JP6671443B2 - Vehicle lighting - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a lamp mounted on a vehicle.

  As this type of lamp, there is known a lamp in which a flexible circuit board on which a light emitting element as a light source is mounted is arranged in a lamp room (for example, see Patent Document 1). Since the flexible substrate is flexible and can be deformed, the degree of freedom in arranging the light emitting elements in the lamp room can be increased.

JP 2010-15910 A

  Light emitted from the light emitting element is irradiated in a predetermined direction through a light transmitting cover that partitions a lamp room. Since the light emitting element is mounted on the flexible circuit board, when the light emitting element is not lit, the flexible circuit board becomes visible through the translucent cover, and the appearance is impaired. In order to avoid such a situation, a cover for covering the flexible circuit board is required, which increases the cost of parts and the number of assembling steps.

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a technique capable of avoiding an increase in component cost and assembly man-hour without deteriorating the appearance even when the light emitting element is not lit.

In order to achieve the above object, one embodiment of the present invention is a lamp mounted on a vehicle,
A transparent substrate including a conductive layer,
A light-emitting element supported by the transparent substrate and electrically connected to the conductive layer,
A connection portion electrically connected to the conductive layer at an end of the transparent substrate,
A connector electrically connected to the connection unit.

  Since the light emitting elements are supported by the transparent substrate including the conductive layer, it is difficult to visually recognize the substrate supporting each light emitting element from outside the lamp chamber even when the light emitting elements are not lit. Therefore, there is no need to provide a cover that covers the substrate. Thereby, even when the light emitting element is not turned on, it is possible to avoid an increase in component cost and assembly man-hour without deteriorating the appearance of the lamp.

  The connection part may be configured to have higher flexibility than the transparent substrate.

  According to such a configuration, it is easy to arrange the connector at a position where it is difficult to visually recognize the connector from outside the lamp room. Thus, the size of the cover that covers the connector can be reduced. Further, by bending the connection portion in an appropriate direction, the size of the lamp chamber in the longitudinal direction of the transparent substrate can be reduced. In other words, the transparent substrate can be arranged by making maximum use of the portion visible from the outside of the lamp room. Therefore, even when the light emitting element is not turned on, it is possible to avoid an increase in component cost and assembling man-hour without deteriorating the appearance of the lamp.

  The connection section may be non-transparent.

  By bending the connecting portion in an appropriate direction by utilizing the flexibility higher than that of the transparent substrate, it becomes easy to arrange the opaque portion at a position where it is difficult to see from the outside of the lamp room. This can reduce the size of the cover that covers the opaque portion. Therefore, even when the light emitting element is not turned on, it is possible to avoid an increase in component cost and assembling man-hour without deteriorating the appearance of the lamp.

  The connection section may be a flexible circuit board. In this case, the connector is disposed on the first surface of the flexible circuit board. In addition, a reinforcing member having lower flexibility than the transparent substrate is provided at a position facing the connector on the second surface of the flexible circuit board.

  According to such a configuration, in addition to the above-described effects, high flexibility for obtaining a degree of freedom in arranging the connector and strength for supporting the connector can be provided to the connection portion. Further, by using the reinforcing member, it becomes easy to fix the connector at an appropriate position in the lamp room.

  The light emitting device may be provided with a light source different from the light emitting element. In this case, the light emitting element emits light to the first side of the transparent substrate, and at least a part of the light emitted from the light source passes through the transparent substrate and is applied to the first side. You.

  According to such a configuration, in addition to the above-described effects, the light emitted from the light emitting element and the light emitted from the light source are irradiated in an overlapping manner, so that a light emission pattern which is not conventionally available can be formed. In addition, when the light emitting element and the light source are not lit, the light emitting element is visually recognized as floating in front of the light source, so that a novel and unprecedented appearance can be provided.

It is a top view showing the lighting installation provided with the lamp unit concerning one embodiment of the present invention in partial section view. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a lamp unit in FIG. 1.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each drawing used in the following description, the scale is appropriately changed in order to make each member a recognizable size. Further, “right” and “left” used in the following description indicate left and right directions as viewed from the driver's seat.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a part of a left headlight device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is cut along a horizontal plane and viewed from above. The left headlight device 1 is mounted on the front left side of the vehicle to illuminate the front. The left headlight device 1 includes a housing 2 and a light-transmitting cover 4 mounted on the housing 2 and defining a lamp chamber 3. A lamp unit 10 (an example of a lamp) according to one embodiment of the present invention is arranged in the lamp room 3.

  FIG. 2A is a front view illustrating an appearance of the lamp unit 10. FIG. 2B is a side view showing the appearance of the lamp unit 10. The lamp unit 10 includes a transparent substrate 11, a plurality of light emitting elements 12, a connection portion 13, and a connector 14. Each light emitting element 12 is, for example, a light emitting diode configured to emit light of a predetermined color.

  FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the transparent substrate 11 in an enlarged manner. The transparent substrate 11 includes a first base film 11a, a first conductive layer 11b, a second base film 11c, a second conductive layer 11d, and an adhesive layer 11e. The first base film 11a, the first conductive layer 11b, the second base film 11c, the second conductive layer 11d, and the adhesive layer 11e are all translucent. The first base film 11a and the second base film 11c are made of, for example, PET (polyethylene terephthalate). The first conductive layer 11b and the second conductive layer 11d are made of, for example, ITO (indium tin oxide).

  The first conductive layer 11b is laminated on the first base film 11a. The second conductive layer 11d is laminated on the second base film 11c. Each light emitting element 12 is arranged so as to be sandwiched between the first conductive layer 11b and the second conductive layer 11d, and is electrically connected to the first conductive layer 11b and the second conductive layer 11d. The bonding layer 11e bonds the first conductive layer 11b and the second conductive layer 11d, and fixes each light emitting element 12 at a predetermined position.

  Light emitted from each light emitting element 12 passes through the second conductive layer 11d and the second base film 11c, and is emitted upward (an example of a first side) in FIG. 2B. In the front view shown in FIG. 2A, each light emitting element 12 supported on the transparent substrate 11 is visually recognized as if it were floating through the second base film 11c and the second conductive layer 11d.

  The connection portion 13 is electrically connected to the first conductive layer 11b and the second conductive layer 11d at an end in the longitudinal direction of the transparent substrate 11. That is, the connection portion 13 includes a conductive path (not shown) that is electrically connected to the first conductive layer 11b and the second conductive layer 11d.

  The connector 14 is electrically connected to the connection unit 13. That is, the connector 14 includes a terminal (not shown) that is electrically connected to the conductive path provided in the connection unit.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a connector 20 for supplying power from a power supply (not shown) is disposed in the lamp room 3. The connector 20 is connected to the connector 14. The electric power is supplied to the transparent substrate 11 via the connector 14 and the connection unit 13. Here, for example, the first conductive layer 11b is used as a conductive path on the power supply side, and the second conductive layer 11d is used as a conductive path on the ground side. Each of the light emitting elements 12 emits light by the supplied power. The lamp unit 10 is arranged in the lamp room 3 so that the light emitted from each light emitting element 12 is directed to the translucent cover 4. That is, the lamp unit 10 is arranged such that the second base film 11c of the transparent substrate 11 faces the outside of the lamp chamber 3.

  As described above, each light emitting element 12 is supported on the transparent substrate 11 including the conductive layer. Therefore, even when each light emitting element 12 is not turned on, it is difficult to visually recognize the substrate supporting each light emitting element 12 from outside the lamp chamber 3. Therefore, there is no need to provide a cover that covers the substrate. Thereby, even when each light emitting element 12 is not lit, it is possible to avoid an increase in component cost and assembling man-hour without deteriorating the appearance of the lamp unit 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the transparent substrate 11 has flexibility, and can be disposed in the lamp room 3 in a slightly curved state. The connection part 13 has higher flexibility than the transparent substrate 11. The connecting portion 13 is bent at the side end 3 a of the lamp room 3 and extends rearward. As a result, the connector 14 is disposed behind the transparent substrate 11 and is connected to the connector 20. In front of the connectors 14 and 20, a cover 30 that covers these is arranged.

  Since the connection portion 13 has higher flexibility than the transparent substrate 11, it is easy to arrange the connectors 14 and 20 at a position where the connectors 14 and 20 are not easily visible from outside the lamp room 3. Thereby, the size of the cover that covers and hides the connectors 14 and 20 can be reduced. Further, by bending the connection portion 13 in an appropriate direction, the size of the lamp chamber 3 in the longitudinal direction of the transparent substrate 11 can be reduced. In other words, the transparent substrate 11 can be arranged by making maximum use of the portion visible from the outside of the lamp room 3. Therefore, even when each light emitting element 12 is not turned on, it is possible to avoid an increase in component cost and assembling man-hour without deteriorating the appearance of the lamp unit 10.

  In the present embodiment, the connection section 13 is a flexible circuit board. However, the connection portion 13 may be configured by a wire harness as long as the connection portion 13 has a conductive path that can supply the power supplied through the connector 14 to each light emitting element 12 supported by the transparent substrate 11.

