surface 23. Also good. Accordingly, the housing 11 and the cover 21 can be more firmly welded by melting and embedding fine irregularities as anchors while the members are melted.

  The light emitting device 1 configured as described above is manufactured as follows. A decorative layer 24 is formed on the outer surface of the cover 21, and a laser absorbing portion 25 is formed on the second joint surface 23 of the cover 21. On the other hand, the light source unit 3 is attached inside the housing 11. Next, the cover 21 is temporarily placed in the opening 12 of the housing 11 with the back surface of the cover 21 facing the opening 12 of the housing 11. Thereby, the 1st joint surface 14 and the 2nd joint surface 23 are faced | matched. Thereafter, the housing 11 and the cover 21 in a state of being abutted are set in the laser welding apparatus. Then, a laser having a specific wavelength is irradiated from the housing 11 side toward the flange 13 of the housing 11. The first bonding surface 14 and the second bonding surface 23 to be abutted with each other are formed flat and can be surely welded. When the laser is irradiated, the laser absorption unit 25 absorbs laser energy, and melts and bonds the first bonding surface 14 and the second bonding surface 23 with heat.

  Here, for laser welding, a laser L having an oscillation wavelength of 800 to 1600 nm, preferably 800 to 1100 nm, having a wavelength longer than that of visible light is used. For example, a solid-state laser such as a YAG laser or a semiconductor laser is used. In addition, a halogen lamp or a xenon lamp that generates infrared light having a wavelength of 700 nm or more can also be used.

  Laser irradiation is continuously performed over the entire circumference of the first bonding surface 14, and the first bonding surface 14 and the second bonding surface 23 are continuously welded without interruption. Thereby, there is no gap between the first bonding surface 14 and the second bonding surface 23. Thereby, a waterproof structure is formed between the housing 11 and the cover 21. The laser may be irradiated from a vertical direction or an oblique direction. Further, the laser L may be irradiated from one direction or a plurality of directions.

The light emitting device 1 as described above can obtain the effects listed below.
(1) The laser L having a specific wavelength is irradiated toward the flange 13 of the housing 11, and the laser L having the specific wavelength is not directly applied to the decorative layer 24. As a result, deterioration of the optical characteristics of the decorative layer 24 can be suppressed. Moreover, the design property of a light-emitting device can be improved compared with direct irradiation to the decoration layer 24 with the laser L of a specific wavelength.

  (2) The first joint surface 14 of the flange 13 and the second joint surface 23 of the cover 21 can be continuously welded over the entire circumference. Therefore, a waterproof structure is provided between the first joint surface 14 and the second joint surface 23, and the light guide 4 and the like can be disposed inside the housing 11.

  (3) Although welding marks are formed at the laser welded portion, that is, at the interface between the first bonding surface 14 and the second bonding surface 23, a decorative layer 24 is formed on the cover 21. ing. Therefore, the decoration layer 24 can hide the welding mark and can enhance the design of the appearance.

  (4) The cover 21 having the decorative layer 24 and the housing 11 can be joined by laser welding. Therefore, even when the joint portion between the housing 11 and the cover 21 has the curved portion 15 and has a non-flat shape, the housing 11 and the cover 21 can be reliably joined without using an adhesive. it can.

  In addition, the above light-emitting devices 1 can also be implemented, changing suitably as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the flange 13 of the housing 11 may not be formed. The front end surface of the housing 11 becomes the first joint surface 14 over the entire circumference. In order to join the first joint surface 14 of the housing 11 and the second joint surface 23 of the cover 21, the laser L for welding is applied from the side wall 22 of the housing 11 to the end face, that is, opposite to the second joint surface 23. Irradiate from the surface. According to the example of FIG. 3, in addition to the effects (1) to (4), when the flange 13 is not formed, the structure of the housing 11 can be simplified correspondingly.

  The flange may be formed not on the periphery of the opening 12 of the housing 11 but on the outer peripheral edge of the cover 21. Further, a second flange corresponding to the flange 13 of the housing 11 may be formed on the outer peripheral edge of the cover 21.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the light emitting device 1 can be applied to other than decorative members such as a front grill and a grill outer. For example, the light source unit 3 includes a case main body 3a serving as a housing in which the LED substrate 5 is housed, and a lid 3c serving as a cover for closing an opening 3b formed on one surface of the case main body 3a. . The lid 3c has an exit 3d. A light guide 4 that guides the illumination light I emitted from the LED elements of the LED substrate 5 is led out from the exit 3d. Here, both the case body 3a and the lid 3c shield the illumination light I from the light guide 4 and prevent it from becoming stray light from leaking the illumination light I emitted from the LED elements, and have a specific wavelength used for laser welding. A resin material that transmits the laser L is used.

  After housing the LED substrate 5 in the case body 3a, the opening 3b of the case body 3a is closed by the lid 3c. And as above-mentioned, in order to weld the case main body 3a and the cover body 3c from the case main body 3a side, a laser is irradiated. At this time, laser welding is performed over the entire circumference so that light does not leak from the inside. Thus, the lid 3c is integrated with the case main body 3a by laser welding. As mentioned above, as for the light-emitting device 1, the cover does not necessarily need to have translucency and the cover does not need to be provided with the decoration layer.

  Of course, if the housing 11 and the cover 21 are integrated by laser welding as described above, the case main body 3a and the lid 3c of the light source unit 3 are not laser welded but ultrasonic welding or bonding. You may make it integrate with an agent.

  The whole housing 11 may have laser transparency, or a part of the housing 11 may have laser transparency. In short, it is only necessary that the region of the housing 11 that faces the laser absorbing portion 25 has laser transparency and the optical path of the laser for reaching the laser absorbing portion 25 is secured in the housing 11. For example, two-color molding may be performed by changing the material of the region opposite to the laser absorbing portion 25 in the housing 11 and other regions.

  The first joint surface 14 and the second joint surface 23 are formed with protrusions on one side, and provided with a recess that engages with the protrusion on the other side, and by engaging the protrusion with the recess, the housing 11 and the cover 21 Positioning at the time of welding may be performed easily.

  The decorative layer 24 may have a configuration in which a colored film is attached, or a colored paint is applied or printed, as long as the translucency of the cover 21 is not impaired.

  -You may use the light-emitting device 1 in places other than decorative members, such as a front grill and a grill outer, and the light source unit 3. FIG. Further, the present invention is not limited to a light emitting device that emits a decorative part of a vehicle body, and can be used, for example, as a light emitting device for an decorative part of an electronic device disposed in an instrument panel or console box of a vehicle body.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Light-emitting device, 2 ... Light-emitting body, 3 ... Light source unit, 3a ... Case main body, 3b ... Opening part, 3c ... Cover body, 3d ... Outlet, 4 ... Light guide, 5 ... LED board, 11 ... Housing, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Opening part, 13 ... Flange, 14 ... 1st joint surface, 15 ... Curve part, 21 ... Cover, 22 ... Side wall, 23 ... 2nd joint surface, 24 ... Decorating layer, 25 ... Laser absorption part, I ... Illumination light, L ... laser.

Claims (2)

A housing having an opening and having a light emitter disposed therein;
A cover for closing the opening of the housing;
Each of the housing and the cover is a resin molded body,
The housing has a light shielding property against the light of the light emitter,
The cover has transparency to the light of the light emitter;
On the outer surface of the cover, a half mirror having transparency to the light of the light emitter is formed,
At the interface between the housing and the cover and where the housing and the cover are welded by a laser, the housing and a laser absorption part having a higher laser absorption rate than the cover are provided,
The portion of the housing that faces the laser absorbing portion has a laser transmittance that transmits the laser,
The housing and the cover are continuously welded and joined to the periphery of the opening over the entire circumference,
The portion having the laser transparency in the housing is a flange provided continuously around the opening,
The cover and the flange are laser-welded. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the housing to which the cover is welded includes a curved portion.

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