  These members are generally opaque, but by using the flexibility higher than the transparent substrate 11 to bend the connection portion 13 in an appropriate direction, the opaque portion is located at a position where it is difficult to see from the outside of the lamp chamber 3. It becomes easy to arrange. This can reduce the size of the cover that covers the opaque portion. Therefore, even when each light emitting element 12 is not turned on, it is possible to avoid an increase in component cost and assembling man-hour without deteriorating the appearance of the lamp unit 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the connector 14 is disposed on an upper surface 13a (an example of a first surface) of the connection portion 13 (flexible circuit board). A reinforcing member 13c is provided at a position on the lower surface 13b (an example of the second surface) of the connecting portion 13 facing the connector 14. The reinforcing member 13c has lower flexibility than the transparent substrate 11.

  According to such a configuration, in addition to the above-described effects, high flexibility for obtaining the degree of freedom in arranging the connector 14 and strength for supporting the connector 14 can be given to the connection portion 13. In addition, by using the reinforcing member 13c, it is easy to fix the connection portion of the connectors 14 and 20 to an appropriate position in the lamp room 3.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the lamp unit 10 further includes a plurality of light sources 40 different from each light emitting element 12. Each light source 40 may be a semiconductor light emitting device such as a light emitting diode, a laser diode, an organic EL device, or a lamp light source such as an incandescent lamp, a halogen lamp, a discharge lamp, and a neon lamp.

  The lamp unit 10 further includes a plurality of lenses 41. Each lens 41 is arranged between a corresponding one of the plurality of light sources 40 and the transparent substrate 11. At least a part of the light emitted from each light source 40 passes through the corresponding lens 41 and the transparent substrate 11, and is irradiated in front of the transparent substrate 11 (an example of a first side).

  The irradiation direction of the light emitted from each light source 40 can be appropriately determined. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the irradiation directions of the light L1 emitted from each light emitting element 12 and the light L2 emitted from each light source 40 are different. However, the arrangement and the like of each light source 40 and each lens 41 can be appropriately changed so that the two coincide with each other. The irradiation direction of the light L2 may be adjusted by providing an optical component such as a reflector in addition to or instead of the lens 41.

  According to such a configuration, in addition to the above-described effects, an unprecedented light emission pattern can be formed by overlappingly irradiating the light L1 and the light L2. Further, when each light emitting element 12 and each light source 40 are not lit, each light emitting element 12 is visually recognized as floating in front of each light source 40, and a novel appearance that has not been provided in the past can be provided.

  The embodiments described above are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and do not limit the present invention. Obviously, the present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the spirit thereof, and the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

  In the above embodiment, the transparent substrate 11 includes the first conductive layer 11b and the second conductive layer 11d. However, as long as a power supply path for driving each light emitting element 12 can be formed, at least one conductive layer may be provided.

  In the above embodiment, seven light emitting elements 12 are supported on the transparent substrate 11. However, the number of light emitting elements 12 can be arbitrarily determined as long as the desired lighting function can be satisfied.

  That is, the lighting device on which the lamp unit 10 according to the present invention is mounted is not limited to the left headlight device 1. The present invention can be applied not only to the right headlight device but also to a lamp mounted on a vehicle lighting device such as various marker lights.

  10: lamp unit, 11: transparent substrate, 11b: first conductive layer, 11d: second conductive layer, 12: light emitting element, 13: connection part (flexible circuit board), 13a: upper surface of flexible circuit board, 13b: flexible Lower surface of circuit board, 13c: reinforcing member, 14: connector, 40: light source

Claims (4)

A lamp mounted on a vehicle,
A housing,
A light-transmitting cover that is attached to the housing to partition a lamp room;
Translucent film, and a transparent substrate including a conductive layer disposed on the film,
A light-emitting element supported by the transparent substrate and electrically connected to the conductive layer,
A flexible circuit board that is electrically connected to the conductive layer and has a conductive path for providing power to the light emitting element;
A connector disposed on the first surface of the flexible circuit board and electrically connected to the conductive path;
Equipped with a,
The transparent substrate, the light emitting element, the flexible circuit board, and the connector are arranged in the lamp room,
The transparent substrate has a lower flexibility than the flexible circuit board,
The conductive path is electrically connected to the conductive layer at an end of the transparent substrate,
The flexible circuit board is bent so as to extend rearward at a side end of the lamp chamber,
The connector is disposed behind the transparent substrate,
At a position facing the connector on the second surface of the flexible circuit board, a reinforcing member having lower flexibility than the transparent substrate is provided,
Lights. The light emitted from the light emitting element passes through the translucent cover,
A cover disposed between the light-transmitting cover and the flexible circuit board and covering the connector.
The lamp according to claim 1 . A light source different from the light emitting element,
The light emitting element emits light to a first side of the transparent substrate,
At least a portion of the light emitted from the light source is applied to the first side through the transparent substrate,
Lamp according to claim 1 or 2. The transparent substrate includes a first base film and a second base film,
The light emitting element is sandwiched between the first base film and the second base film,
The lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .

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